Backstory for Anshu and Dhiren
The mortal who would become the Solar Exalt named Surely-Refulgent Anshu grew up in the Realm. He joined the Immaculate Order at a fairly young age, and through meditation, managed to attain awareness of his Essence. After that he received basic training in the Water Dragon Style and his name as a monk, Little Dragon. Little Dragon was then sent to Greyfalls, and then accompanied a Wyld Hunt operating covertly out of that city. The Hunt managed to find the Anathema they sought, but in the battle, all the Dragon-Blooded were slain. In his fervent belief in the Immaculate Philosophy, Little Dragon was unwilling to surrender or flee, and took up arms. In that moment, he took his Second Breath, and the remaining Anathema, drained from the battle with the Dragon-Blooded, fell to his blade.
It was only after the battle ended, when Little Dragon was cleaning his wounds, that he caught a glimpse of his caste mark reflected in the water, and realized what had happened. Horror at what he had become flooded through him, and for a fleeting moment, he entertained the thought of ridding the world of one more Anathema. But the Unconqueréd Sun does not Choose those prone to suicide, and Little Dragon concluded that the Immaculate Order's crusade against the Anathema was unjustified - for they would hunt down even him, who had served them faithfully for many years. Remembering tales of the madness of the Anathema, Little Dragon determined that his new purpose should be to uncover the true cause of that madness and remove it, if possible. Gathering up some weapons and armor from the Anathema, he set out towards Nexus, in the hopes of finding a sage suitable.
However, on his journey through the Hundred Kingdoms, he encountered the Cult of the Illuminated. They sheltered him from the follow-up Wyld Hunts, gave him additional training, and helped him find the manse-tomb of Rumasa Lanan, the original owner of his razor claws. They also promised to help him in his quest to uncover the cause of the Solar Exalteds' madness, and in the meantime, he could continue his training.
Little Dragon, now calling himself Surely-Refulgent Anshu after a barely-remembered past Exaltation, opted instead to assist the mortals living in the region and began travelling a more-or-less regular circuit in one small corner of the Hundred Kingdoms, battling unruly gods, Fair Folk, and the occasional demon or hungry ghost, as well as bandits, slavers, and other more mundane threats. As the people of the area grew to know him and his deeds, they began to worship him. Anshu tried to discourage them from doing so, but his humility only impressed them more.
Unfortunately, the slavers and bandits soon learned the timing of his movements, and raided one of the settlements just before Anshu was to arrive, getting away with several young children. When he discovered what had happened, Anshu swore to rescue the children who had been taken and set out, following the slave caravan. He followed it all the way to Nexus, but once again, misfortune struck. Anshu became lost in the city on the way to the auction, and by the time he found the right place, Dhiren, one of the older boys – almost a grown man, but not quite – was sold to a depraved Dynast, Cynis Jesara.
Dhiren was forced to endure a night as her plaything before Anshu could find out who had bought him and where he'd been taken. Because he managed to make it through the night without having his will broken, Dhiren Exalted as a Lunar, and by the time Anshu fought his way through the Dynast's bodyguards, Dhiren had killed his tormentor and drunk her Heart's Blood.
In the days since they went into hiding in the city, Anshu has had prophetic dream telling him to remain in the city and Dhiren has discovered that he can remember some of his past lives and is trying to work through his newfound memories. Meanwhile, they are also trying to arrange for the other rescuees to be transported home.
