![[Image: 9EGwczv.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/9EGwczv.jpg)
Thank you SentaiPink for the amazing artwork <3
Name: Zarkaylia "Zark" Karalis Duras
Age: Around 64, exact date of birth unknown ICly
Gender: Female
Race: Half-blood Xitian without powers. Mesalian.
Appearance:
Zarkaylia stands at 5'7'', a not very tall woman and by no means frail looking. She looks to be in her 50s with her share of fine lines and her silvery grays of wavy/curly and mostly messy long hair. A splash of white hairs on the right side of her head has started to show after head trauma. She's a woman with curves, wide hips, and a chest after childbearing, along with the muscles of an old warrior that's not stopped her training for any longer periods for her entire life. She might not be the tallest but strong and muscular will stand sturdy and immovable. With the years she's grown to look a bit sewy as the underskin fat of youth grow less. This also contributes to her looking a tad smaller with age.
Her eyes carry a Xitian vibrant red color, contradicting her every past claim of being a Mesalian, and her brows are often stuck in a frown, be it when she's on her guard, alert, or simply facing troubles. Her lips are of the thicker kind and her jawline and bit high cheekbones give away her stubbornness and determination.
Faded scars cover her entire body; face, arms, legs, hands, torso, you name it. The markings of brutal torture and many battles over the years. She have not cared about getting new scars for decades now. Most prominent these days are still burn scars from some years ago on the left side of her face and on her hands and arms. She's also lost half her left ear.
Hair: Silver with a splash of white on the right side of her head.
Eyes: Red
Height: ~5'7'' / 170 cm
Weight: 145 lbs / ~65 kg
Body: Curvy and muscular with the confident proud and intimidating posture of a warrior.
Zarkaylia wears a simple white shirt and dark red pants tucked into brown leather boots. A brown-colored corset keeps her shirt in place and in the colder seasons she wears a black bear pelt over her shoulders. A belt rests around her hips with her sword, a pouch, a buckler, and a dagger. Sometimes also a cane of damascus steel. She mostly wear leather gloves.
Zarkaylia braids her long thick locks of silver and white into long thick braids these days, to keep it in some form of order and to be able to decorate her hair with rings. It started with her brother's rings and has now ended in a whole arsenal of rings in gold, silver, copper, iron, and even a wooden bead. Most represent a person of value or hold a story. Some of the metal coloured and some of the rings with gemstones. Notable would be as follows:
![[+]](/images/collapse_collapsed.png "[+]")
Spoiler
1 large golden ring.
1 in gold and silver with a purple gem.
1 gold and yellow.
1 wooden bead with patterns.
2 of coloured metal, blue and green shades.
Multiple in iron, decorated.
3 copper.
4 silver.
1 plain iron.
1 gold with a deep red gem.
1 gold with a purple amethyst.
1 in gold and silver with a purple gem.
1 gold and yellow.
1 wooden bead with patterns.
2 of coloured metal, blue and green shades.
Multiple in iron, decorated.
3 copper.
4 silver.
1 plain iron.
1 gold with a deep red gem.
1 gold with a purple amethyst.
Damascus steel bastard sword [old]
While Zark does well without material things, the sword that's stuck by her side through her whole life does hold some of her affection. It is one of few things in the world that have never faltered and never failed her. It's been reforged several times and is a bit unmodern in design of course.
Ezri's dagger
This old dagger used to belong to Zark's partner. When it was believed that Ezri Lapis had died this dagger was gifted to Zark by Ezri's previous husband, Rook Connors. Ezri hasn't wanted it back and ever since the woman returned from the dead Zark has taken it off its honorary place on her wall and carried it in her belt.
Armour set
Zarkaylia has a brand new shiny black-colored full-plate armor set that she sometimes wears as a half-plate.
Journals
A hobby of Zark's has always been to write. The amount of journals she's accomulated over the years is near ridiculous, but they hold a value to her family. Some she keeps at her home in shelves, the rest she's since long sent to her oldest daughter Netha.
Books
Zarkaylia's hobby has grown to a secondary profession as author. She keeps a lot of books in her shelves.
Mordecai's banner
Many years ago now an old depressed warrior named Mordecai gifted Zarkaylia this golden and red banner. Considering herself having defeated the demons Mordecai fought and almost perished to, the demons of any old warrior, this banner a long time ago served its purpose as reminder. These days the banner's collecting dust in a chest and Zark's considered trying to return it to its homeland.
Drawing of Netha
Thomas, Zarkaylia's adopted son, long ago drew her oldest daughter Netha. She displays it over her fireplace and wished she had drawings of her whole family.
Reading glasses
Zark's a woman of age. She can't read or see at close range without glasses anymore these days. She keeps them in her pouch or, of course, on her nose.
Iron token
Long ago now given to her by a mercenary whose name she's forgotten. She's kept it in case it'll serve her well in the Mainlands sometime. It's kept at the bottom of her pouch.
New damascus steel bastard sword
When it was believed Zark had lost her old sword in battle with the dragon terrorizing Nightveil, her granddaughter Zaira forged her a new one. This would be it... And she's uncertain what to do with it, it's a much better looking sword than her old one and of high quality.
While Zark does well without material things, the sword that's stuck by her side through her whole life does hold some of her affection. It is one of few things in the world that have never faltered and never failed her. It's been reforged several times and is a bit unmodern in design of course.
Ezri's dagger
This old dagger used to belong to Zark's partner. When it was believed that Ezri Lapis had died this dagger was gifted to Zark by Ezri's previous husband, Rook Connors. Ezri hasn't wanted it back and ever since the woman returned from the dead Zark has taken it off its honorary place on her wall and carried it in her belt.
Armour set
Zarkaylia has a brand new shiny black-colored full-plate armor set that she sometimes wears as a half-plate.
Journals
A hobby of Zark's has always been to write. The amount of journals she's accomulated over the years is near ridiculous, but they hold a value to her family. Some she keeps at her home in shelves, the rest she's since long sent to her oldest daughter Netha.
Books
Zarkaylia's hobby has grown to a secondary profession as author. She keeps a lot of books in her shelves.
Mordecai's banner
Many years ago now an old depressed warrior named Mordecai gifted Zarkaylia this golden and red banner. Considering herself having defeated the demons Mordecai fought and almost perished to, the demons of any old warrior, this banner a long time ago served its purpose as reminder. These days the banner's collecting dust in a chest and Zark's considered trying to return it to its homeland.
Drawing of Netha
Thomas, Zarkaylia's adopted son, long ago drew her oldest daughter Netha. She displays it over her fireplace and wished she had drawings of her whole family.
Reading glasses
Zark's a woman of age. She can't read or see at close range without glasses anymore these days. She keeps them in her pouch or, of course, on her nose.
Iron token
Long ago now given to her by a mercenary whose name she's forgotten. She's kept it in case it'll serve her well in the Mainlands sometime. It's kept at the bottom of her pouch.
New damascus steel bastard sword
When it was believed Zark had lost her old sword in battle with the dragon terrorizing Nightveil, her granddaughter Zaira forged her a new one. This would be it... And she's uncertain what to do with it, it's a much better looking sword than her old one and of high quality.
Sword wielding - Master
Zarkaylia wields an estoc-like blade, also known as a bastard blade or simply a longsword, and use an aggressive but fine fighting style. She's practiced this one talent all her life and got a lot of experience.
Leadership - Expert
Zarkaylia got a total experience ranging up to about three and a half decade in leading. In her days she’s not only been a Guard Captain and Councilor, but a ruler and an organization leader. With occasional smaller leadership roles in between. It’s safe to say she knows how to do it most of the time. She's been an Elder for about a decade or more.
Battle Tactics - Expert
She uses what she's seen in war and learned at sieges, but the strategies of battle and war is something she often apply to more or less anything nowadays. It’s in a way part of her lifestyle as warrior.
Martial Arts - Apprentice
Unrefined and rough, she can punch you in the face and kick you hard, or elbow your face for that matter, but she's not had any formal training. Just experience over the years.
Cooking - Novice
She no longer burn her food, but she's still no good at making it taste nice.
Healing - Novice
Jace of Corelia long ago taught her what she needs to quickly wrap a wound up, mostly useful for quick fixes in the heat of battle.
Literacy & numeracy
Common Language - Fluent
Xitian Language - Advanced to fluent
Born and raised a slave as well as twice being enslaved in her life she learnt to understand and speak Xitian. Over years of not using the language she forgot a lot about it, but her brother spent his time in jail teaching and re-learning her the language she still knew more of than she thought she did. Since then, she speaks and write it frequently within her family.
Ko'Ban Language - Competent
Zark has taken lessons in Ko'Ban for a long time now. Starting years ago when a need to learn in order to communicate with the local tribe arose. She might struggle with dialects and more advanced words and still got an accent that she's not likely to be rid of.
Sign Language - Competent
Zarkaylia has an adopted grandchild that is mute and communicate with sign language. Said adopted grandchild some years ago married her grandson and the grandson made an effort to have the whole family learn. Since then she has used it for silent communication within family as well as when meeting those that know or want to learn the language. She has acted as tutor in it.
Lucin Language - Novice
Zark can grab a bit of text and maybe make out the gist of it if it's not too advanced Lucin language. She can't write, talk or hear it well.
By now, she's an old war veteran and warrior, but the ever burning flame in her heart does not seem to be able to settle or retire to a tranquil life. She's unable to stand by and watch and a woman of action, anything else makes her restless, and thus she keep doing the only thing she's ever known; fight. She’s given up any thoughts of retiring entirely after first planing to but finding her life turned upside down and her future plans these days impossible to achieve.
Zarkaylia strikes fear into hearts with ease, her never fading confident warrior posture intimidating as is without her glare. Radiating that she's a deadly enemy she can accomplish with every step she takes. But, that doesn't mean she wants to and will do so.
Calling herself "Warrior", she fights for what she believes in, never lies, stand by her word and any oath or promise is held, otherwise would be dishonoring. However, you'll not easily get an oath out of her, nor a promise. Not lying does not mean she doesn't know the weight of words and when to be elusive, thus making her quite deceitful. She despise those wielding lies and praying on the weak, thus she hold a natural dislike for sellswords and mercenaries.
She's been through and seen most things. She's likely to give off the "been there, done that" attitude, but it also gives her a deep and wide understanding for everyone, though it makes her feel a lot older than she is and be wiser beyond her years. She rests on a treasure of rich but also horrible experiences.
She is and have always been well renown for her fiery temper, something she struggled with for years to control. She's still quick to irritation and anger, but the rage she's infamous for she mostly manage to fend off nowadays as she's masterfully controlling herself. However, if it's let out she can lose all control and become violent, reckless and blinded.
She's lost many and much over the years, thus she does not value possessions or riches, she values knowledge and persons. And her memories. When she mourns, she does so intensely and in deep depression, but for a short period of time, able to seemingly move on, though it will keep haunting her mind for a longer time.
She's strong minded and slightly paranoid and cynical, even skeptical. She's not easily fooled and is likely to stand unbiased to possible cost on personal relationships. It's simple, she's learned not to judge based on words, past and opinion, but from facts and witnessing. She believes the simplest solution to most things is to be reasonable or a whack over the head.
As a person who's been on "both sides", she sees the world not in black and white, nor in right or wrong. She doesn't see sides, she just sees persons and motives, actions and results. She can completely disregard a person's past and flaws until they step in her way, she sees the good in all those there's anything good in. She's cautious towards everyone, the Mesalians due to her eyes, the Lucins due to her eyes and history of murdering them and the Xitians due to past enslavement and what that's done to her mind. Though these latest years as Elder she's grown to easier welcome people into town, she's growing more cautious again.
She's very protective of those she judge fall under her protection and would without hesitation give her life in the task. She's a leader and protector, peacekeeper and guardian, but she does not want to lead or fight for what she does not believe in.
A dark side of Zarkaylia is the sadistic nature deep inside her, grown from her years in slavery and slightly suppressed after years as a murderer. She hides it if she can, but blood and violence she finds very enjoyable and if her foes deserves it, she'd laugh at the pain in their eyes when she run them through and watch them die slowly. Otherwise she's not much for torture, she lack the patience. However, her humor can definitely let this darker side slip through.
Her history with slaves, slavers and enslavement left her uneasy with titles, servitude and anything the like, it even mess with her mind after all years of being beaten to obedience, especially if Xitians are involved. While she's pretty much overcome this nowadays it is still not preferrable. She demands respect, for her age and for the honour, wisdom and name she rightfully carries as warrior. Naturally she herself respects her superiors, elders and betters.
She's a fiery and passionate person that wear her emotions on the outside, direct and honest, thoughtful and with people's best at her heart more than often, but sometimes shadowed by tiredness and a mind and body that's suffered through too much. You don't easily get close to her heart but once you're there, she won't let you go easily.
Empathy is quick to rise in her heart if certain topics are touched and might be the only thing that can calm her rage. After being through things she'd not wish many to go through she knows that the strongest warrior isn't one who cold heartedly slays its opponent no matter what, but the warrior that knows where and when to show mercy.
Zarkaylia can easily turn to darker deeds to accomplish a higher good, disregard her own health, use her influence over others to see her own way through and stubbornly stick to doing what's right to her.
In a fight she's all from ruthless to dangerously creative and smart with her every calculated move. She knows how to effectively face Lucins and Xitians wielding their power. She has a high pain tolerance and high endurance and doesn't shy away from taking hits in favor for her own next blow, though she's grown to only do this if necessary with her age and wisdom. These days her fighting style is adaptable and she chose depending on situation but precision and energy preservation are key.
The lights of Zarkaylia’s life and existence are those she call her family. The last half a decade or so weren't easy on the warrior but she stands victorious at the end. She's wiser, she's more experienced, got some good old heart wrenching stories to tell and most of all stand tall and stronger on her own. When one door closes another opens, Zarkaylia has found love and life again and those who want none to do with it can fuck off.
Zarkaylia strikes fear into hearts with ease, her never fading confident warrior posture intimidating as is without her glare. Radiating that she's a deadly enemy she can accomplish with every step she takes. But, that doesn't mean she wants to and will do so.
Calling herself "Warrior", she fights for what she believes in, never lies, stand by her word and any oath or promise is held, otherwise would be dishonoring. However, you'll not easily get an oath out of her, nor a promise. Not lying does not mean she doesn't know the weight of words and when to be elusive, thus making her quite deceitful. She despise those wielding lies and praying on the weak, thus she hold a natural dislike for sellswords and mercenaries.
She's been through and seen most things. She's likely to give off the "been there, done that" attitude, but it also gives her a deep and wide understanding for everyone, though it makes her feel a lot older than she is and be wiser beyond her years. She rests on a treasure of rich but also horrible experiences.
She is and have always been well renown for her fiery temper, something she struggled with for years to control. She's still quick to irritation and anger, but the rage she's infamous for she mostly manage to fend off nowadays as she's masterfully controlling herself. However, if it's let out she can lose all control and become violent, reckless and blinded.
She's lost many and much over the years, thus she does not value possessions or riches, she values knowledge and persons. And her memories. When she mourns, she does so intensely and in deep depression, but for a short period of time, able to seemingly move on, though it will keep haunting her mind for a longer time.
She's strong minded and slightly paranoid and cynical, even skeptical. She's not easily fooled and is likely to stand unbiased to possible cost on personal relationships. It's simple, she's learned not to judge based on words, past and opinion, but from facts and witnessing. She believes the simplest solution to most things is to be reasonable or a whack over the head.
As a person who's been on "both sides", she sees the world not in black and white, nor in right or wrong. She doesn't see sides, she just sees persons and motives, actions and results. She can completely disregard a person's past and flaws until they step in her way, she sees the good in all those there's anything good in. She's cautious towards everyone, the Mesalians due to her eyes, the Lucins due to her eyes and history of murdering them and the Xitians due to past enslavement and what that's done to her mind. Though these latest years as Elder she's grown to easier welcome people into town, she's growing more cautious again.
She's very protective of those she judge fall under her protection and would without hesitation give her life in the task. She's a leader and protector, peacekeeper and guardian, but she does not want to lead or fight for what she does not believe in.
A dark side of Zarkaylia is the sadistic nature deep inside her, grown from her years in slavery and slightly suppressed after years as a murderer. She hides it if she can, but blood and violence she finds very enjoyable and if her foes deserves it, she'd laugh at the pain in their eyes when she run them through and watch them die slowly. Otherwise she's not much for torture, she lack the patience. However, her humor can definitely let this darker side slip through.
Her history with slaves, slavers and enslavement left her uneasy with titles, servitude and anything the like, it even mess with her mind after all years of being beaten to obedience, especially if Xitians are involved. While she's pretty much overcome this nowadays it is still not preferrable. She demands respect, for her age and for the honour, wisdom and name she rightfully carries as warrior. Naturally she herself respects her superiors, elders and betters.
She's a fiery and passionate person that wear her emotions on the outside, direct and honest, thoughtful and with people's best at her heart more than often, but sometimes shadowed by tiredness and a mind and body that's suffered through too much. You don't easily get close to her heart but once you're there, she won't let you go easily.
Empathy is quick to rise in her heart if certain topics are touched and might be the only thing that can calm her rage. After being through things she'd not wish many to go through she knows that the strongest warrior isn't one who cold heartedly slays its opponent no matter what, but the warrior that knows where and when to show mercy.
Zarkaylia can easily turn to darker deeds to accomplish a higher good, disregard her own health, use her influence over others to see her own way through and stubbornly stick to doing what's right to her.
In a fight she's all from ruthless to dangerously creative and smart with her every calculated move. She knows how to effectively face Lucins and Xitians wielding their power. She has a high pain tolerance and high endurance and doesn't shy away from taking hits in favor for her own next blow, though she's grown to only do this if necessary with her age and wisdom. These days her fighting style is adaptable and she chose depending on situation but precision and energy preservation are key.
The lights of Zarkaylia’s life and existence are those she call her family. The last half a decade or so weren't easy on the warrior but she stands victorious at the end. She's wiser, she's more experienced, got some good old heart wrenching stories to tell and most of all stand tall and stronger on her own. When one door closes another opens, Zarkaylia has found love and life again and those who want none to do with it can fuck off.
* Zark often grunts. She just does this… It can be as a ‘yes’, a confirmation or as a replacement of ‘hmpf!’.
* Zark also growls a lot, a deep throaty noise that’s louder the stronger she feels about something. Either she shows disapproval, irritation or anger.
* Zark sometimes rumble from deep in her chest. It can be an expression of thoughtfullness or accompanied with a sigh, or more.
* When thoughtful, she strokes right cheek. Usually with a thumb, sometimes with another finger.
* When holding back, she bites her lip or clenches her fists.
* When on her guard she puts a hand on her hilt or holds her cane, sometimes stroking it with her thumb.
* When clueless or awkward, Zark scratches the side of her head.
* Zark gives nods for acknowledgements.
* She gives bows of her head to show respect or acknowledge that someone’s superior in ex. rank.
* Zark does not ever bow entirely. It doesn’t fit her status as warrior to do so and she ties it too strongly to that of a servant or slave. And she’s not ever allowing herself as such again if she can help it.
* Zark keeps a constant warrior posture. If she does not all of a sudden, something’s wrong.
* (Does not include ‘normal’ kneeling) Zark only ‘kneels’ in admittance or submission. It can be anything from admitting someone’s superior in rank or honour to admitting she’s in dishonour or wrong.
* Zark has a warm chuckle and laugh most of the time, she appreciates her students and people.
Zarkaylia was the result of intentional breeding of half-blood Xitians. Her father Jorod Duras raped her enslaved Mesalian mother Zarkaylia Darl and 9 months later the annoyingly powerless bugger that is Zark was born. Highly disappointed and enraged with the powerless abomination of a baby Jorod killed the mother and asked his wife to kill the baby. The spiteful wife instead sold the baby with the mother's name attached to it.
Long story short; Zarkaylia grew up in slavery. She'd several masters before the last one that came to start her training in swordplay and eventually forced her to less nice things at a too young age. By the time Zarkaylia was freed by the rebelling Mesalians and Lucin military she was 100% loyal to her master even when she was to be executed the following days for a theft she'd been framed for. Her newly gained friend however gave her a chance despite her eye-colour and begun to teach her about the wrong doings towards her.
A couple of years later she faught in the last battle of the Veld war and was gravely injured. When she woke, the war was over and a lot of the friends she knew had perished. She grew a depressed and aimless teenager held onto her feet by a dear friend that she lived with in a town named Wyndallon for about a year. Up till that last close friend she had left after the war tragically passed from a disease that had ravaged her body for months. At this time the worries about the Dusk Portal opening again laid like a thick fog in the town that laid so close to the Portal and the first whispers of surviving Xitians had started to surface. Some Mesalian townsfolk that found pity at the sight of the now homeless and all alone in the world girl with red eyes managed to get the girl to go with them. To the ships headed for another continent; the Forbidden Lands.
So, after months of suffering her seasickness and hydrophobia beneath deck on a ship, Zarkaylia arrived to the settlement of Aercrest in the Forbidden Lands.
Within a few years Zarkaylia went from a homeless and starving child to a wife, mother and leader. She accomplished much and grew a lot within these years but unfotunately it came to abrubt end when she was abducted and once again enslaved under a Xitian master.
The years passed and in captivity Zarkaylia somehow lost who she was. A head trauma and the very brutal conditioning in combination a possible reason. The day the young slave was released with the order to murder every Lucin she came across there was little, if anything, left of Zarkaylia.
Roaming the land the slave eventually came across the growing town of Nympha and in an attempt to murder yet another Lucin met a man that her mind faintly recognized. The years to come she spent recovering who she is, or was, with the assistance of both old and new friends. A crush developed between her and the man she recognized from her past and she took up the job as a town guard.
After failed love and the revelation that she had once had a husband Zarkaylia was reunited with her now adult daughter and soon moved to the nearby town Auria to be close to her. Another flirt developed but was snuffed at the return of her husband. Soon enough, Zarkaylia had new friends and enemies as well as a grandson and spent her days as Captain of the guard and tutor to a boy she soon adopted.
Disaster struck Auria and Zarkaylia fled with her husband, son and a bunch of the townsfolk. Eventually finding the ruins of Ravenna and settling in yet another home, the warrior birthed another daughter and discovered her roots upon meeting her half-brother Morath Duras.
Dear friends departed, grandchildren were adopted, and after a serie of dramatic events Zarkaylia's brother was executed. Eventually, facing starvation and a too harsh winter at the hands of a pissed off Lucin trader, the warrior lead the townsfolk to the small little town of Alroc.
Here, she begun anew. Again. From apprentice guard she climbed to town Elder. Her children and grandchildren grew up and her husband's health begun to deteriate. But her bond to the pirate Ezri Connors grew ever stronger.
So, after once again escaping death and destruction as Alroc was flooded the warrior lead her people to the haunted town of Nightveil and the dragons have awoken. Her faith has been tested, as have her body and mind as her beloved friend and sister was thought to have perished and her husband has left to not be heard from again. Now, she lives alone. At the golden years of her lifetime Zarkaylia is re-shaping and building her life again with her fire still burning brightly. She is the Elder. She writes her books with joy and creativity and tutors her students in her years ago founded school with love and care. She still keeps highly active as elderly and has found love once again. <3
This I mostly did for myself. What does Zarky do throughout her days?
She starts her days early. Often doing a brief check on the morning patrols before she deals with what bores her the most with her job as Elder; paperwork. If there is any. She gets this over with as soon as possible in her days so she can do other things.
A few hours before noon and some after she handles her school and her students whenever it's the day for that.
Zark typically takes an afternoon nap after mid-day meal, for about an hour, in order to manage the rest of her long days. If she have much to do, she skips it.
Later afternoons Zark either works out, practices her skills in sword wielding, does a few chores or maintains her weapons and armor. She might write or read at these hours. Up till dinnertime.
Zark eats dinner before dusk, at home or at the tavern depending on what she feels like.
During the evenings she patrols if it's necessary to help the guard or she checks on the guards. When that's done she spends the rest of the time either socializing at the tavern or docks, writing, fighting dusks or just otherwise doing what she finds fun. Should she against all odds have more work to do she does this now.
Late at night once everyone's walked their last patrol, Zark takes a finishing one per old habit.
Zark usually returns home to sleep rather late.