Post by Emma on Sept 2, 2016 22:10:26 GMT -4
Name:
Saoirse (seer-shuh) Zaynabi
Age:
95- appears to be in her early thirties
Race:
Fae
Occupation:
Fae Councilor
Physical Description:
Saoirse is a woman to whom appearance is everything, and she ensures that the eye never goes wanting. She is an attractive woman to begin with- she’s tall at 5’9”, with copper skin and a face with cheekbones sharp enough to cut. She spends hours on makeup and picking out her dresses each day, and only chooses the most flattering of outfits. Her thick, dark brown curls are sometimes straightened but generally they frame her face. She has eyes that are grey-green that stand out against the light brown of her skin. Her eyebrows are thick and always kept immaculate, and her face has bold, noble features like full lips. Her skin is dotted with little constellations of beauty marks and freckles. Saoirse has a lovely face, but she is very thin with small breasts and narrow hips. She is nonetheless proud of her body, using it to accentuate her grace and elegance. Saoirse is also notable for being one of the few fae that does not use glamour to hide anything about her appearance.
However, most people’s eyes are drawn to Saoirse’s feet- or lack thereof. When she was a child, her feet were both amputated just above the ankle. Instead of flesh and bone, Saoirse has two prosthetic feet that have been soldered to her legs with a combination of heat and magic. They are flexible, bent pieces of aluminum that are so reinforced that she can run, jump, and even stand on only one foot. On fancy occasions, Saoirse will line the aluminum with encrusted gems and even gold. Although impressive in their design alone, they serve a darker purpose- the metal is always kept finely sharpened, and Saoirse uses them like blades. She keeps her feet on display at any given time to add to her mystique, but her fighting technique largely involves slicing enemies with the bladed prosthetics, even if she has to stand on her head to do it.
Personality:
Saoirse is an incredibly controlled woman who does not ever resort to anger or sarcasm, and never lets anyone see what is behind her icy mask. She is an ambitious social climber who prefers to tear into her enemies with wit and disparaging marks rather than anything else. Nothing seems to faze her, and she is completely formal with everyone she knows. She uses her weaknesses as power, such as showing off her prosthetic legs as a source of strength rather than letting them define her as an amputee. Anyone who refers to her as anything less than ‘milady’ is quickly and efficiently taught to change their ways. Saoirse is also not shy or hesitant at all when it comes to killing if the need arises. She has flat out murdered people in full view of the court. Saoirse is respected for her intelligence, her looks, and her cunning, but she will always be feared rather than loved.
Saoirse’s cold, calculating ways make her an ideal force in foreign nations for inspiring respect, but she lacks charm. She also has no real friends or lovers to speak of, and finds trust an impossible thing to put in anyone at all. She believes herself strong and noble for it, but will not admit to herself just how lonely she actually is. Although she is beautiful, most people are too afraid to marry her. Saoirse is a woman is determined to never be forgotten. She lets no one stand in the way of her goals and will always ensure that she ends up on top. That being said, however, Saoirse has several facets to her personality that can be surprising to others. She would never resort to torture and thinks mind probing is just as vile as rape. She is ruthless to her enemies but a staunch supporter of her allies, going so far as to boost their confidence by reminding them of just how remarkable they are.
History:
Saoirse was born in the city of Xibalba in the southern jungles. Her mother was the mayor of the town. Saoirse was an adventurous child who often wandered the streets of the city. It was on one of these adventures when, at the age of seven, a terrible accident happened. It was a rainy day and Saoirse slipped in the mud and fell on the road. The rain was so thick that an oncoming carriage driver didn’t see her lying there. The horse stepped over her, but she didn’t escape the carriage wheels. They rolled over Saoirse’s legs, partially amputating both of her feet just above the ankles. Kind passersby saw what happened and managed to pull her out of the road and stop the bleeding. They even returned her to the lord’s home.
The damage to Saoirse’s legs was so severe that her feet had to be completely amputated to prevent infection. She spent the next two years in a broken daze, unable to do anything for herself. Once the limbs had completely healed, Saoirse’s parents enlisted the aid of a dwarf named Kjell who was a smith for the army. Kjell forged prosthetic legs for the girl- out of materials other than iron, of course- and personally took her under his wing as she learned how to walk. Saoirse resumed her proper education, and also accompanied Kjell to the barracks where she would learn how to fight alongside amputees such as herself.
Saoirse’s life received another wrench when the southern island kingdom of Kahje attempted to capture the city of Xibalba. In the chaos, Saoirse’s parents attempted to organize a resistance and were subsequently tortured and killed. Rather than continue climbing the ranks of nobility, Saoirse joined the war effort against Kahje. She initially signed on as a nurse but ended up commanding an entire squadron after months of combat. Her prosthetic legs made her a terror on the battlefield, and her careful attention to hair and makeup ensured her enemies knew she was calm while killing them. She was captured once by Kahjeen forces and was acquitted after publicly condemning the king and making herself a media darling. Verden eventually won the war against Kahje and Saoirse returned, victorious, to Atma.
Saoirse spent a few years reacquainting herself with the nobility of Verden, making new friends and enemies along the way. When the previous fae councillor, Lihua, was assassinated along with his entire family, a new vote was put forward. Saoirse used her pull among the nobility and her fame from war to ensure that she won the vote by a landslide. She is still settling into her duties as the newest member of the Council.
