NANA KAI SEASINGER
Islanders of Shimmering IslesMaster Storyteller and Historian
"Stories are the memory of a people. When the last storyteller falls silent, a world dies with them.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Story House, Shell Harbor
- Civilization
- Islanders of Shimmering Isles
Appearance
• Physical: Frail but dignified with the bearing of royalty. Her skin is dark and deeply wrinkled, her white hair worn in the traditional style of her youth. Her eyes, though clouded with age, still sparkle with intelligence. • Clothing: Wears traditional robes of hand-woven fabric in ocean colors, adorned with shells and tokens from listeners past. A carved walking stick supports her steps. • Distinguishing Marks: Her voice, still strong and clear despite her age; her hands, gnarled but expressive when she speaks
Relationships
- Family - Outlived her husband and most of her children; dotes on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren
- Allies - The Storytellers' Guild, Chief Marisol, scholars who value oral history
- Rivals - Young performers who dismiss tradition, foreign scholars who want to "record" her stories for profit
Personality
- Traits: Wise and patient, occasionally stern with those who disrespect tradition, surprisingly playful with children, fiercely protective of her stories
- Mannerisms: Closes her eyes when reciting; taps her walking stick for emphasis; becomes young again when performing
- Voice: Rich and resonant, capable of whisper or thunder, the most valued instrument in the Isles
Backstory
Nana Kai was trained as a seasinger from age five, memorizing the entire oral history of the Shimmering Isles. She's performed for chiefs and commoners, at births and deaths, in times of celebration and mourning. Now she's the last of her generation, desperately trying to pass her knowledge to apprentices before it's lost.
Daily Life
Nana Kai's days are spent in her Story House, receiving visitors who seek wisdom or entertainment, training her apprentices, and preserving the ancient songs. Evenings bring performances at community gatherings, where she holds audiences spellbound for hours.
Secret
Nana Kai knows the true location of the legendary Sunken City, passed down through generations of seasingers. She's never revealed it, fearing what treasure hunters would do, but she's recorded it in a code only another seasinger could read.
Story Hooks
- 1 Nana Kai needs help recovering a stolen songbook containing irreplaceable historical records
- 2 She's been approached by a mysterious patron who seems to know about the Sunken City—and is making threats
Narrative Value
Nana Kai provides historical information, cultural context, and quests involving lost knowledge and preservation; serves as a source of wisdom and connection to the past. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════