Difference between revisions of "Xhosa Tauzeh"

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Revision as of 23:15, 11 November 2013


Ul'dah-transparent.png Xhosa Tau
Placeholder person.gif
"You must take that which burdens you and transform it into something beautiful."
Gender Female
Race Miqo'te
Clan Keeper of the Moon
Citizenship Ul'dah
Religion Menphina the Lover
Age 25
Nameday 10th Sun of the 2nd Umbral Moon, 1552
Height/Weight 4 fulms 9 ilms, 102 ponz
Occupation Private Merchant/Perfumer/Apothecary
Server Balmung

Xhosa Tau is easily summarized as a paragon of eloquence and courtesy. Tactful and genuine, this miqo'te is perpetually poised regardless of her environment, never raising a hand or so much as her voice out of temper. For all appearances, one who does not know her might assume she is of some more pristine background based only on her manner of conduct. This, however, cannot be further from the truth.


Character

General

Given Name: Xhosa Tau '[Zoh-sah|Ta-oo]':
'Her original surname was 'Tauzeh' but as she was forcibly removed from her family as a youth, she has respectfully split her name rather than dishonoring her mother's heritage.'
Aliases/Nicknames: Ashling '[Ash-ling]': The name used during her extended period of time as a courtesan. 'Ash' refers to her grey skintone, while 'ling' was affixed as a sort of ironic endearment. Often, she still introduces herself as 'Ashling' to strangers and only offers her true name after a certain level of acquaintanceship has been achieved.
Current Residence: Ul'dah
Marital Status: Single
Sexuality: Pansexual (Discriminates based on an individual's personality rather than gender or race.)
Religion: A devout follower of Menphina the Lover

Appearance

Height: 4 fulms, 9 ilms - petite in her own tribe as a child, her premature physical maturity led to a somewhat stunted stature.
Weight: 102 ponz - a relatively voluptuous figure, made significantly softer by cycles of 'luxurious' living.
Body: Her diminutive stature is the thing many might notice first about 'Ashling'. She stands only a foot and a half taller than the tallest Lalafell, her height restricted during her growth by the premature blossoming of her body. Life as a trained courtesan was 'kind' to this miqo'te's overall physique. While her neck and limbs retain the length and grace of her family, easy living and unprocessed hereditary traits have rendered her body soft and supple.
An ample bosom and a plush posterior are key traits, but there is a noticeable amount of excess meat around the shoulders, thighs, and waist for this miqo'te. A naturally long abdomen provides something of a saving grace, reducing what might have been rolls of fat from the midsection and creating a more traditional 'hourglass' figure. Learned in the arts of entertaining and most importantly the traditional dances popular amongst the Ul'dahn people, Xhosa boasts muscle in the arms, shoulders, midsection, and legs beneath the curves, rendering her much hardier compared to true noblewomen with similar body types. The miqo'te's tail and ears are particularly expressive, in stark contrast to her face and body language. Often the three extremities are in motion, flicking, twitching, or turning at the first sign of change in her environment or to reflect the her emotional state.
Complexion: The Keeper's unique coloration earned her the the moniker 'Ashling' when she concluded her 'official' training at the age of twelve cycles. The creamy grey skin is cool to the eye and, thus, surprisingly warm to the touch. The palette itself is silken and unmarred save for a no small number of cosmetic and congenital patterns, tattooes, paints, and a single beauty mark beneath her left eye.
Xhosa's interest in salves and balms amongst other things have led her to creating any number of natural skin and hair care solutions. While these are used to keep her skin soft, they are also scented-- giving her a sweet but not cloying jasmine aroma that can be detected by even the weaker olfactory senses.
  • 'Birthmarks': One on each side of the forehead (white-grey), two on each cheek (white-grey).
  • 'Tattoos': One tear-drop shaped mark in the center of the forehead (black), tattooed eyeliner (black).
  • 'Facial Paint': Lips (commonly blue), eyelids (commonly blue), cheeks (commonly lilac).
Face: Like her body, this miqo'te's face is rather plump overall. Heart-shaped with naturally high cheekbones, what might have been finely sculpted angles have been made round with careful feeding and skin conditioning. Hers is not unlovely by any means; large, silver pools fringed with deep blue lashes are perpetually half-lidded when the woman is at rest. Her eyebrows help to relay her sometimes muted facial expressions, thin and well-manicured above her pale eyes.
Cheeks naturally flushed with vitality are round enough to draw the eye but not so cherubic as to make her child-like. Her lips are full, her cupid's bow pronounced, and often the broad petals are well glossed a deep navy blue to draw attention while she is speaking. Altogether hers is an elegant visage, somewhere between maternal and sultry and very rarely, if ever, contorted in rage.
Hair: Like her skin, her hair is meticulously well maintained. Long and originally coarse, years of thorough brushing and conditioning have left her tresses silken and unable to hold even the hint of a curl in spite of the tightest knots or braids. The color of her hair from a distance is what drew the attention of her kidnappers and subsequent 'madame', and the reason is simple enough to see. Her hair is a midnight blue, nearly black except in direct light-- but a severe case of poliosis has rendered the forelock a vivid, snowy white from birth.
A specific concoction of blue dye made from different, darker pigments and blended in oil is used regularly to accentuate the white mass of hair, coloring the tips to match the rest of her tresses. Likewise, her hair is worn up in an elegant but not overly intricate style that keeps her long forelock pinned to mass of her darker locks and leaving the carefully trimmed sides free to frame her face.
Fashion: After purchasing her own freedom then spenting some time working with her previous clients for ungarnished profit, Xhosa has forgone many of the more revealing articles of clothing she had become used to in favor of a slightly more conservative style. While any embarrassment of her nude body has been eradicated over her lifetime, her preference for the more concealing articles of clothing is undeniably tied to her history as a glorified call-girl. In her mind, respectable individuals conceal their bodies in public.
While she does prefer her blouses and robes to be fitted in the bodice, long, heavy sleeves and high collars are her favored part of any good garment. Softer, lighter fabrics such as linen or silk is often worn and very rarely does she don garments with boning to alter her shape. As the petite female rarely initiates skin to skin contact for personal reasons, she favors gloves in public, often made of leather to fit her delicate hands. Likewise, she wears soft-soled boots more often than not, foregoing heels except in situations that require them. While her clothes may be heavily embroidered and rich to the eye, garments are always undeniably comfortable to her. Earrings and intricate neck-pieces are articles that she is rarely seen without. Six elegant white-gold ring collars encircle her neck, each almost unnoticeably different. All appear seamless from a distance and only upon close inspection would the locking mechanisms in the back of each be revealed. Likewise, permanent white-gold clasps crafted to match her hair clasp can always be found on either of her slender ears. Aside from these, Xhosa will wear the occasional fine chain or earring, carefully matching each article to her choice of dress for any given evening.

Behavior

Voice: Her voice is easily a smooth contralto, both when speaking or singing. Luxurious and deep, there is a perpetual lilt to her speaking that has a tendency to disarm others the longer a conversation goes on. Even while involved in a rather uncouth conversation, her words are melodious in nature, tending to gild even the harshest insults. While her dancing is by no means particularly superb, her singing on the other hand can be rather difficult to ignore. Vocalizing without lyrics is her specialty, though she does have a repetoire of poetic songs at her disposal. It is easy for her, in singing, to relay a certain feeling, whether warming or somber, to an audience. Similarly, in speaking, she has very little difficult making her words more impactful with her careful selection of tone.
Demeanor: The Keeper is a soft-spoken but confident individual. The same air of composure that she carries herself with permeates her being to as near the core as possible without rendering her entirely stoic. Her expressions are muted as well as her immediate body language, giving the impression of almost flawless calm.
While she has been confused in the past as coming from some adoptive noble bearing or perhaps some particularly cultured Keeper tribe, Xhosa is neither. She is merely adaptive, always listening closely to the tones and watching the body language of others and changing what she can to afflict her immediate company with a sense of peace. The warmth in her voice and the lack of patronizing behavior helps to relay her genuine nature. Very rarely has the woman resorted to manipulation or excessive flattery to twist another's opinion of her in her favor. Ever tactful, she retains her own integrity by investing very little personal desire in others, always keeping them at arms' length and avoiding betraying her acquaintances by almost any means.
Quirks: Aside from the rather expressive nature of her ears and tail, Xhosa has very few noteworthy quirks. One is that she enjoys exercising her senses, particularly her keen sense of smell. Sweet and salty smells are her favorites, though even sour and pungently spicy odors can draw her attention for some time. In situations where curious smells are present, she tends to adopt a curious expression, flaring her nostrils as she works to identify the source and cause. Spice stalls, perfume shops, and botanist vendors are often frequented by the woman and one of her absolute favorite gifts is something with a lovely scent.
Her other easily noticed quirk is that she has a deeply rooted affection for fatty foods and drinks. Her primary is heavy cream, sour or sweet, which she can drink almost unnatural quantities of over a long sitting, especially when particular types of floral tea are present. The level of richness her body has been trained to tolerate might render any healthy individual sick to their stomach. Cakes, fatty meats, or even less elegant meat pies and sausages are foods she seeks out when hungry and she makes little effort to hide the amounts she eats. Only her dainty conduct when presented with food can give the impression that the miqo'te does not eat much-- but simply by paying attention to how thoroughly the woman will clean two or three plates in a single sitting will one notice that she has something of an eating disorder. The cause for this quirk began when she was young, in order to combat her naturally high metabolism. Even now, if Xhosa were to go more than a few suns without eating, her body would become substantially leaner with very little effort otherwise.
Intelligence: This miqo'te is well-educated by most standards, though she no where near approaches the level of intelligence of many true nobles. Rather than 'book-smarts' or 'street-smarts', Xhosa concentrates on her known and experience with people, and to some lesser extent, animals. Her ability to weave herself through virtually any social setting without upsetting the waters is well-honed, giving her all the necessary skills of a fine diplomat and certainly fulfilling all the necessary bartering skills of working as a private merchant.
Similarly, her knowledge of plants is fairly extensive, though not complete by any means. Always she is interested to hear from skilled alchemists or botanists about plants she has encountered several times, learning new uses for the same types of vegetation she is well acquainted with. Her passion for flora is rivalled only by her love for creating different elixirs and brews, even poisons, especially for use by those who still work as prostitutes and courtesans.

Combat

General

"Combat/Magical Proficiency": This is rather simply summarized-- Xhosa Tau does not fight. While the building blocks for physical ability exist in her body due solely to her race, this woman has thus far been unwilling to learn to wield any weapons, even her own body, in conflict. It is not necessarily that she has a pacifistic nature as she is hardly bothered by bloodshed and, more, vividly interested in watching others fight, it is simply that she has seen no reason in her life to learn.
Her ability to run short distances at a decent speed is easily overshadowed by the feats of stamina and speed many of miqo'te are capable of. Her vision in direct or bright light is weak while her night vision might be an onz keener than the average Midlander, it is not superior by any means. She has no known magical proficiency to speak of. If there is some innate potential locked within her body, Xhosa has never been made aware of it. Simply, she is willing to be a woman of means, someone who aims to make many allies and few enemies. If necessary she will buy her way out of most situations though often she has enough foresight to hire permanent or extensive help in that regard.


Tendencies

Likes

Aromas
Jewelry
Sweets/Fatty Foods
Psychology
Spectating

Dislikes

Miqo'te Men
Vegetables
Excessive Exercise
Fighting
Magic

Hobbies/Talents

Singing (Contralto)
Dancing (Belly-dancing)
Painting (Body-paint as well as canvas work)
Diplomacy
Apothecary-work

Other

Favourite Food/Drink: Sweetened heavy cream
Favourite Creatures: Mandragoria
Least Favourite Food: Vegetables
Least Favourite Creature: Wolves


Relationships

Family

Her origins are mostly unknown to her. While she retained the knowledge of her own name after being abducted around her fifth namesday, the names of the rest of her family has been worn from her mind over the cycles. Devoid of any desire to connect to her birthright or discover familial ties lost, 'Ashling' considers herself to be a sole and prospective matriarch of sorts, able to take on whomever she would like as a mate without concerns about establishing a good reputation or 'territory' to speak of.

Player Character Standings


Romantic Interest     Sexual Desire     Platonic Love      Good Standing     Neutral Standing     Poor Standing
(Under Construction)



Rumours

Common Rumours (Easily overheard)
"That woman there, inspecting the oils... She looks well enough off. Judging by those collars, I'd say her 'owner' must be rolling in the gil." - Ul'dahn Merchant
"Eh. I don't know. 'Ashling' is fair enough on the eyes but that body's way too soft for my liking..." - Aspiring Gladiator
"I hear that one is a pureblood Keeper-- Seekers of the Sun are far more common around these parts. Everytime I see one talking to her, she seems to shy away. Especially from the men." - Tavern Bouncer
"You know, she looks like a kind lass, but that smile ends at her lips. It's gets to be a bit disconcerting after you realize it-- I wonder if she's after something in particular?" - Bartender
"I swear not long ago I saw that miqo'te wandering the Court at least four times in seven suns-- Each with a different man! Seems to me she's either a harlot or a gussied up whore." - Snooty Hosuewife
Moderate Rumours (Moderately difficult to overhear)
"Ah, yes, Lady Ashling has managed to save our humble establishment on several occasions with her natural 'preventatives'. No children in this brothel, I can guarantee that!" - Dunesfolk Madame
"She calls herself a 'perfumier'. Isn't it 'perfumer'? Anyroad, she has to get really close and smell a person to make the best scents-- And those aren't cheap!"- Satisfied Customer
"I know she used ta be somethin' of a call-girl once, but I've seen the men 'round here try to gloss her up with sweet-talk and gil... They always end up disappointed in the end but the brutish ones, 'specially, ain't even ornery 'bout her turnin' 'em down." - Alehouse Wench
Rare Rumours (Very difficult or rarely overheard)
"I have afforded that lovely creature only once in my lifetime. A courtesan, mind you, not one of these listless prostitutes that roam the streets like shambling undead. Ah, but her price was expensive and I hear she no longer engages in such 'work'." - Self-made Merchant
"She w-was purchased... for me you know... for m-my eighteenth n-namesday... She... She spent all night singing to me, j-just smoothing her fingers over m-my forehead... She reminds me... She reminds m-me of my m-mother..." Nervous Heir
"I asked her once about true love and what she felt about it. She said she believes it exists and no more. Funny, isn't it?" - Young Courtesan
"One of her wealthy patrons died in her arms that last night. So far as we could tell the old man had been afflicted by a bad spirit or some kind of blockage in his brain... bit right through his own tongue. Strange how she stuck around until they took the body away." -Investigating Brass Blade


PC Rumours (Feel free to add IC rumors.

Artwork

(Under construction)

Annotations

Template credit goes to Deidre Ta'ea and Bancroft Gairn by proxy
"I selected the name 'Xhosa Tau' after searching for several names of African origin. The name translates, so far as I've read, to 'Sweet Lion'.
Xhosa is legitimately nocturnal-- I treat night time in time with my night time which begins at ten o'clock Eastern Standard Time.
I'm open to most every kind of RP scenario but the character will never be open to pursuing an romantic relationship with any individual other than the one that already exists. If you have your heart set on it, I'm afraid you will be sorely disappointed."
Xhosa's Theme Song: 'Dark Waltz' - Hayley Westenra
We are the lucky ones We shine like a thousand suns When all of the colour runs together I'll keep you company In one glorious harmony Waltzing with destiny forever Dance me into the night Underneath the moon shining so bright Turning me into the light Time dances whirling past I gaze through the looking glass And feel just beyond my grasp is heaven Sacred geometry Where movement is poetry Visions of you and me forever Dance me into the night Underneath the moon shining so bright Turning me into the light Dance me into the night Underneath the moon shining so bright Let the dark waltz begin Oh let me wheel - let me spin Let it take me again Turning me into the light