High Lord Sivikawa.

Seanchan

High Lord Sivikawa was born into the prestigious House Kaimos in Seandar. As the son of one of the most powerful nobles in the Seanchan Empire, he was groomed for leadership and power. One evening, Sivikawa stood in the grand hall, his eyes fixated on the intricate game board before him. His elder brother, Yurek, glared from across the table, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

“Your move, brother,” Sivikawa said, his voice dripping with a false innocence that only heightened Yurek’s frustration. With a final, desperate push, Yurek moved his piece, sealing his defeat. Sivikawa smiled, the flickering lamplight casting sinister shadows on his youthful face. As the loser of a bet, Yurek had to eat a Chuleth Mok, a distinctive mushroom native to the lush, humid forests of Seanchan. With its dark, spiny cap and sickly green gills, it exuded a pungent odor that served as a natural deterrent to most creatures. Although disgusting, it wasn’t deadly, except that Sivikawa had poisoned the mushroom prior to the game. With Yurek’s death, Sivikawa became the heir.

Sivikawa’s ascent within the Seanchan hierarchy was marked by strategy and ruthlessness. His tactical prowess on the battlefield earned him swift victories, and his political acumen secured him valuable alliances.

In one notable campaign, Sivikawa led an assault on a rebellious province. As the battle raged, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to outthink his enemies, turning the tide with a series of unexpected maneuvers. After the victory, he stood on a hill overlooking the battlefield, his armor splattered with mud and blood.

“The day is ours, High Lord,” his lieutenant said, approaching with a mix of awe and respect.

Sivikawa nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “This is merely the beginning. Control must be absolute.” He then ran his sword through the body of his lieutenant, a traitor.

Summons

It was his immense honor to be summoned to the Crystal Throne for a special test. The Empress (may she live forever) ordered him to submit to the presence of a man introduced to him as Cassius Grimwood, clearly not of the Blood, but neither da’covale.

Suspicious, Sivikawa obeyed, but there was little to witness, except that Cassius soon declared him, “The One.” Afterward, the Empress bestowed upon him an immense honor. Cassius declared that he would meet him in Bandar Eban, though Sivikawa never witnessed him boarding a ship.

The Shaidar’an was a device unlike any he had ever seen. Meaning “Shadows Grip”, the device binds the wearer to the will of the one who controls it, making it a tool of absolute control and domination. The Shaidar’an was designed by some unknown entity to control male channelers. It takes the form of an intricately designed headband and matching ring. The headband was made of dark, metallic material. Worn across the forehead and extending to cover the eyes, it integrated deeply with the channeler’s mind, creating a powerful mental link that allowed the controller to exert their will with devastating precision. The ring, worn on the finger of the Grip Holder, is simple yet elegant, and made of the same dark metal as the headband, and it drew little attention on its own, serving as the focal point of control, channeling the controller’s commands directly into the wearer’s mind.