[hider=Zarha] [center][color=a9a9a9][h2]C H A R A C T E R S H E E T T E M P L A T E[/h2][/color][/center] [center][sup][color=a9a9a9]———————[/color][/sup][/center] [table][row][cell][color=Gainsboro] [hr][h2][color=#f6cba0]Zahra[/color][/h2][hr] [color=f6cba0][sub][b]Appearance[/b][/sub][/color] [justify]Standing at 1.72m, Zahra's lean, tall body and elegant posture give her a regal beauty which is only accentuated by the crown of feathers in her head. Despite that, a closer look hints at her dangerous, predatory nature. From sharp claws and talons to eyes that seem to watch every move, a quick look is all it takes for one to realize the danger that lies beneath her elegant appearance. Mostly wearing shawls and robes of light fabric, Zahra often favors practical clothes, suited both to protect her from the elements but also do not restrict her movements be it for flight or fight. The warm, sandy hues help both in avoiding excessive heat and unwanted attention due to her plumage. While Zahra was taught to travel light, she often carries a small knapsack on her back with some essential utilities for survival in the desert, including a leather waterskin for emergencies.[/justify] [color=f6cba0][sub][b]Personality & Reputation[/b][/sub][/color] [justify] Life in the harsh deserts of Verja taught Zahra to be always alert and vigilant. Her few words and sharp gaze give the impression of an aloof and distant woman when in reality, both life and her elders taught her that to trust too easily is to make oneself vulnerable, especially in the unforgiving lands of Verja... A lesson that has not yet failed in keeping her safe and alive. While her reputation as a guide and guard to those seeking to cross the Verjan deserts did earn her quite a bit respect and even some admiration, the stories told by some of how she seems to show no hesitation before swiftly dealing with bandits and raiders also made many treat her with a great amount of caution. Despite this somewhat mixed reputation, those who approach Zahra with good intentions, given enough time, often find to be a rather warm and approachable woman. After earning her trust, her cold demeanor warms and gives way to genuine interest and care. Only when Zahra finally shows to genuinely enjoy their presence and companionship that she finally starts opening herself in order to learn more about those she considers close. [/justify] [color=f6cba0][sub][b]History[/b][/sub][/color] [justify] [hider=History] Zahra's family history can be traced back to the first great massacre the Eidola suffered under the hands of the Huma. Many Eidola chose to isolate themselves into the mountains, but Zahra's ancestors, doubting the Humas' greed wouldn't find a way to follow them there, chose a different path, taking refuge into the dangerous and conflict ridden lands of Verja. The first years were tough. Adapting to a completely different land and style of life wasn't easy for an Eidola. From the scorching heat to the lack of water, to brush was an almost daily occurrence for them. With time and thanks to the merchant caravans they worked for as helpers and sometimes scouts, they learned not only the tricks to navigate the scorching heat but how to navigate the land. From animals and creatures that could be hunted even in the scorching desert in an emergency and how accurately find oasis to replenish their supplies of water to even techniques to conserve as much water as possible when traveling, all this knowledge acquired via good connections and valuable, albeit passing, friends. Years passed and through the generational knowledge left by her elders, Zahra has more than earned her place among the small community of Eidolas who made the harsh deserts their new home. With a reputation of one of the best guides of the region, she has earned the luxury of being selective with her contracts. Some of this is due to the connections her family built over the years with merchant caravans, who provide her with privileged information regarding safe routes, where bandits and raiders are least active. This relationship with the trading caravans also made it possible for both to plan their routes and specify a temporary 'checkpoint' of sorts, where the merchant caravans can sell their wares to the group Zahra is guiding and both of them can trade both resources and information. In the other hand, keeping neutrality regarding the ongoing conflict between the Aquus and Ceir clans allow her, much like most of the merchant caravans, to avoid the worst consequences of the civil war. With that said, the bloodstained sands of Verja, while being considered by Zahra as her home, began feeling rather suffocating. With the civil war starting to become fiercer and the desert more dangerous, keeping neutrality has began to get increasingly harder, not only for Zahra, but even the merchant caravans. Her knowledge about the desert and the trade routes, shared with the merchant caravans began being considered as valuable knowledge... Both for each one of the clans, seeking to steal resources and hinder the other but also for the bandits and raiders, who also feel the relation between both clans getting more tenuous. In a short time, the Verja desert began feeling like a barrel of powder. Tense relations between both clans meaning a single spark was enough for an all-out war to break out and the silent, always present threat of the dormant Mount Atyunnata risking making the metaphor of a 'barrel of powder' more than just a metaphor. With risks far beyond what Zahra could predict or prepare for, and a target slowly being painted on the back of anyone who refused to choose a side, leaving Verja became not a desire, but a necessity... even if only temporarily. [/hider] [/justify] [color=f6cba0][sub][b]Strengths & Limitations[/b][/sub][/color] [justify][hider=Strengths][center][b]Skirmisher[/b][/center] Zahra's fighting style is heavily based on agility and mobility. Her agility and speed, both in the air and the ground, allow her to excel in sudden attacks, ambushes or hit and run tactics. She also makes ample use of tactics such as using her wings to blow up sand or dust to either create openings for attack, disorient or even allow her to run or reposition. Her great stamina, thanks both to her light equipment and her physiology allow her to employ attrition tactics with great efficiency or at least makes it easier to run away if outnumbered or outmatched. [b][center]Natural Weapons[/center][/b] Being trained to use her claws, talons and sometimes even her beak in melee combat make her strikes unpredictable and quite dangerous against cloth or leather armor. While she can still aim to strike between the plates of an armor or use pure impact to try and deal damage, she has no means to 'pierce' any kind of heavy and metallic armor. Her kicks, even when not taking in consideration her talons, still are deceptively strong due to her long legs and can cause substantial blunt damage. [b][center]Thrown weapons[/center][/b] Besides being useful in a myriad of ways for survival, Zahra carries a number of throwing knives with her, hidden in many pockets and folds of her cloak and robes. While having nowhere near the range of a proper ranged weapon, their effective range is still enough to allow her to use them quite effectively at short to middle range. [b][center]Survivalist[/center][/b] While most of her knowledge about survival is specific to the arid and desert regions of Verja, Zahra still has enough knowledge to allow her to survive almost exclusively of the things the land can provide, given enough time to familiarize with the region. While graver wounds are still dangerous, her knowledge also allow her to quickly perform first-aid in order to treat minor to medium wounds and at least stabilize graver ones, allowing her to seek proper care. [b][center]Connections - Merchant caravans[/center][/b] Thanks to her and her family's close relation with the merchant caravans passing through Verja, they have come to respect and trust and respect her to quite some degree. Calling in a few favors or asking for assistance in times of need are much more likely when dealing with said caravans. Information and trust are the most valuable things a merchant can trade. [b][center]Sharp senses[/center][/b] Zahra's senses of hearing and vision are particularly keen. In the other hand, her sense of smell is relatively poor when compared to the other races. [b][center]Heat and cold resistance[/center][/b] Generations living in the Verjan deserts allowed Zahra and those of her lineage to physiologically adapt to live in such harsh environment, allowing her to more easily deal with both the scorching heat of the desert days and the freezing nights. She is also able to survive with reduced water intake when compared to normal Eidolas. [/hider] [hider=Limitations] [b][center]Agile Fighter[/center][/b] While her attacks, especially kicks, can have a surprising amount of strength behind them, Zahra's fighting style is still mainly based on speed and agility. She is not fit for direct contests of strength and if restrained, by any means, become quite vulnerable. [b][center]Code of honor[/center][/b] Nothing is forgotten. Favor or grievance, trust or betrayal. [b][center]Light traveler[/center][/b] Traveling light is more than just a preference. It is a necessity. Carrying more than necessary does more than just slow her down. It affects her traveling speed and even her fighting and flying. [b][center]Humid environment[/center][/b] Despite her resistance to cold and heat, Zahra is not suited to humid environments. A hot and humid environment can affect her stamina and movement as feathers retain humidity. Cold and wet environments risk hypothermia and freezing, despite her cold resistance. [b][center]Grace fails against steel[/center][/b] Zahra's inability to deal with heavy armor means that outside of relying on blunt damage with her kicks, she is not able to pierce heavy armor. Armored targets and especially shielded formations are especially dangerous and should not be engaged if there is a choice.[/hider] [/justify] [color=f6cba0][sub][b]Miscellaneous[/b][/sub][/color] [justify]Her name, Zahra comes from the Arabic root ز هـ ر (z–h–r), which is related to to brightness, blossoming, shining and radiance. [/justify][/color][/cell][cell][sub][sup][color=2e2c2c]____________________________________________________________________________[/color][/sup][/sub][hr][color=Gainsboro][h3]◤ [sub]“[color=f6cba0]Warmth, like water, is not freely given. It is earned.[/color]”[/sub][/h3][/color] [img=portrait goes here]https://i.postimg.cc/jSHFdDDL/perfect2.png[/img] [hr][color=f6cba0][b]Full Name:[/b][/color] Zahra ibn Mālik [color=f6cba0][b]Age:[/b][/color] 20 [color=f6cba0][b]Voice Claim:[/b][/color] Nika Futterman as Asajj Ventress [color=f6cba0][b]Race:[/b][/color] Eidola [color=f6cba0][b]Birthplace:[/b][/color] Verja [color=f6cba0][b]Occupation:[/b][/color] Guide [color=f6cba0][b]Affiliation(s):[/b][/color] None [hr][/cell][/row][/table] [center][sup][color=a9a9a9]———————[/color][/sup][/center] [/hider]