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Xiana's father, though extremely wealthy, had no readily apparent occupation - a typical state among the Holy Therns. The family's riches were derived from numerous shadow investments and a mysterious network of business dealings scattered across Barsoom. These investments kept the family in complete comfort, and provided her father with a great degree of influence in the court of Matai Shang, Father of Therns. He enjoyed great favor, and incurred much wrath and petty jealousy among the less ambitious of his caste. Her mother was quite well known for her intelligence and beauty, and it was speculated on many occasions that the Lady Hsi was the real mastermind behind the family's fortunes. Unfortunately, the Lady of the House was also entirely devoid of humor or, indeed, any of the finer sentiments of humanity. She ran the house with a cold and grim cruelty that shocked even many of the Holy caste.
At the age of fourteen, Xiana passed into adulthood. By then she had witnessed one relative being taken captive by the black pirates, and numerous friends and relatives killed and wounded in the endless raids of the First Born. She learned many courtly entertainments and eventually was selected to play at the temples of the Father of Therns. In this exalted palace she acquired tastes for all the most decadent pleasures available to her caste. She dined on human flesh, and indulged in degenerate entertainments and diversions shocking to the mind.
This period of indulgence came to an abrupt end a few years later, however, with the arrival of John Carter at the South Pole. Barely a year after his arrival, the Thern homeland lay in ruins, its crystal palaces shattered, the mighty minarets of its temples toppled, and its people scattered and enslaved. Xiana had become accustomed to the raids of the First Born, but the ferocity of the vengeful red men of Helium was terrible to behold. Only through luck and panic was she able to escape with her life, accompanied by a small band of her guard.
For several months she and her warrior companions lived in hiding, taking refuge in the temples of kingdoms still loyal to the old Death-cult of Issus, disguising themselves as red priests. Eventually the cult fell into disgrace and Xiana was forced to find work elsewhere. She made contact with the Assassins' Guild, an organization with a need for her unique talents of disguise and utter lack of conscience. Assassination also provided her with a perfect way to exact revenge upon the nation she hated most, Helium, and the author of all her misfortunes, John Carter, Warlord of Mars.
Today, Xiana Feng remains a mysterious, shadowy figure. She has risen rapidly among the ranks of Assassins, and has become the leader of her own rather extensive network of spies and murderers who are all too willing to do the work for her. She is busy training a small number of women in the art of assassination and infiltration as well. She has not yet ordered the killing of any female target, but has sent agents to leave her calling card - a small sculpture of a lizard, encrusted with scintillant gems that capture and blend with background light.
Physical Desription: Xiana Feng is tall, slender and quite beautiful, with an athletic warrior's physique. When not in disguise, she covers her hairless scalp with a fine silk cloth and jeweled clasp. She is a master of disguise, able to make herself appear of any race and, to some degree, age. It is even rumored among her henchmen that she is able to mask even her sex, appearing as a young boy when necessary. She wears the finest harness and jewels available, and loves wealth and the trappings of it. She is vain, greedy, cold and distant, and her only good quality is her extreme patience. Like the creature of her nickname, she is able to wait patiently and quietly, moving only when necessary and striking at exactly the right moment.
Possible Encounters: Xiana Feng (or one of her henchmen) could be encountered almost anywhere without the players knowing it. She could be used in any plot involving assassination or espionage.
It was the latter bit that got Akara Sola in the most trouble, though. As if she hadn't inflicted enough embarassment upon her father, she took the Barsoomian custom of fighting for and winning a woman to a new extreme - she made a habit of actually challenging potential suitors to duels (though not to the death, of course). This proved too much for her family to take, and her parents had to "let" her go out on her own. Before she left home, her father had her outfitted with the best weapons and gear available. Her parents love their daughter dearly and still welcome her whenever she returns home.
Akara Sola's unconventional courtship habits won her few suitors but also enabled her to create a rather large network of male friends and companions. She is an attractive and extremely likeable young lady, and never lacks for men willing to fight for her and at her side. She makes a living as a hunter, scout and adventuress, often in the employ of merchant caravans and minor nobles. She is very well travelled.
Physical Description: Akara Sola is of average height and weight, with a muscular, athletic, yet very feminine build. Her wit is as swift and keen as her sword. She keeps her black hair cut short, often well above her neckline. Her leather harness is well-worn and simple, and from it hang her weapons, money pouches and travelling rations. Five parallel scars run the length of her back from her left shoulder to her left buttock, marking the time when a banth nearly killed her. She wears the beast's skin as a cloak now. Her arms and torso bear other, lighter marks from duels and battles with wild creatures.
Possible Encounters: Akara Sola could be encountered almost anywhere, under several circumstances.
