Xilonen

Xilonen is a master blacksmith and Name Engraver of the Children of Echoes, trained in the craft of forging the obsidian stones that preserve Natlan’s Ancient Names. She inherited the Ancient Name Baraka, carried by heroes of her tribe across generations, and became one of the six warriors destined to answer Natlan’s war against the Abyss. Her craftsmanship extended far beyond Ancient Names, producing specialized equipment for other warriors while her work as a Name Engraver placed her directly within the traditions connecting Natlan’s living people to the Night Kingdom.

Xilonen later investigated a series of abnormal Blazegem Inscriptions created by her former mentor, Tlazolli. The devices were secretly stealing memories of Tlazolli’s deceased daughter, Nechca, from people throughout the tribe so those memories could be forced into the orphan Nepecha, whom Tlazolli had been passing off as her lost child. Xilonen pursued Tlazolli to her hidden workshop and helped stop the memory-transfer ritual, allowing Nechca’s spirit to appear one final time and say farewell. Tlazolli was taken into tribal custody, the corrupted inscriptions were destroyed, and Xilonen brought Nepecha into her own workshop while helping her rebuild the identity that had nearly been erased.

As the Abyssal war reached its climax, Xilonen’s inherited Baraka awakened as one of the six heroic Ancient Names needed for Mavuika’s plan. Mavuika then entrusted her with an unprecedented commission: forge an Ancient Name for the Traveler, an outsider whose deeds were not naturally recorded by the Night Kingdom. Using the Pilgrim’s Chronicle created to preserve those deeds, Xilonen succeeded in forging Tumaini, meaning “Hope,” the first Ancient Name of its kind. After testing its connection with Citlali, she delivered it for the final campaign, giving the Traveler the bond to Natlan needed for the decisive descent into the Night Kingdom.

Appearance: Xilonen is tall. She wears long, messy waves of pale blonde hair that fade to orange at the ends with a pair of feline ears and a tail that resemble both an ocelot and a jaguar. She has bright green eyes with cat-like pupils.

Xilonen wears two piercings on her ocelot-shaped ears: a black and gold triangular design with cyan accents, and a black ring-shaped piercing. She wears a black choker along with a large gold and silver necklace with diamond-shaped chains and a heart-shaped ornament, where her Geo Vision is attached. Her outfit features a white crop top with straps across the back, linked to a larger black underlayer top. She also wears hip-length jean shorts with frayed edges tied by a spiked belt with a metallic buckle.

She dons a loose off-shoulder sleeveless coat with grid patterns and black fur. Golden ornaments with orange gemstones dangle from the fur. The coat itself is a mix of black, white, gold, orange, and with long coattails extending to her calves and ending in triangular golden fringes. Her footwear consists of wedge sandals with straps that extend upward to her mid-calves. Xilonen's right arm is adorned with a black detached sleeve resembling an archer's bracer. Her left arm features various bracelets, with a larger silver and gold zigzag bracelet on her wrist. Both hands are decorated with rings, and her left thigh is embellished with golden diamond patterns and glittering golden sparks. Gold and black nail polish additionally adorns her fingers and toes.

Personality: Xilonen is relaxed, practical, direct, and fiercely professional about her work. She enjoys sleeping whenever her schedule allows and dislikes unnecessary complications, but once she accepts a commission she becomes intensely focused on getting every detail right. Her easygoing demeanor hides enormous confidence in her own craftsmanship, and difficult problems usually interest her more than intimidate her. She values clear agreements, proper preparation, and personal responsibility, particularly when Ancient Names or memories are involved because mistakes in that work can permanently damage another person’s identity.

Tlazolli was Xilonen’s mentor in Name Engraving, making the discovery of her crimes especially personal; Xilonen still stopped her without allowing that history to excuse what she had done. Nepecha becomes someone Xilonen actively protects afterward, bringing her into the workshop and helping her reclaim a life of her own. Kachina trusts Xilonen’s craftsmanship and uses the machinery she created for her, while Mavuika trusts Xilonen enough to assign her a task considered impossible by ordinary Name Engraving standards. The Traveler becomes both that impossible commission and a trusted ally, while Citlali works with Xilonen when the newly forged Ancient Name must be tested safely.

Combat Overview: Xilonen fights as a fast-moving Geo swordswoman, using her blade alongside the roller-blade mechanisms built into her equipment. By entering a Nightsoul-enhanced state, she can skate rapidly around enemies, climb difficult terrain, and deliver swift Geo-infused strikes while repositioning almost constantly. Her combat style favors mobility and technical control over brute force, letting her stay close enough to pressure an opponent without becoming an easy target.

Her equipment can also generate Source Samples attuned to the elemental powers of nearby allies. Once fully activated, these samples weaken an enemy’s resistance to the corresponding elements, allowing Xilonen to open targets up for much heavier attacks from her companions. She can additionally unleash a powerful Geo shockwave through her musical equipment, either striking the surrounding area again or channeling restorative energy to heal an ally depending on how her Source Samples have been configured.