Jan Naula
Zafiil's college friend and the eventual WorldDancer of Quapendai.
Appearance and Personality
Cool, calm alto.[1] Initially, slate gray with only slightly lighter smoke surfaces, and fire surfaces a dull red. Has a reserved personality; a female of few words.
Her pelt gradually lightens until, by the time the Alliance arrives, she is revealed as one of Faulza's Eyes, with fully white and red fur.
Biography
During Zafiil's lifetime
Born on Quafiirla to the Firemother of a village, but fostered on the Seeker’s Side before attending the Hearth.[2] At Hearth was a sympathetic companion to Zafiil; interestingly, her curriculum was a mystery: "Zafiil had never discovered exactly what Jan was studying for, since very few curricula lasted as long as an Emis- sary’s."[3] At the end of Zafiil's tenure, Zafiil asked her to come with her, on her ship, and Jan refused. "Why would He place us on this path together, and then demand we walk it apart? I don't understand!" Jan replies: "You don't know. But when you do, I'll be here."[3]
After graduation from the Hearth, while Zafiil and her yearmates were away on their ships, she traveled Quapendai, learning about different towns and the needs of the Faulfenza there. This made her an obvious candidate for the position of WorldDancer when Anza stepped down. She was preparing for that when Zafiil returned as the FireBorn; they met again at Zafiil's first worldcast in Oolen. "Now you know," Jan said, and Zafiil answered: "Now I know. You were right to stay."[4]
She was Danced into office as WorldDancer in the first year of Zafiil's ministry, by Zafiil and Daqan, in Oolen. Zafiil declined to Dance at this event: "One day, these Faulfenza would return to this recording and see that Jan's naming as WorldDancer had been an event worth of singularity, even in the FireBorn's era, and they would know why that was right. Previous WorldDancers had been mediators of the minor conflicts of a people accustomed to having entire worlds to spread out on. Their newest WorldDancer would be remembered forever as the female who negotiated the treaties with the Others, and saw their entrance onto the galactic stage and into the Golden Age."[5] Later, Jan asks her if the Others will come, and Zafiil tells her that they won't, that the Faulfenza will go to meet them again when they're ready. Jan observes that Zafiil does not speak of herself when referring to these negotiations, and Zafiil divulges that Jan will have to do it alone. "Fitting," Jan says. "Since you had a task that I could not share."[5]
While accompanying Zafiil on her tours, Jan oversaw the construction of the memorial and port where she would later meet the Others.
Before her death, Zafiil gave Jan Tristan's cord and the cap to Dar Allen's data wand, saying that she was now the custodian of the Alliance ambassador's gift, and Tristan's memory. With it, she bequeathed the instructions and ability to lock/unlock the wand's contents and access to the Slipstream (Daqan being the only other person to be given this access).
Their parting, at the final family gathering in Paidiiza, was difficult for them both. At this time, Zafiil gives her final instructions as the FireBorn, and Jan, in her office as the Eye of Faulza, tells her to go to Qodii, and her reward at last. Zafiil says: "As the Eye has seen, and as Faulza speaks through her, I go. But it is Zafiil who speaks when she says she loves this friend who has been steadfast, her rock in all the years they've known one another."[6]
After Zafiil
In 311 BA, 61 years after Zafiil's death, Jan arranged for the Alliance to find the Faulfenza, and welcomed their ambassador to Qufiil in company with the Fenzazafiir, Renii, Daqan and Luna and Zaun.[7]
Family
- Lifemate: Zor Quzen
Timeline
- Being of age with Zafiil (a few years younger) puts Jan's birth year at 2349. That means she is 122 years old when the Alliance is formed.
- She is 372 years old when Zafiil dies.
- She is 433 years old when the Alliance comes to Qufiil and she oversees the treaty.
- By the time of the Chatcaavan War, she is 603 years old, and some 113 or so years younger than Daqan at that time.
Quotes
- "You're not strange. You're just as the God intended to make you. Remember that. You'll need to."[8]
- "And this is what He made me for. I’ll come into my colors when they’ll serve to convince the fearful that this is the true course."[4]
- "While you are here, I will follow you. There will be work for me wherever I go. [...] I had to leave you once. Never again."[9]