# Sssuri — Star Born character guide

> Sssuri in Star Born by Andre Norton.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Sssuri

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-planetfall

## Snapshot

A gray-furred merman scout whose round eyes know the sea floor and whose bone spear answers to a human friend's silence.

## Who they are

Sssuri moves between the merpeople's underwater world and Dalgard's land-bound colony, bound to the human by a rapport that needs no speech. His rainbow-tipped pelt and barbed bone blade mark him as alien, yet his loyalty to Dalgard is total and unhesitating. As the aliens' grip on Astra tightens, Sssuri's knowledge of the deep gives the two voyagers their only edge.

## Relationships

### [Dalgard Nordis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/characters/dalgard_nordis)

_friendship_

Dalgard and Sssuri share a deep, cross-species bond of trust and companionship, forged through shared adventures and mutual understanding.

### [Raf Kurbi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/characters/raf_kurbi)

_social_

Raf and Sssuri have minimal direct contact, but share a respectful awareness through Dalgard.

### [Dalgard Nordis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/characters/dalgard_nordis)

_friendship_

Dalgard and Sssuri share a deep, cross-species bond of trust and companionship, forged through shared adventures and mutual understanding.

### [Dalgard Nordis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/characters/dalgard_nordis)

_friendship_

Dalgard and Sssuri share a deep, cross-species bond of trust and companionship, forged through shared adventures and mutual understanding.

## In the story

### [Star Born](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/star-born)

Accompanies Dalgard, sharing knowledge of the mermen's history and the dangers of the 'Those Others'.

### [Shooting Star](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/i-shooting-star)

Paddles in the bow, fishes, senses the runners' migration, and leads the inland investigation.

### [III: Snake-Devil’s Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/iii-snake-devil-s-trail)

Hunts alongside Dalgard, uses mind-questing to gather information from animals, and warns of ancient dangers.

### [V: Banded Devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/v-banded-devil)

Leads the hunt, expresses deep hatred for the city as a place of sorrow and separation, and uses his spear and thought-questing abilities.

### [Many Eyes, Many Ears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/vii-many-eyes-many-ears)

Argues against the return of Those Others, helps conceal evidence of their visit, and leads the effort to broadcast a warning through animal minds.

### [Sea Gate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/ix-sea-gate)

Leads the escape, senses the hunters, and opens the sea lock hatch.

### [XI: Espionage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/xi-espionage)

Sssuri interprets the spy's report, leads Dalgard to the slain merman, and climbs the island to investigate. He communicates with the merpeople and translates Dalgard's purpose.

### [A Hound Is Loosed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/xiii-a-hound-is-loosed)

Departed to warn and rally the merman tribes; not present in the chapter but referenced.

### [XV: Arena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/xv-arena)

Mentioned as Dalgard's companion; Dalgard tries to reach him mentally for help.

### [XVI: Surprise Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/xvi-surprise-attack)

Sssuri is mentioned as having previously guided Dalgard and is referenced in the context of the mermen's knowledge and the threat from Those Others.

### [XVII: Destruction Unleashed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/xvii-destruction-unleashed)

Implied among the mermen; participates in the destruction and later in the defense against the hound.

### [Not Yet—](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/chapters/xviii-not-yet)

Present during the mental communication attempt, sitting with Dalgard and Raf.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/characters/sssuri
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/star_born_se/characters