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Vanho Soma

"I bear two ghosts on my shoulders. They have not yet been avenged."
— Said to one of his magicians, on the anniversary of Anon's death

Peer of Soma. Warrior-mage, "disturbingly handsome," pride burning under his composure. The third Soma to inherit the peerage in his lifetime — both of his elder twin brothers were murdered, and he carries the entire Soma vendetta against the Guild of Usurers and Sophet Drahas alone.

The Inheritance

Vanho is the youngest of three brothers:

  • Anon Soma — eldest. Head of the family. Killed by Usurer assassins. The first wound.
  • Aghovar Soma — middle. Grand Master of the Guild of Thieves. Killed by Sophet Drahas himself, who took the Devil card and the Talisman of Shadows from him. The second wound.
  • Vanho Soma — youngest. Now Peer.

He inherited too young, too fast, and twice over. The court of Soma is heavy with absences.

Who He Is

  • Trained warrior-mage — both martial and esoteric tradition. The Soma family's "esoteric traditions" run multi-generationally; Vanho's magicians are careful never to display their full power.
  • Pride first — his composure is iron, but a Soma never forgets a slight. The vendetta is not just family duty to him; it is personal.
  • Patron of the bohemian quarter — the Soma family keeps Heaven Heights alive as the artistic district. Vanho personally funds three painters, two poets, and the Last Dance cabaret (which is technically owned by his niece Isabeau).
  • Diplomatically careful — knows the Soma family cannot win the vendetta in open conflict and that the Duke needs the upper city stable

Relations

  • Isabeau Soma (niece) — Anon's daughter. Operates as a Guild of Blades senior, hunts Drahas personally. Vanho funds her quietly.
  • [[Sayuri Soma]] (half-elf cousin) — runs the Cameon Mansion magic school in Heaven Heights
  • [[Brehnan of Alahan]] — Alahan ambassador at Whitehaven; long-standing diplomatic ally
  • Sophet Drahas — primary enemy
  • Guild of Usurers — open vendetta
  • Duke Den Azhir — uneasy ally. The Duke needs Soma stability; Vanho needs the Duke's protection.

The third brother

A senior magician of the Soma family approaches the party privately. Vanho is not yet aware that his magicians have located a possible site of Aghovar's hidden personal vault — one that may contain notes on where Drahas held the Talisman of Shadows immediately after the killing. The magician wants the party to recover the notes before telling Vanho, because the magician fears Vanho's pride will push him into immediate confrontation.

The fourth wound

Someone has been seen at night in Heaven Heights who matches Anon Soma's description from before his death. He is not a ghost — he speaks, he eats, he sleeps. Vanho has not yet been told. His magicians are deciding whether to tell him.