X's Character Q&A (Patreon)

Hey gang! The voting for the poll came in, and once again 50% of you voted for X - although R was a very close runner-up this time.

There were also a LOT of questions sent in this time that will be answered for this  Q&A, as well as ones I have saved for the other LIs in their future Q&As (mainly R and A) ✨

Onto X's Q&A!

What is your favorite recreational activity?
"Do you want me to answer that honestly, or are there children present?"

Please sanitize it as best you can.
"Well, mainly I enjoy the company of others. Spending time, and such [wink]. Anything that makes me some coin is a bonus, as well.

"Oh, and the brutal but righteous mercenary killing of deserving targets. That's fun too. Sorry, is that also child-inappropriate?"

...Do you have other hobbies that don't involve coin, murder or sex?
"Whittling."

You're joking.
"Obviously--I'm not elderly. I do enjoy a good spar, so I suppose... physical activities, something involving competition? Archery is fun as well, and I'm pretty good at throwing knives."

Speaking of murderous hobbies, how many close shaves have you had in your lifetime, and what was your most recent near-death experience like?
"Close shaves? Oh, too many to count. If I had to put a number on it, it would probably be in the dozens. More so in my youth, to be fair.

"My most recent one would probably be one from about four years ago. The Blades were hired to collect the heads of a few kidnappers holding people hostage and extorting money from a town in the north of Zerat.

"The problem was that the kidnappers were being sponsored by a noble lord something-or-other, I don't remember the name. Long story short, there were a lot more kidnappers present than we were told, inside a small fortress, and half of them were soldiers from the provincial army."

How did you manage?
"Fair's fair--I abducted their lord. Once we made the exchange and the hostages were released, they put a bounty on my head. While I ran and had the idiots chase me, the Blades broke into their fortress and set the whole outpost ablaze.

"Anyway, I took an arrow to my back for being reckless, and fell off my horse. I wouldn't say I was near-death, exactly, but it was an extremely unpleasant experience.

"Damned horse."

Is that why you dislike horses?
"Oh, no, it's not for any traumatic reason. They're ugly beasts with horrible teeth and I hate them. That's all there is to it."

Alright then. Do you have a historic figure you admire, and if so, why?
"Would probably have to be Jin the Adventurer. She rode on the back of a Rukh once, you know."

That's a character from a children's book.
"You can't prove that she didn't exist."

Be serious. There are no stories of historical figures that you look up to?
"The only story that matters is mine."

What was the name that you were given by your mother? Did you maintain it, or choose another?
"She named me Çiya (mountain). When I was old enough to decide on my own name I chose Xelef/Xelara. Another hero from a storybook. I think I was... thirteen, maybe fourteen.

"...It was after my village burned down."

Have you lied to the Crown?
"Yes."

Do you regret it?
"...No."