Username: Heliosa
Age: 24
Appearance:
Zalena is short (5'3) and curvaceous. While she prefers the ease and mobility of her tribal clothing, she wears simple, light dresses while in Veganshi. Her dark curls are usually swept back into a long and messy ponytail.
Home Land: Zalena's family hails from the desert outskirts of Rowal, which is sparsely populated by various nomadic tribes. However, recent skirmishes troubling that area forced her family to leave and make the long journey to Veganshi. This was done despite the misgivings of the tribe Elder, who was also Zalena's mentor in the healing arts. The remainder of the tribe stubbornly chose to stay behind. Zalena made the arduous trek with her parents and her four younger siblings, and once they reached Veganshi they found a home at the very edge of the city.
Personality: Having been the eldest child and in charge of helpless children for the majority of her life, Zalena is used to shouldering responsibility. She is level-headed and rational though not without a sense of humor, which often presents itself as sarcasm. Zalena is also very persistent, almost to the point of it being a fault. As an apprentice healer in her tribe, she had been known for refusing to give up on those who came to her for her magic and knowledge. Though Zalena grew up in a tribe that did not find much importance for more urban skills like reading or writing, her father's experience as a well=traveled merchant taught him that these skills were necessary and so he passed them down to her. Consequently, Zalena is a bit of a bookworm. She is also fiercely protective of those she loves, especially her younger siblings.
Back story: Zalena was born to a nomadic desert tribe that had a proud history of producing talented pact-bearers.
As a small and still fairly unbalanced toddler, Zalena fell into an oasis and died. However, her demise had only lasted for a few seconds. Her tiny sinking body had caught the attention of Susiri, one of the undines residing in the oasis, and she had swiftly brought Zalena back to the surface. The undine had a particular knack for healing magic, and had used her ability to revive Zalena. Without realizing the brevity of such an action (given that four year olds are bad at gauging the brevity of any situation), Zalena accepted the undine's offer to form a pact. The magic manifested in her at a young age, and she had learned to heal small wounds and injured animals before she was of ten years of age. Despite not being pacted and lacking in magic, the tribe healer took her on as an apprentice to aid her in controlling her power.
Due to the rumors of war and the frequent brushes with foreign forces, youths of her tribe were also trained in basic combat skills. Being more proficient at being agile and evasive, Zalena preferred the speed of daggers. Despite their preparation, her tribe was outmatched when an unruly band of Vikash's forces decided to cause trouble while passing by. Zalena's uncle was among the four warriors who fought fiercely but inevitably fell. There would have been more trouble if the tribe Armsmaster had not called upon the Cerberus it was bonded with, and slain the enemy soldiers within a matter of minutes.
Fearing more trouble, her parents made the very difficult decision of leaving the tribe, despite Zalena's healer training being incomplete. They settled in a small house on the outskirts of Veganshi, and her father resumed being a merchant while her mother opened up a shop of exotic goods. Zalena spends her time caring for her siblings, exploring with Susiri, and attempting to enhance her healing abilities and knowledge.
Weapon of Skill: Healing magic, an extensive knowledge of medicinal botany, moderate proficiency at dual-weilding daggers.
Magic: Healing magic, not trained in using her magic for attacking or defense.
Equipment: A visible flask of water is always at Zalena's hip though she does not use it for drinking. Her daggers are strapped to her thighs, and out of sight if she is garbed in a long dress.
Pact Beast: Susuri is an Undine that resided in a desert oasis with her sisters. Susuri is a restless spirit, despite most Undines being calm and peaceful. She saved little Zalena partly out of compassion, but mostly because the drowning child was the most interesting thing to happen to her in a century. As far as Undines go, Susuri is relatively young, having lived for about three hundred and twenty years. Susuri is able to change size and shape, but she prefers to remain palm-sized. She can travel along with Zalena as long as there is any water on or around her.
