Sahyaadon

Sahyaadon
Official art of Barinak and their statue of Sahyaadon, by Clara.
Type	NPC
Actor	Matthew Mercer
Character Information
Name	Sahyaadon
Pronouns	she/they/it
Also known as	The Keeper of the Savage Heart
Languages	Common
Place	Zha'Vrollo, Gloomed Jungles, Aeshanadoor
Connections	The Wildmother (creator) The Gorgynei
Profession	Local idol
Status
Status	Alive
Appearances
First seen	"Call of the Wild" (3x41)
Stream	Campaign Three: Bells Hells (1 episode)

Sahyaadon, the Keeper of the Savage Heart, is an entity worshiped by the Gorgynei in Aeshanadoor, as a protector of both the hunter and the prey, a defender of the natural balance, and as a source of guidance and power to those who want to control their lycanthropy.

Description

Appearance

An old statue in the settlement of the Gorgynei depicts Sahyaadon as a bipedal being whose head is an amalgamation of three animal faces and jaws, and who holds in either hand a heart and a sapling. Their back is arched, with arms outthrust.

In her temple during Chetney's trial Sahyaadon presented herself in a beam of moonlight in which part of her changing beast-like face can barely be seen.

Personality

Sahyaadon is intimidating and merciless, actively mocking a lycanthrope if their answers in a trial aren't satisfactory. Despite that, she does grant her blessings to those that are worthy, and lets them know when she's proud of them.

History

Sahyaadon is a spirit created by Seraatani the Wildmother (either as an independent entity or as an extension of herself), and they represent the feral protective spirits of the jungle. For the last decade they have been venerated by the Gorgynei, as long as the group itself has existed. These lycanthropes aren't sure about their exact nature: some believe Sahyaadon has always existed, others that they are just a vigilant spirit under their creator's influence; they don't believe Sahyaadon is a champion.

Fan art of the Serataani statue in Zha'Vrollo, by Dixie Lee Henning.

The Keeper of the Savage Heart's temple is called Zha'Vrollo, and it is full of depictions of different beasts, as well as a statue of the Wildmother, bones, and humanoid remains. During the Apex War soldiers of the Stratos Throne used this place as a base of operations, until Sahyaadon herself intervened by driving them away or killing them. In this temple their followers meditate and are tested, and Sahyaadon manifests their powers and reveals to the Gorgynei the secrets to control their bestial forms. The form which the spirit takes varies, with tested individuals perceiving them in different ways.

In 843 PD Chetney Pock O'Pea underwent the Keeper's trial, successfully freeing himself of the influence of Ruidus in his lycanthropic transformations. However, many weeks later, when the blood hunter was visiting Kreviris in the red moon he encountered the five members of the Weave Mind, who revealed that they had been behind the strange connection between him and the Moon of Ill Omen; to prove it, they made him feel their power moving into his mind, despite Sahyaadon's protection.

Appearances and mentions

• Campaign Three: Bells Hells
  • "Compulsions" (3x40), mentioned only
  • "Call of the Wild" (3x41) (first appearance)
  • "Arrival at Kreviris" (3x87), mentioned only, indirect
  • "True Heroism" (3x91), mentioned only, unnamed

Trivia

• The word "hunters" translates to "alsayaadin" in Arabic.
• Chetney confirmed that Sahyaadon isn't a fey, fiend, or undead entity.
• Apparently Sahyaadon isn't the only bestial spirit of the Gloomed Jungles.
• There are some parallels between Sahyaadon and Uk'otoa, both being created by powerful deities, and having influence over domains controlled by their creators or over which said creators aspired to rule.
  • Their creators are mutual enemies, and the relationship of the idols with each of them is completely different: while Sahyaadon has a statue of the Wildmother in Zha'Vrollo, honoring her in their own temple, Uk'otoa tried to become a god and had temples of his own, being punished by the Cloaked Serpent for it.

References

Art: