Info
By Nikuchan .
[NAME]: Shani Idris
Last Known Location(s): The Sanctum Subterraneous
Known Affiliations: The Red Knight, The Squires, The Order Eleison, The Lost
Shani Idris is a backborn human of African-Egyptian descent, standing among the highest-ranking disciples of The Red Knight. These attributes, coupled with her feats in reportedly rescuing and protecting up to several-hundred wanderers, are what qualify her as a Person of Interest to the M.E.G.
Abilities
Although biologically human, Shani possesses a host of anomalous abilities. Most apparent is her immortality, as she has lived since ancient times. She also has demonstrated enhanced stamina and speed, super strength, and advanced no-clipping abilities.
Artistic representation of Shani's naboot.
As her primary weapon, Shani wields a customized naboot, which she utilizes in an ancient Egyptian martial art known as Tahtib. Shani's personal style combines elements from both the traditional and modern iteration of tahtib, turning any battle into a frenetic dance relying on rhythm, coordination and raw power. Her weapon resonates with her skills, causing more damage when she coordinates herself with her opponent and maintains a frequent rhythm, while also pumping more adrenaline within her circulatory system when said criteria are met. Between physical attacks, her weapon can summon explosive energy-based attacks resembling crimson flames, destroying everything in their vicinity. However, according to Shani, she requires perfect concentration in order to cast such attacks, which is difficult to achieve in the heat of battle. All of her acquired abilities match her fighting style, entirely relying on it in order to work correctly and allow Shani to fight to the best of her ability.
Shani was not naturally born with all these abilities, and was originally a mortal human in ancient times. She claims to have acquired and honed her abilities through her training as a student under The Red Knight, and unlocked her full potential in a battle to the death. This also resulted in her weapon and her "soul" becoming linked together, in her own words, which is one of the primary sources of her well-coordinated fighting style. She seems either unaware of the specific catalyst for this transformation, or rather hesitant to reveal it.
Personality
As opposed to The Red Knight, Shani is far more approachable to wanderers. She has often been described as upbeat and kind, with many claiming to have received advice and encouragement from her in their encounters. She has also assisted in defending M.E.G. outposts (particularly those based within levels 1 and 2) from entity attacks alongside The Red Knight. Witness reports seem to indicate that Shani and The Red Knight often travel together, with neither being too far from each other. The Red Knight will usually let Shani take care of her own problems, only intervening if she becomes overwhelmed or overpowered. Shani may also "bless" the weapons of the wanderers that she saves, imbuing them with a trace of her energy to enhance their performance.
Relations
The Red Knight: It is apparent that The Red Knight seems to share a romantic relationship with Shani. His treatment of her has shown to be tender and affectionate, exposing dimensions of his personality beyond the stoic demeanor that wanderers are familiarized with. He has described Shani as a "lifelong partner" – and in turn, Shani has described him in similar terms. He seems to deeply admire her strength, determination, and leadership capabilities.
The Squires: The Squires have expressed utmost devotion and appreciation towards Shani, seemingly regarding her just as highly as The Red Knight himself. They have described her as both a mentor figure and a comrade in battle.
The Order Eleison: Ancient records recovered from the Sanctum Subterraneous described Shani as a kind-hearted woman who is strong and selfless, but also harsh when needed. All accounts held great respect for Shani, even towards the disbandment of the group.
History
Shani was formerly a member of The Lost, estimated to have been born in the Backrooms approximately several-thousand years ago and growing up in a village for most of her youth. She always wanted to become a fighter to prevent tragedies from befalling her people, who generally lacked the ability to efficiently defend themselves as well as modern humans. It was upon meeting The Red Knight that Shani would finally be able to realize her dream, as she began to train under him as a student. Her first feats consisted of eliminating minor threat-level entities in her home village. According to Shani, her training was harsh, and The Red Knight hardly allowed her to accompany him on more dangerous quests. It was only by challenging him to a duel and holding her own that she proved her strength as a warrior who could fight by his side.
In the past, Shani and The Red Knight would take on beasts of all kinds, while offering aid to those who were most in need. As the years passed by, Shani conceptualized the idea of expanding their cause by forming a group of warriors with the same shared goal of protecting the inhabitants of The Backrooms. This idea would take root in the form of "The Order Eleison". At its prime, the group was four-hundred strong, all of which directly trained by Shani and The Red Knight. This group is responsible for the extinction of several hostile entity species, but eventually disbanded for reasons which Shani refuses to disclose. Based on ancient legends, however, it may be speculated that this coincided with the collapse of The Lost and their pantheon.
Today, Shani still continues her duty as normal alongside the Squires and The Red Knight, even if no longer under the name of a group.