Zephi Velhiri

Zoom in from Zephi's original Ref Sheet

Zeep

Chip

Ms. Velhiri

Yes, THAT Zephi Velhiri

> What makes you think that you are *any* better than *Zephi Fucking Velhiri? -* Zephi, Session 29
>
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Zephi Velhiri is a tiefling bard, famous in her own time as a beloved socialite. She is a member of the current party, and serves as Navigator aboard the ship.

## Appearance

Zephi is a pink tiefling with small horns and large, upturned ears. She has a splattering of purple freckles, and her horns reach a similar color at the tips. She has large gray, pupil-less eyes. She is often seen carrying and playing a lute, which has '*Ms. Velhiri*' written pink gems along the side of it.

## Background & Timeline

400 years ago, Zephi was a famous intergalactic socialite and gambling champ. She was popular among other socialites as well as the general public. The daughter of the inventor/rock star/celebrity Billy Velhiri, she was introduced to public life in the DSK around age 8. Her mother, Lady Zarron, was never mentioned publicly, possibly to avoid a scandal as her realm of the Nine Rings existed within the Haladesh. Zephi presumably grew up there, and was able to return home at her leisure, possibly on The Starship Crimson. Zephi and Billy were particularly close, and the two were some of the most famous figures in Zamana at the time. Zephi's public persona was flirtatious, sociable, and unpredictable. Her appearance was similar to how she looks in the present, though her skin had a warmer tone, her hair was a well-groomed black bob, and her eyes were golden.

At some point, Zarron was approached by several figures asking for her patronage or assistance in locating the Orb of Universal Casting or *Orbus*. When Zarron denied them, they reached out to Zephi, who agreed to help them as she believed it would secure her father's place in history. Their leader, Leopold, gave her his lute with a soul vice embedded inside, where the figures would live and be able to give her suggestions and advice until she recovered the orb. They also advised her to seek out Jacob Willsworth, a doctoral candidate from the Prime Institute on sabbatical on Nafrin.

Once on Nafrin, Zephi found and met with Jacob, and presumably convinced him to travel with her in search of the orb. Jacob was apparently taken to meet Zarron, as well as Billy, who gave Jacob a soul vice to keep Zephi safe.

Eventually, Zephi and Jacob found the orb on an abandoned spelljammer near Tandor. When they opened the box containing it, it triggered Power Word Kill, and Jacob locked her in the soul vice for 400 years, taking the brunt of the spell attack himself.

Zephi then remembers seeing a Tree, before waking up in the present with almost none of her memories.

## Relationships

### Creon

Zephi doesn't goof on Creon as much as the others, but did say that time he killed the undead mortal body of a God was pretty hot. When the fights were going on at the The Flaming Coven, Creon stepped in for Zephi, and she helped distract attention away from the fact that he'd used magic by getting into a spat with him. Creon seems to be soft on her, though unwilling to admit it. During Brokeback Laboratory, she was the one to melt him out of the wax, and he responded by defending her instead of killing her, as Lt. Uthorim ordered. He always sticks his neck out for her.

### Gerome Mattersmore

Gerome slapped a brand on Zephi's lute and put her under his employ, and she's kind of just rolling with it. Zephi also convinced Yfrit that Gerome, as well as Sheevah, were with her at The Starwhale Pub. When Gerome goes down in combat, Zephi is often the most concerned. He owes her 6 bonuses/raises.

### Sheevah

These two met during a bar fight at the Starwhale Pub and decided to just sit in a booth and chill together, which is a pretty solid example of their relationship. Sheevah is fairly protective of Zephi, and Zephi usually goes to Sheevah if she needs something. Sheevah is also the most likely to ask questions about her past, and Zephi bought Sheevah a fancy outfit during Wandering Stars. They're certainly pals, though very little talking happens between them.

### Vigil Greyhide

Along with Sheevah, Vigil was the one to confront Zephi about her past and the 400 years she was missing. He also dove after her on Jira-2 when she disappeared under the water. Together during Wandering Stars they attended what became a rave at The Prime Institute.

### Jacob Willsworth

Zephi has mentioned Jacob's name several times before but has not explained who he is or how she knows him.

## Powers and Abilities

Zephi is a level 10 Lore Bard.

When in a situation that would call for her to turn on her public persona (ie; parades, casinos, opulent buildings, busy and bustling areas, places where people in power congregate) she can switch into "Full Zephi" mode if the roll is 11-20. If it is 1-10, she remains the same-- though that hasn't happened yet. Creon has a spell that can force Full Zephi mode, Protection from Evil and Good.

Theoretically, the voices could be separated from her with a Remove Curse spell, but this can also backfire and damage the caster. Plus, Zephi doesn't want them gone.

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## Character Q&A

*What does your character wear just hanging out around the ship? What do they wear to bed?*

* A lot of oversized stuff around the ship. Sweaters, baggy pangs, whatever to hide her silhouette. Some linen and some heavier materials, whatever the vibe is. At night she wears a nightgown that’s silky and blue though, which is probably one of the only times you see her wear something close to the skin.

*What’s a pet peeve your character has/an irrational belief or superstition they just wont let go of?*

* She’s convinced that a person can literally run out of something like luck, emotions, or skills. Her pet peeve is seeing people eating bland food.

*How does your character sleep/meditate? Do they move around a lot? Prefer to be alone? Do they take lots of naps/rests?*

* naps in inconvenient places curled up like a cat. On a bed she sleeps completely sprawled out, probably on her stomach or side.

*What is something that your character does that everyone else’s character would know is a habit?*

* Doesn’t sing any songs about herself. When a song she sings uses first person she’s always singing it from someone else’s point of view. Like if she noticed someone on the crew was sad she’d sing a sad song from their point of view.
* Tracing perfect circles with her toe while standing.
* Seemingly randomly looking over her shoulder like she hears someone and flashing a smile before realizing there’s no reporters or fans there.
* Subtly mimicking everyone else’s gestures and also muttering impressions of them under her breath as she does chores. Sometimes they’re not voices/gestures anyone recognizes.
* Hanging upside down from inconvenient locations.
* Counting. A lot of counting.
* Digging her nails in just a tiny bit when she’s holding onto someone and asking for a favor.
* Half the time she’s VERY handsy, touching people whenever she can, and half the time she goes out of her way not to touch or be touched.
* Forgets she has SO much hair now and has to tie it up with wires or frayed off bits of rope.
* Sometimes her eyes change to different random colors if she’s lost in thought.
* Taking her hamster on sightseeing tours of the ship and crew.
* Never gets super angry. She just shuts down.
* Naps everywhere like Vigil but goes out of her way to be annoying about it. One of her favorite locations is on top of Vigil’s desk.

*If your character had to settle down somewhere, what kind of place would they choose? Any specific planet?*

* Not sure. There is plenty of reason to stay on Nafrin, but it would equally make sense to stay on Keller, or Styx. Mostly I think it would be somewhere where she could give people a safe haven for as long as they needed. Somewhere chill and peaceful.

*What do you feel like the theme of your character is?*

* Understanding the difference between and ultimately reclaiming who you are vs. who you want to be vs. how other people see you/want you to be. And forging an identity you have control and understanding of, instead of letting it control you. And then all of the ways that frees a person up to be themselves, and the power that comes from that, and the good things that flow because of it. But Primarily, Zephi’s story is about all the way loves manifests.

*What is your character’s love language? Would people on the crew have caught onto it by now?*

* Words of affirmation. Any time someone tells her she did a good job she’s probably set in a good mood for the rest of the day. And Quality time, but she gets that fill when they’re just all on the ship together.

*How has your characters appearance changed since the beginning of the campaign?*

* Definitely more alert now; her eyes used to be kind of empty and always wide, now they’ve got something deeper behind them but they’re kind of tired looking. Her hair is really long now, but brushed once in a while so it’s not completely frizzy and wild looking like it was when everyone met originally. Her hands have more callouses from the lute, and she absolutely changes her clothes more often now. She carries herself with more sureness, but also a lot more caution. But mostly she just looks more tired, in a way, and more aware.

*If your character was on an airplane, where would they sit?*

* Aisle seat or the middle, though she’d probably fly first class

*3 songs that convey the story of your character: 1) Where they were 2) where they are 3) Where they’re going.*

1. Undone by Greta Isaac and The Romantic by Lauryn Marie
2. Inside by Melt
3. Show Yourself by Idina Menzel