Tea Pahlavi

Mykaela † (Asha sister)
Altaecia † (former Asha sister)
Polaire † (Asha sister)
Zoya (Asha sister)
Shadi (Asha sister)
Likh (Asha sister)

**Tea Pahlavi** is a Dark Asha, a bone witch, from Odalia.

## Biography

### Early Life

Tea was born in a small village in Odalia, Knightscross, during the height of an eclipse. She is the youngest child of the Pahlavi family, in which magic runs. Tea's mother had high expectations of her daughters to be "fine, upstanding, young ladies" and named them accordingly. Tea, the youngest, was the only daughter not named for a flower.

Tea remarked that, as a child, she was "unremarkable in every way" except for her love of reading. Growing up, Tea was passionate about history of the Eight Kingdoms and read voraciously. She had a particular interest in famous asha. Her father encouraged her habit, supplying her with books and parchment.

Two of Tea's older sister became witches: Rose, a Forest witch, and Lilac, a Water witch. As a child, Lilac cast auguries for Tea and informed her mother that "Tea shows an inclination to be a witch like us, if she wishes to. [...] I see her wearing a beautiful amber gown, with bright gems in her hair and a handsome prince on her arm."

While she admired her sisters, Tea grew closest to her oldest brother, Fox, who was "like a second father" to her. He cared for Tea when their mother was busy with their sisters. When he joined the Odalian army, Tea was 10 years old, and read his letters home until she was 12. Fox's letters stopped when he was killed by a daeva and sent back to Knightscross in a pine coffin.

The Pahlavi family mourned in a vigil held for three days and nights. It was at his wake that Tea's first signs of magic manifested. Once Fox had been buried, Tea declared that she had seen him move and could see him opening his eyes. She accidentally cut herself on the sharp ground of his grave, bleeding into the gravestone and earth, allowing her to hear Fox's voice. She traced a burning symbol in the air with a bloodied hand, raising Fox "bloodless and dead" from the ground.

### The Bone Witch

Tea's story during the *The Bone Witch* is told in a two-layered story: Tea's present in exile, as recounted by an anonymous bard, and Tea's past in Ankyo learning to become an asha. The story begins with the bard approaching Tea in her exile in the Sea of Skulls where she agrees to tell her tale to him, beginning by recounting her childhood and raising Fox from the dead. She continues with the rest of her story in chronological order, skipping various time periods.

After raising Fox from his grave, Tea fell ill. Due to Tea's use of death magic, another fellow bone witch, Lady Mykaela of the Hollows, felt the magic and traveled to Knightcross two days later. Though a frightened mob surrounded Tea's house, Mykaela nursed Tea back to health.

## Personality

“Determined and highly intelligent. This is good. She will strive for perfection, and she has a strong sense of righteousness. She accepts change quicker than others might, but she will always be questioning herself and her abilities, no matter how far her training takes her. That is not necessarily a good thing.” - Salika

Ever since she was young, Tea read fiercely. She loved the books that her father brought from his travels. Earlier, Tea was prone to naivety, wanting to be like the brave and powerful Asha she read about in her stories. Over the course of time, she learns what it means to be a Bone Witch, both the good and the bad. Her experiences have made her bitter and vengeful, and her actions after her exile might be deemed as vile or heinous. But, at the core of it all, Tea is a person who loves fiercely. She loves both her friends and her family, to the point where she will ultimately sacrifice her life for the greater good.

## Physical Description

Tea has dark hair, like "a dark mass of sky" and brown, unblemished skin with a pert nose. Her eyes are described to be "large twin pools of black from where no light could escape" and that they show an oldness much more than a seventeen year old should have. On her right thigh, Tea has a long white scar that she got from her first encounter with the Azi. Her skin is described by Rahim as "between beige and barley."

Her heartsglass was gifted to her by Mykaela shortly after meeting. The heartsglass has intricate leaves made from spun gold on the sides, along with small rubies and beryl. Her heartsglass used to be silver like those of other Asha and Deathseekers, before completely transitioning to black after her exile.

Tea, like many Asha, wears beautiful *hua*. Unlike other Asha, her *hua* is embroidered with a three-headed dragon daeva, the *azi*.

## Known *Hua*

Worn during exile:

* Mahogany and amber color made from masterfully crafted damask silk, embroidered length-wise with a golden, beaded *azi*, half-hidden by her black waist wrap. Her waist wrap has chrysanthemums stitched in golden thread. Made unusual by a slit running up Tea's leg to show her scar and the waist wrap being worn loosely. Accessorized with diamonds worn above her brow.
* Deep blue colors like the deep ocean, half-decorated with waves, decorated at the bottom with orange carp and silver-backed trout. The *azi* - with eyes of agate - was again half-hidden behind her waist wrap, now colored turquoise with peach and gray seashells. Worn with aquamarine and fire-opal *zivars* in her braided hair.

Worn before exile:

* Cornflower-blue color with white butterflies fluttering up the sides, along with small lily designs. Worn with a diamond-adorned tortoiseshell comb, a hairpin with white flutters and an aquamarine gemstone, and Tea's signature crescent pin. (Worn for Tea's first official party.)
* Deep maroon color with gold butterflies going halfway up the skirt. The waist wrap is soft beige with edges embroidered by the leaves of brown leaves. Worn with red jewels in her hair. (Considered by Tea to be her most beautiful *hua*.)
* Emerald green color with fan-shaped silver leaves along her waist and down one side. The waist wrap is white embossed with the outlines of playing doves. Worn over a complimentary dark-gray under robe. Tea accessorizes the *hua* with her signature crescent pin, a dark-green tortoiseshell comb, and a silver hairpin with a jade design and a small white streamers brushing her cheek. (Worn for the *darashi-oyun*.)
* Blue and sea-green color with sleeves decorated by silver seashells at the edges. The waist wrap is styled with patterns like the ocean. Accessorized with rhinestone combs in Tea's hair. (The hua is traditional of Valerian asha, highlighting the Valerian crest, and worn for their debut.)

## Powers & Abilities

### Powers

* **Magic**: Tea is one of, if not the most powerful of the Bone Witches. She wields Dark magic easily, and is able to control and forge a bond with the Azi, which is the strongest Daeva. Dark Asha can not use runes to summon the elements like other Asha, but they can use compulsion runes, scrying runes, and other Dark Magic.
* **Resurrection**: After her exile, she is able to resurrect all seven Daeva and command them.

### Abilities

* **Warrior**: Tea is a formidable warrior, receiving the required Asha training, and also sparring with Kalen. She is an excellent dancer, although her singing leaves much to be desired. She is skilled in historical as well as political knowledge and affairs.
* **Heartsglass Reading**: Tea seems to be exceptionally adept in reading the heartsglass of people, being able to discern the emotions they feel.

## Relationships

Fox

Fox is Tea's brother and also her familiar when she resurrects him from the dead. Due to the fact that Fox is her familiar, they can talk with one another, see what the other is seeing, and understand each other's emotions which results in a stronger bond.

## Gallery

Tea, drawn by Rin Chupeco.Rin Chupeco's Tea sketch.Tea and Kalen, by Rin Chupeco.Tea, and Okiku (Girl in the Well), by Rin Chupeco.Special art print of Tea, as a part of The Bone Witch giveaway.Chibi Tea sticker, part of the Bone Witch giveaway.Tea on the Russian cover of The Bone Witch.Tea on the Russian cover of The Heart Forger.Crochet Tea dolls, from the Bone Witch book tour.An Asha from Kion.Tea on the Russian book cover of The Shadowglass.Tea tarot card by Rin Chupeco.
## Trivia

* Her name is pronounced *Tey-uh*.
* She is fluent in the language of flowers.
* Rahim declared that gold should only be used on Tea for accents, but she could wear as much silver as she wanted and still "shine."
* Salika, at the Dawnseed apothecarie, said that Tea is a mix of Water and Metal, with a touch of Fire.
* Tea is more sensitive to poisons in the air.

## Quotes

*"I understand now why people fear bone witches. Theirs is not the magic found in storybooks, slaying onyx eyed dragons and rescuing grateful maidens from ivory towers. Theirs is not the magic made from smoke and mirrors, where the trap lies in the twitch of the hand and a trick of the eyes.* *Nor is theirs the magic that seeds runeberry fields, whose crops people harvest for potions and spells. This is **death** magic, complicated and exclusive and implacable, and from the start, I wielded it with ease."*

" Go on and prove the Empress wrong and give me lots of cute nieces and nephews "

- Tea to her brother on The Heart Forger