Editing Haya Mipaq (section)

== Life ==

Crippled by a childhood illness, Haya grew up pursuing a life of the mind, buying and borrowing many books on many subjects, with a bias toward studies of thaumaturgy and the occult. As a child of two cultures, in a border city, while anticipating that she'd be too disabled to become a full Haltan citizen, Haya acquired particularly cosmopolitan perspectives.

When she was 10, a cataphract named Velka attacked people in the city and was somehow caught.  She was straightforwardly sentenced to death, but Haya stepped in to speak to her, and learned Velka had offended Yseult, the fairy queen to the north, and been ordered to 'count coup' by attacking Haltans and escaping -- or submitting peacefully to Haltan law if cornered.  Struck by the fae's beauty and outrage at an unjust order, she begged her mother to commute the sentence to service, saying she would be responsible for the raksha.  Her mother reluctantly agreed, sentencing Velka to ten years sworn service to Haya, unless her daughter began to weaken. But Haya's dreams were sufficient to support Velka, who became her constant companion, and often transport.

Ten years later, Velka, marked by Haya's kind treatment, voluntarily swore life service to Haya as her twilight knight, in preference to returning to the whims of a raksha court.  Probable 'life' turned out to be longer than expected, when Haya in turn Exalted as a Twilight Solar.

With a new ability to walk on her own, and many mystical abilities beside, Haya has since traveled the east, with a preference of seeking out libraries or people to study with.  Although compassionate to those immediately in need, she's sought to avoid heavy commitment in that line.  "Learn now, help later."

In Sijan, visiting the museums and seeking access to the libraries, she met the mortal mortician Asphodel, who later as a Zenith joined her in Halta; together they pacified the ancient Lunar ghost who'd stalked the land.

Rumors of the Eternal Library was irresistible to her, with the bonus of seeing a new land.

Haya is kind and friendly. As a pampered child of a pampered nation, she's inclined to be trusting, perhaps too much so.  Then again, so far it has served her well.  Unlike most Haltans, she doesn't hate Linowans as a people, and wishes peace could be found, but hasn't been outspoken about it.  Intellectually she knows most raksha are dangerous, but her gut feelings aren't those of most people.

Like most Haltans, Haya has a pet, in her case a san-beast emerald monkey that used to fetch things for her and help her with small tasks. She needs him less now, but he's still a constant companion.