Sonja Akane
Sonja Jeharra Akane was a Knight Adventurer of the Noble Order of Storms and a member of the Knights of the Silver Cross. Adept at both melee combat and the magic of air and water, she was a fearless and powerful fighter - unfailingly loyal to her friends and ferocious in her pursuit of enemies. She first joined the group while they were stationed in Antalon, replacing Lanaric Kael after he was recalled to Mantoni by his order, and she remained a member until her death at the Citadel of the Trenkytis on the Crimson Isles.
In both life and death Sonja was a devoted follower of Starenkeen, the Angel of Storms. Such was the extent of her faith that she considered it a blessing when he sheared off her arm with a powerful lightning bolt to prevent the spread of Shenn'Akrath's bone-taint. Also, when Starenkeen was slain by the appearance of the Black Citadel it was Sonja's spirit that witnessed the events unfold and later conveyed her story to her former comrades in the form of a dream.
Biography
Born in Starvault Keep on the 5th day of the Dragon in 408 AE, the daughter of Alyssa Akane, a Sorcerer of the Unicorn, and Harek Kaerune, a Knight of the Dolphin. Sonja was raised by the Unicorn until the age of 12, but since she did not find the teachings of Solandria to her taste she then moved to White Horse Keep in Torr Kamesh to learn of Yaasha and the sea.
In 424 AE she joined the Order of Storms and began worshipping Starenkeen. Her early service to the order was made problematic by her tendency towards berserker rage and general reluctance to obey orders, though she developed a reputation as a fearsome warrior.
Eventually she was given a place in the elite Storm Axe sect and command of a squad of men - and this additional responsibility finally drew out her true potential, forcing her to hone her tactical expertise and leadership skill rather than simply relying on brute force. After several notable successes against Karantian forces in the Middle Kingdoms she was promoted to the rank of Knight Adventurer.
Back in Mantoni, she studied magic and religion in order to live up to her new rank and began experiencing prophetic dreams indicating that she had been chosen by Starenkeen for some special task. After a short stint in Berellion she was then assigned to the Knights of the Silver Cross in 433 EA.
Although she served for less than a year with the Silver Cross, she saw many battles in that time and slew countless enemies of Mantoni. Eventually the group's travels led them to the lost continent of Treneth, and the long-abandoned Citadel of the Trenkytis. Here the ancient defences of the giant citadel assaulted the party with animated guardians and powerful magics and after many gruelling battles eventually succeeded in corrupting Sonja and turning her against her fellows. Such is the power of the Trenkytis that only in final death could she be freed from its hold, forcing her companions to slay her and Starenkeen to take her spirit to his realm.
Fun Facts
Sonja's middle name Jeharra is an honorific meaning ‘daughter of truth’ and implies an ancestral allegiance to Shenarra County in Numas. Sonja’s maternal grandparents were from Shenarra, with several of their ancestors serving as Knights of Shenarra.
After her death, Sonja's beloved battle-axe was sealed in a block of transparent stone by the dragon Benethyarr and left as a monument outside the Citadel of the Trenkytis. Since her comrades felt that she would not want the axe to lie unused forever, a set of complicated conditions are carved into the face of the stone - allowing the warrior who is someday judged worthy to draw forth the axe and take it into battle once more.
