Zala Schion

**Zala Schion** is a player character in Tales of Vitore and a former member of Team Novitori.

She is also the star of the Legacies Episode Tattoo Therapy.

## Introduction

*Having grown up on the moon, I've seen all over the world. I want to keep seeing more and more of it, learning the ways of magical tattoos. To me, I'm just not used to staying in one place and I don't want to. If there's nothing new to see, nothing new to learn, what's even the point of things? Other than painting and tattooing of course.*

## Description

### Appearance

Zala stands at 5 foot 6 inches tall. Her skin a pale midnight blue with a golden hue to it, except for the tips of her ears, which seemed to invert the pattern. Her lips appear as the color of the richest, deepest sapphires. Her hair, usually worn in a bun with a silvery ribbon that has black spirals on it, some of it hanging down, matches her lips, and has natural gold and red highlights on the top of her head. She often keeps her lucky quill running through the bun. If removed from the bun, her hair would hang to the very bottom of her back. Around her face, her hair forms side burns and, when not in a bun, nearly enters the top of her eyes, stopping just a bit above her eyelashes. For her eyes, her right shines a coppery gold, while her left shines a deep purple. In both, where the white would otherwise be, there is a crimson red. Three freckles appear just under and around her eye sockets, the freckles being pitch black. Her nails, both on her toes and hands, are a dark orange color. On her ears, she wears a pair of tight rings. The rings appear to be golden, but also have a line going through the middle. In the center of the lines is a tiny speck of green.

Zala is clearly healthy, and sometimes attracts attention due to her skin’s color and glow. She has become a bit self-conscious about this, and tends to favor clothes that cover most of her body. She always leaves her forearms bare, though. On her wrists, she wears a pair of pale blue bracelets that are almost the exact same color as her skin. These were passed down from her mother to her, having been in their family for generations. Her mother insists that there is something special about them, but won’t tell her in what way, for some reason. On her hands are a pair of dark red gloves that were a gift from her father. They are thin, and very comfortable, but also surprisingly warm on cold days. Most surprisingly, they don’t impede her ability to draw, paint, or anything else. On her feet are a pair of similarly colored pointed shoes. On the rest of her body, she wears a dark blue robe that covers the rest of her body. Beneath the robe is usually a dark brown, almost black, shirt (with sleeves that stop just above the forearms), and a matching pair of pants that have tapered ankles.

Although one cannot usually see more than just a band going down into the folds of her robe, she does wear a necklace. The necklace, made of a black material, has a charm that is roughly the size of a fifty-cent coin. The charm is circular, and contains a series of dials. It, too, was a gift from her mother, and once belonged to Magna the Ancient. Despite appearing as a gear charm, it is actually a small astrolabe. Zala is fully versed in the use of it for emergency navigation. The charm also has, on the backside of it, a set of 3 vertical tubes. One tube contains a small pencil. The second contains a micro inkwell. The third contains a needle that can be attached to the astrolabe, and allows it to function as a compass.

She is always wearing a bag on her back. As well, unseen, she also wears a satchel on her right hip. The satchel contains her art supplies, tattoo making supplies (including her tattoo book), a bunch of blank sheets of paper, and a few other odds and ends.

### Personality

Zala tends to come off as shy to people who don’t know her. She often prefers sitting and watching, drawing and painting what she has seen. That quiet nature conceals a mind that is very thoughtful and clever. Having learned from both of her parents, and lived the life on the move as she has, she is quiet because she is considering things, and trying to puzzle over images, inks, etc. That is…except for when she is making tattoos. When making tattoos, a fierceness comes over her. Her customers, both commissioned and in local shops, have said that her eyes sometimes glow while she applies tattoos. She doesn’t know anything about that, she always says, but she always finds that when she is applying them, it feels right. She feels the ebb and flow of the ink, the pencil, the paintbrush, the needles, etc. More than once, she has felt a strong urge to change what someone has asked of her. She finds herself struggling with this impulse, as a of late, feeling a pull to tattoo certain things onto certain people, just as she does when painting or drawing, feeling a strong urge to do things one way or another.

## Story

### Background

Zala Schion, now aged 101, has so far lived a life full of travel, a bit of privilege, and of curiosity. Her father, Isior Schion, and his wife, Mara Schion nee Golor, have always been great travelers. They have made their living by making and selling magnificent fabrics, clothing, and rugs, translating texts of ancient languages, and sometimes transporting rare and unusual objects. Isior’s clothing, hand woven from sea weeds, oceanic plants, and other materials, has been regarded as worthy of kings and queens for centuries. This is such that he has, for the last few decades, mostly moved from place to for particular commissions. Lady Mara, or Mara the ocean snake as she is sometimes called, is said to have a mind brilliant enough to outfox the most scheming Tieflings, or seducing bards. Always with her beloved husband, married to him for well over five hundred years, she excels at making sure her husband never gets taken advantage of. She also excels in translating and making copies of texts, with her ability to speak seventeen languages, some of them extremely rare and unusual.
Isior, an elf, met his beloved wife Mara, a sea elf, when they were both still children, aged 50. The son of a travelling bookseller, Isior and his father found themselves traveling the sea, being ambushed by pirates. The pirates attempted to hold a knife to Isior’s throat, to force his father to give up a rare book, when who should save the day, but Mara and her mother, the great sheriff of the seas Amigna the Ancient. As he saw Mara and her mother save him and his father, he fell in love at first sight. Although she initially rejected him, Mara would grow to return his feelings. They were married at the ages of 159 and 162 respectively (Mara being 3 years Isior’s senior)
Their marriage was a happy one, save for that, for some reason they never could figure out, they seemed unable to have children. They had become resigned to a life without them…until Mara very unexpectedly became pregnant at the age of 589. So it was, Zala was born under the light of a cold full moon, just after a serious snow storm, in the heart of winter, two years later, when Mara was aged 591.
Growing up, Zala has spent her life with parents. She was taught many things by them. They rarely stayed in one place for more than a couple of years, although they did stay in a seaside village, in the service of a local lord who attempted to permanently keep Isior as his permanent clothier, for her first 5 years. With how in demand Isior’s work always was, and how much Mara made sure he was paid for it, as well as how much she was able to charge for her work, Zala grew up wanting for nothing. Ever fearful of spoiling her, however, Mara and Isior made sure that Zala was with them as they worked from as soon as she could walk. Money was plentiful, but Zala saw that it came from work, from doing your best. She was instilled with the value of hard work from infancy.
As they travelled, as soon as she could hold a quill and book, Zala began to sketch. She seemed to have a natural talent for artistry. In particular, she showed tremendous aptitude for painting and drawing what she saw, and, with practice, what she could imagine. Her art always seemed to have a kind of magical shimmer to it. This meant that she was able to, after two decades of independent study, begin to sell her work in the marketplace with her parents. It wasn’t long before Isior had the idea of having Zala paint designs onto his clothing. Having always known how to sew (Isior insisting on teaching her), but never finding it her passion, she was ecstatic about being able to share her passion for painting with her father, working together with him. Their first joint piece was a stunning dress, painted with a map of the realm, used in the wedding of a princess to a prince. It would not be their last joint commission. She also began to work with her mother, painting and drawing beautiful illustrations in books her mother made copies of. This, naturally, led to making copies of maps. She sold her first map to a ship captain, Ilitor the strange, a Tiefling, at the age of 60, for 42 gold pieces. Ilitor would swear until his death, many many years later, that the map had saved him and his crew countless times. She seemed destined to become a painter, map marker, and artista, a modern rival to ancient masters. That was, until her 70th birthday.
On her 70th birthday, as she was in the marketplace with her parents, on the way to a very well-regarded tavern for lunch, when they passed a tattoo shop. This was a normal thing, to be sure, but what caught her eye that day was that she could see a raggedy looking man inside the shop. A man holding a peculiar tool, and creating a glowing tattoo. Over dinner that night, she asked her parents what would make a tattoo glow. Both of them seemed taken aback by that, and asked where she had seen such a thing. This led to the three of them returning to the shop the next day, only to find the shop boarded up. Extremely curious, they checked with the local guards, who told them that that shop, Skeligo’s, was only opened 1 day per week, and was the main place of business for the great tattooist Skeligo, a dragonborn tattoo artist who was known around the town for his magical tattoos. Returning to the tattoo parlor on the appropriate day, alone, Zala found herself captivated by the work of the tattooist. She could not stop herself from copying the designs he put onto people. That, however, would turn out to nearly end badly. Skeligo was not happy at being observed without being asked, and was about to scream at her to get out of his bloody shop, when he caught a glimpse of her drawings. She had, perfectly, copied the images of the non-magical tattoos he had applied. Before he could speak, Zala was already apologizing for watching him without asking, but she couldn’t help herself, she was just so captivated, having never watched a tattoo artist like that before. She complimented him on his work. Asking her name, Skeligo, on a whim, stated that as long as she was willing to sweep up around the shop and help him clean a bit, she could watch him as much as she wanted, and maybe even learn something. Zala accepted, and so began her initial tutelage into tattoos. Her parents would, after a couple of months, give her a book of tattoo designs to study. Those first few months were mostly full of watching, reading, and sketching, but she learned a lot. Including what frustration meant, as she found herself sometimes struggling to copy the designs Skeligo applied.
Nine months later, after mostly being silent with her, Skeligo surprised her one day, tossing her a small bag and asked her if she was done watching, and ready to start learning to apply tattoos herself. Ecstatic, she began to work with him in the shop on Sundays. She proved to be a quick study, doing her first solo-application of a tattoo, a simple red horn, just two months later. On the anniversary of their meeting, around her 71st birthday, she would finally ask the question she had always wondered. Why was Skeligo only there 1 day per week? Where did he go the rest of the time? Skeligo would refuse to give a clear answer, only saying that he felt the path of the wanderer within him, whether he chose it or not. A month after that, and her parents informed her that they would need to move again. Isior had received a commission from a faraway king, who wanted a magical robe made for him and his queen. The royal family was also wanting to commission portraits, and had a couple of rare books they wanted copies made of. They were willing to pay a premium. Saddened, but understanding, she went to the shop that Sunday and told Skeligo. Skeligo seemed to have a smile on his face. He passed her a small bag, saying to not stop her pursuit of tattoos, and that he expected to next see her even more advanced than he saw her now. For the one and only time, he demanded she leave the shop. As she did so, near tears, she turned back after she passed through the door, only to find the entire shop had vanished, building included. That would not be the last time this would happen. She would open the bag, finding it to contain a set of tattoos, a new sketchbook, a set of ink, a bunch of needles, a thick volume, and a couple of scrolls. One was marked with the name of where she was going, the next commission place. She opened that scroll, and saw a map of the town. It had an x marked on it, with the word Saturday next to it.
As they arrived at the next place that would be their home for a while, three months later, Zala was intensely curious about what she would find that Saturday at the location. What should she find, when she got there? Why, a building identical to Skeligo’s shop of course. Inside was an obsidian skinned elf, applying a tattoo. He asked her who she was as soon as she entered. She showed the map, and explained that Skeligo had directed her. The elf smiled, introduced herself as Shandra, and told her to come every Saturday if she wanted to continue learning. Zala would learn under Sandra for 14 months, every Saturday, before the family had to move again. Zala found herself experiencing déjà vu as Shandra kicked her out of the shop, tossing a small bag at her, and finding the shop vanishing as soon as she turned her head. This would occur two more times, over the course of about 3 years, before Zala would learn what was truly going on.
This time, it was a female Orc, very tall, named Shkiniga, who had tutored her on Fridays, that was about to kick her out. Expecting it, Zala made sure to keep everything in her vision this time as she left the shop. She saw the shape begin to shimmer. Something, Zala could never be sure what, compelled her to place her hand back on the door and open it. The shimmering instantly stopped. As she re-entered the shop, she was very surprised to find that it looked like it always had, save for one thing. Standing there, a funny smirk on his face, was not Shkiniga. No, staring back at her was none other than Skeligo.
“At last, Zala, you have learned your first true lesson. Come into the back of the shop, and I’ll answer your questions.” Following him, Zala could not help but to stare as she saw him change his form. Skeligo, Shandra, Setinor the dwarf, Strilinga the human with a touch of demon in his ancestry, Shkiniga, and even more forms that she could not name.
Skeligo would apologize for his deceit, and reveal himself as a Changeling of high magic, who specialized in stealth, teleportation, and tattoos. He had lived under many names for a long time. He stated that he was over 900 years old, and was uncertain why he had lived as long as he had when the rest of race…just doesn’t. What he did know was that he had a particular way with magical tattoos when he was young, and had tutored many. In Zala, he had found his latest apprentice. He considered that finding out, on her own, what he was, was the end of her apprenticeship. He christened her as a Tattooist. He passed to her a few books, some more tattoo making supplies, along with a large scroll that he drew from a pouch far too small for it. He passed her the scroll and the pouch, explaining that it was a map of all the shops in their part of the world that sold the magical supplies they used. There were others, of course, but these were some of the bigger ones. He told her not to look for him anymore, and that he would find her from time to time. Her apprenticeship had ended, she had learned the basics of being a tattooist. Now it was up to her to use these basics, take them forward, and live. When she told her parents that night, they were shocked.
Over the next 26 years, as she continued to travel with her parents and began to perform freelance tattoo artistry. Never with any magic, except to herself, her tattoos gained a reputation similar to that of her paintings and maps. On her 90th birthday, a young prince asked her to tattoo the family crest onto his right bicep. She did, and so impressed the royal family with her work, that she was commissioned to put the crest on all members. Her parents were delighted for her.
That brings us to the present. Zala has just turned 101. She still travels with her parents, and has a reputation for making beautiful tattoos, non-magical. For herself, she continues to evolve her tattoo magic, and has been able to make a couple of “bangers” as her teacher called them, on her pointer fingers.Zala was taught by her mother and father to be able to fight with her hands, and has received training (via their stays at various castles and keeps) in a bunch of different simple weapons. She always carries, regardless of what she’s primarily using, a set of sharp sewing needles. Her father once spent a few weeks going over the basics of using them defend oneself. She has also taken to sharpening one end of her quills and brushes, just in case.

## Relationships

### Romance

Being the daughter of such well known parents has resulted in Zala having many suitors. She has never found herself interested in forming a romantic relationship with others, male or female, though she has made friends with some people that were explicitly trying to court her. More than one second or third son has wanted to be with her, with the occasional second or third daughter trying as well. Zala isn’t really sure what gender she prefers, and considers herself to be open to anything, but hasn’t felt a spark with anyone at all. Her parents have hinted that they will try to set her up, now that she has come of age, but she has little interest in being set up, wanting mostly to work on her art (paintings, illustrating books, tattoos, etc).

## Trivia

* Zala is one of many characters with heterochromia, including Aurora and Enoki.