Soken

Soken was once an obscure composer, hopping from commission to commission to make melodies for unremarkable productions. His work was exceptional, but he never attained recognition. Through luck and social connections, he entered a prestigious theater company and began work there. His talents were finally recognized, and he began leading its singers and orchestra with his many songs, diverse in genre and mood. Soken researches his music painstakingly with the help of his lyricist, employing leitmotifs and evocative lyrics to make his compositions powerful. His most emotional songs can sometimes reduce the audience to tears. Some critics wonder whether his music carries the whole production.

His good fortune could not last forever. Many years into his career, Soken became deathly ill. He quietly excused himself from the production as he waited for treatment and results. He found himself with the Empyreal because they offered comfortable accommodations and experimental cures created from toxins. But he refused to wait in his sickbed and see whether he was destined to die in his middle age. As Soken received his painful treatment from the Empyreal over many months, he put his pen to paper with the help of his lyricist and composed a striking ballad about mortality as a method of coping with his dilemma. His masterwork was brought back to his coworkers, and it was used to great results. He was comforted by this success, a small victory in the fight for his life.

After this harrowing period, he reemerged in public, given a stay of execution. Soken is unsure of how much time he has left, but he will never stop creating until he is physically unable to. Both the theater company and its audience embraced him and celebrated his return.

Though he is not an Empyreal clan member, he is always welcome to return for checkups and further treatment. When Empyreal clan members encounter him in person, they are struck by his humility, earnestness, and love of comedy. Despite his fame and his suffering, he keeps a remarkably good attitude with his eyes on the future.