Ruha

Ruha was an outcast spellcaster of the Mtair Dhafir tribe, and a member of the Harpers, that famously helped unite Bedine people during the mid–14 century DR.

Description
Still in her mid–20s as of the 1360s DR, Ruha had elegant good looks that were highlighted by her striking eyes, that were often the only feature that was visible behind the veil and shawl she regularly wore. Her cheeks were marked by tattoos in the form of a small pattern of crossed lines.

Personality
Ruha was a confident and determined individual that fiercely valued her independence and freedom to make her own choices. While experienced great sadness and isolation in her life, she was quite selective about whom she allowed to be close to her. Ruha made sure that those around her treated her with respect, even when doing so would break from Bedine custom.

After leaving her homeland, Ruha's actions showed that she had something to prove, more so to herself than others. It was during this time when her confidence faltered, and she was forced to rediscover her place in a new and different world.

Possessions
Ruha owned a jambiya that was extremely important to her, as it was a gift from her foster mother and first tutor of the arcane arts.

Relationships
Ruha was born to her mother, one of the wives of Sheikh Sabkhat, leader of the Mtairi tribe. She did not have much of a relationship with either of her parents; Ruha's mother died when she was only five years old, and Sheikh Sabkhat exiled his daughter to the a isolated oasis when when it became apparent she was having visions, an affliction that was shunned by the Bedine. The two would share a brief reunions twice more in Ruha's life, though in both instances Sabkhat wanted nothing to do with his daughter for fear of how it would affect the Mtairi people.

For years Ruha was raised by Qoha'dar, the witch that dwelled alone in the Sister of Rains oasis. A fellow exile of the Bedine, Qoha'dar taught Ruha how to wield arcane magic and use that power to survive in the harsh Anauroch desert.

Ruha enjoyed a very brief marriage with the proud Qahtani warrior Ajaman, before his untimely death mere days after their union. She traveled with his younger brother Kadumi for some time, becoming quite fond of the young man, despite his immature overbearance and strict adherence to the more antiquated Bedine traditions.

Not long after Ajaman's death, Ruha became quite close to Lander, an outsider of the Bedine that was acting as an agent of the Harpers. Despite the custom of waiting two years after a husband's death to remarry, Ruha shared her tent with Lander

While serving on a mission for the Harpers in Elversult, Ruha garnered the infatuation of Prince Tang of the Ginger Palace. While the pampered Shou nobleman believed he was in love with the "wu-jen" Ruha, she did not return his affection.

History
As a child, Ruha would often have visions of things to come. This was seen by her tribe, the Mtair Dhafir, as a sign of witchcraft, and she was outcast by her father, the sheikh. She was then raised by Qoha'dar, a much older outcast woman, who taught her magic until she died, upon which point Ruha returned to her tribe. To avoid half his tribe leaving, her father arranged for her to marry a warrior from the Qahtani tribe, a man named Ajaman. After the death of Ajaman and the Qahtani at the hands of the Zhentarim, Ruha and Kadumi, Ajaman's brother set off to warn the Mtair Dhafir of the Zhentarim. They later came across a young Harper by the name of Lander, whose mission it was to stop the Zhentarim from opening a trade route across Anauroch. Together, the three of them saw to it that many of the desert tribes formed an alliance against the Zhentarim, although Ruha was the only one of the three to survive to see them succeed.

Sometime after leaving the Anauroch, Storm Silverhand sent her to Voonlar as part of a mission to disrupt a slave trade. Due to her inexperience, with cultures outside the Bedine, the mission failed.

Ruha was then sent to Elversult, to help restore the Lady Yanseldara, from a magical coma induced by the dracolich Cypress and his Cult of the Dragon cell.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Harpers series (The Parched Sea • The Veiled Dragon) • Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad • The Siege