Sarna
From The Heretic Knowledge Vault
Sarna | |
Race: | Elves |
Gender: | Female |
Introduction: | 2004/02/18 |
Appearances | |
Chapter 6 02/18, 02/20, 02/23 Chapter 36 11/05, 11/07, 11/10, 11/12 | |
Mentions | |
2003/11/24, 2004/02/16, 2006/05/12, 2008/02/13(?) |
Sarna is an elven ranger last seen in Saus, disguised as a human male for reasons described below by Poe. She left for Isabel, hunting the two errants purportedly headed that way. Though she is an acquaintance of Sarine, it would not be entirely correct to say that they trust one another. She has been around humans too long, according to Sarine; this could be because of her sarcastic attitude, her carelessness in maintaining her disguise (which is penetrated by the child Suzie), or because she was so easily fooled by a misdirection of Sarine's. The experience has given her a highly developed capacity for cynicism, whether directed at the Great Houses, Toren (whom she calls the "Lead Dead Moron"), or humanity in general.
In her human disguise, she bears a curious and no doubt coincidental resemblance to Gabriel's henchman. There may be an amusing, oblique reference to her in this disguise here, although it's not certain that the "friend" in question was Sarna.
She reappears later in the story, after being called back to Praenubilus Astu to join the mission to roust the sleeping Senilis. The ensuing, highly snarky dialogue makes it clear that she doesn't think much of Sarine's preference for running around (and otherwise getting involved...) with smelly humans rather than going and dying on the Senilis mission like a good little soldier. Sarna herself is taking a pragmatic view of the mission, even as she speaks contemptuously of "this ugly hole in the ground." Sarna, it appears, doesn't think very highly of anything, with the possible exception of herself. In this line, it may or may not be significant that Sorna is Spanish for "sarcasm," which could just about be her middle name. (Note that Sarna is Spanish for "seven-year itch" -- which probably isn't applicable.)
Poe Notes:| |
(Taken from this entry in the modern Forum)
Yes, the general idea with the illusion spells that Sarna uses is to make the illusion as close to your general body size and shape as possible for the easiest, most effect results. Trying to make yourself look like someone smaller or taller takes a great deal of effort to coordinate and will often come out looking odd and unnatural when it moves around and would require a complicated juggling act if you had to actually physically interact with a object during that. So, since Sarna is around 6'4" (Sarine is a very short 6' by elf standards) she chooses to look like a man as it would draw less attention than a 6'4" woman would.