Lore
Introduction
"The Eremites," a loosely-organized mercenary organization, is Sumeru's most powerful armed force. They consist of many mercenaries and bands of warriors-for-hire who carry out assignments independently.
One such brigade is the "Blazing Beasts," whose most renowned member is Dehya, also known as the "Flame-Mane."
A highly regarded warrior among the mercenary circles, Dehya is brave without being impulsive, and strong without being arrogant. Life in the harsh desert environment has allowed Dehya to accumulate much combat wisdom through various battles, and she is by no means your typical insolent and ignorant martial artist.
As long as the pay is good and the commission reasonable, Dehya is more than willing to take up her sword to defend those who hire her.
However, there is one thing these employers should be aware of. That is, the agreement they establish with Dehya is only temporary and purely transactional. The reins to tame this lioness is never, and will never be in their hands.
Although mercenaries sell their strength to make a living, their dignity and lives belong only to themselves.
The desert lioness is no one's slave, and her sword only follows her heart.
Appearance
Dehya is a tall young woman with lightly tanned skin, sky-blue eyes with yellow 'cat-eye' pupils, and blonde-accented black hair, with accessories to make it resemble cat ears on top of her head (similar to Keqing). She wears an outfit consisting of black knee-high boots, shorts, belt, and elbow-length fingerless gloves, with a top consisting of black and red fabric. The entire outfit has gold-colored armor pieces attached: kneepads and wrist guards on both sides; a pauldron, vambrace, and gauntlet on her right arm, and a single bangle on her left bicep. She also wears a dark red feathered cape with two gold decorations hanging from it, and her vision hangs from her belt just behind her right hip.
Personality
As with all Eremites, Dehya enjoys training and sparring whenever she gets the chance. She gets along well with Dunyarzad and respects her determination, wanting to help her in any way possible, albeit slightly embarrassed publicly admit it; when Dunyarzad tried to revive the Sabzeruz Festival, Dehya secretly sold her claymore and anonymously donated the Mora to help out. While not a follower of the gods, Dehya does respect Lesser Lord Kusanali, due to seeing how much of an impact she made in Dunyarzad's life.
Stories
The term "Eremites" does not reference a specific group or organization, but all those who are born of the desert and ply a trade using their martial prowess, operating as mercenaries.
Frail is humanity in such a desolate profession. To survive, those who walk the path of a mercenary will naturally come together, forming loose bands of mercenaries.
Though the Eremites are many, few among them will be remembered as legends, with most bound to be as evanescent as sand in the wind. Yet there are exceptions who, like Dehya, may linger in the annals of history.
The "Flame-Mane" Dehya is fierce and brave, the lion her moniker invokes an analogy for her might. The nickname itself, meanwhile, denotes her passionate nature.
Should you be planning to hire a mercenary to serve as a bodyguard, Dehya stands as a prime choice. Procuring her service runs an expensive premium, but her abilities make that a worthy expenditure indeed.
Compared to those overconfident fools hawking their talents as hired blades on the street and novices capable of little more than brute force, Dehya is a conscientious professional.
With all this said, those who wish to procure her services should make haste, for there is a long line of other potential clients that have need of the Flame-Mane, and the opportunity, just as grains in the desert, will slip away before long.