Character Interview: Sisal
Vakandi spends his last day telling his assassin, Sisal why he loves them, and why it's his time to die.
Character Interview: Sisal from The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon’s Memoir by
For the past thousand years, the dragon Vakandi has watched the people of Vakfored grow from a wandering band of refugees to a glorious city of art and magic. Under his protection, the city has survived monsters, floods, and wars all without building an army, dam, or even a wall. But time changes everything and now the citizens of his beloved city want him dead.
Vakandi spends his last day telling his assassin why he loves them, and why it's his time to die.
Let’s get to know Sisal - welcome to this interview. I have a few questions for you so that we can get to know you better. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
You can find most of this up at the Guild of Adventures under my public file. They've been tracking everything I've done for the last decade to confirm I was "pure" enough soul. Does anyone even know what that means!? They were determined to not let me have this assisination job - even though I'm the best, I soloed a yeti kill. When they found out I wanted to learn how to play an instrument and sing in another country, they debated if I was Vakfored enough. Living here for 28 years and they did not think I'm enough. I could identify a Bedruk pot anywhere! I just want to do something more with my life besides slay monsters. Don't get me wrong, I love protecting Vakfored from monsters and hope to free us from the wrath of the dragon, Vakandi. I just wish to create music that represents Vakfored again... we used to play music and dance. I want music in the plaza alongside the trinkets sold there.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Once when out shopping, I heard the sound of strings on a lute being played. The bard sang such a funny song and it made me want to clap along. Unfortunately, I don't think she finished the whole thing before the city chased her out. But hearing that instrument play, and the sound of the voice be joyful was a magical moment to me.
What would a perfect world look like to you?
That gaudy glowing yellow sign up on the mountain being taken down would be the first step. The gates of the walls around Vakfored never having to close and stay wide open as merchants came and went and bards sang in the taverns. Dancers performing in the street, and the theaters filled to the rim with customers wanting to hear the next musical. To create art that is in the moment only. To no longer fear the monsters beyond the wall - or the dragon in the mountain.
Let’s go for a harder question - do you have any bad habits?
I really need to make sure I practice all the magic. I just haven't found the time. I was so busy mastering ice that I didn't bother with fire. That made fighting the yeti really hard. I didn't even touch life magic with all the death based monsters around here. Killing a Lich is a lot harder without life magic, so is healing myself. But I haven't run across a situation yet where I needed it - but I'll regret that one day.
How about we end on an easier one.... What is your proudest moment?
The day the mission request went up for slaying Vakandi, I knew I had to prove myself worthy. The Guild of Adventures put out a list of SS-tier monsters nearby and set a time limit on who could kill them the fastest - solo. Unlike the others, I am used to running solo and did not need to change my fighting style too much. Only thing I had to prepare for was the ice winter cold. Hearing the Guild of Adventures call out my name, stamp my papers saying I was the purest soul of all mercenaries - it made the last decade and a half worth it.
I can see how that would be proud - if you want to slay a dragon. I’m not sure that’s my cup of tea but I’m glad that you were selected and in turn we got to get to know you a bit more today! I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures with the dragon slaying in, The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon’s Memoir.
You can check out The Sunset Sovereign, on Sept 25th along with the rest of the Publishing Derby Contestants. Or you can read it early:
Want to learn more about Sisal from The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon's Memoir and check out this interview and check out Toni's page for even more fun reads.