- Character Profile
- Profile
Tsara the Unforsakeable / the Unforeseeable
| Age 31 |
| Gender Woman |
| Origin Miradj'Dah |
| Occupation Hand of the Mansa |
It is said amongst those women who pace the gilt skybridges of the hanging palaces, that Tsara the Unforesakeable was the daughter of the Faamaba dethroned by Nebu the Prophet--may his name forever bring fair winds. As they sip their bissap, ever mindful to not stain the pearl-lacquer of their lips, they speak of how their Mansa saw the Truth of her beauty and ensured the girl was not banished to the desert below so that her gifts would serve the Greatest City There Is, Was, or Ever Will Be. As they stop at a ledge to peer down and admire far below the wanjila's snaking caravans and comment on their bravery, they refute another as they argue just how it was as a teenager Tsara had earned her place to train amongst the Tokura al-Shams. Had she recited a poem so beautiful that it turned rival lords of the Harannossë into lovers that then gifted the Mansa a tree which grew bejeweled fruit? No, it was that she had debated three Suma at once about the divine truths of Aja're, Nzuri, and Takoumba without ever dropping a thread of conversation with each. Of course not, it was widely known that Tsara had earned her place by singing so sweetly a call to prayer that a rampaging djinn forsook the body it had possessed and devoted its eternal life to serve the Truth.
However, amongst the amorous zana'gari youths, it is said that Tsara the Unforesakeable had been born a simple girl, the daughter of a foolish man who rallied against the rightful Mansa. They talk of how Tsara was thrown from the edge of Miradj'Dah during the revolution by a common soldier, and that the very zephyrs of Nzuri bore her aloft to once again stand at the city's edge. As they crack groundnuts between their teeth and crane their necks to catch even just the dazzling hem of Tsara's Festival of Ascension regalia, they bandy the number of times this happened before Nebu the Prophet himself and his Faamaba were called to intervene. They claim that after merely laying eyes upon her, the Mansa wept at her beauty and Suraaya the Lioness declared her a treasure of the city. Or was it the other way around, and the Mansa knew the Truth of how the young woman would serve the Gods with her silver tongue and keen mind?
Although, in their workshops some of the Daa'ra tell a far different story as they tinker away into the middle of the night. Within the amber warmth of their lamps, chests buzzing from arak as the cool night seeps through open windows, they share what they learned of as apprentices. Claims of having seen secret schematics ordered by the Mansa from each of their great masters, designs so inspired by his divine words that from their combined workings the perfect vessel was created to serve as a body for Aja're herself. They debate as to which of their masters' masters crafted her feet so nimbly that she walked upon air rather than rough stone, or set her eyes so luminously that to stare into them was not unlike gazing at Djiko'Sa at high-noon. Fumbling their charcoal pencils across scratch paper, they alter each other's renderings of just what underlies the workings of her chest.
Regardless of any tale, it is known across all of Miradj'Dah that Tsara the Unforesakeable is one of the Mansa's greatest tools at keeping peace both within the city and without. That the grace of her words, the sharpness of her mind, and the strength of her beauty are equally suited to negotiating trade deals as they are entertaining a visiting Princeps of Altalusia. That her taste in fashion was capable of bringing untold fortune to a visionary tailor or ruin to an uncharitable cobbler; and that her piousness was capable of bringing a sworn heretic to the Truth. There are no tales told, however, of the true workings of Tsara, for she is truly the Unforeseeable.
Her fellow Tokura al-Shams speak to none of the silence of her pace as she stalks a corrupt Baara'Kasa known to be selling Suldaza crystal to enemy tribes within the Kaikias. No one sees the few minutes she slipped into his study during a feast the night before to find the document that proved his guilt. Only many hours later does the street sweeper witness the mark left cleanly by her jambiya, with no story to tell of the woman who left it behind. No, these tales are only told to the Mansa, in accordance with his will.
However, amongst the amorous zana'gari youths, it is said that Tsara the Unforesakeable had been born a simple girl, the daughter of a foolish man who rallied against the rightful Mansa. They talk of how Tsara was thrown from the edge of Miradj'Dah during the revolution by a common soldier, and that the very zephyrs of Nzuri bore her aloft to once again stand at the city's edge. As they crack groundnuts between their teeth and crane their necks to catch even just the dazzling hem of Tsara's Festival of Ascension regalia, they bandy the number of times this happened before Nebu the Prophet himself and his Faamaba were called to intervene. They claim that after merely laying eyes upon her, the Mansa wept at her beauty and Suraaya the Lioness declared her a treasure of the city. Or was it the other way around, and the Mansa knew the Truth of how the young woman would serve the Gods with her silver tongue and keen mind?
Although, in their workshops some of the Daa'ra tell a far different story as they tinker away into the middle of the night. Within the amber warmth of their lamps, chests buzzing from arak as the cool night seeps through open windows, they share what they learned of as apprentices. Claims of having seen secret schematics ordered by the Mansa from each of their great masters, designs so inspired by his divine words that from their combined workings the perfect vessel was created to serve as a body for Aja're herself. They debate as to which of their masters' masters crafted her feet so nimbly that she walked upon air rather than rough stone, or set her eyes so luminously that to stare into them was not unlike gazing at Djiko'Sa at high-noon. Fumbling their charcoal pencils across scratch paper, they alter each other's renderings of just what underlies the workings of her chest.
Regardless of any tale, it is known across all of Miradj'Dah that Tsara the Unforesakeable is one of the Mansa's greatest tools at keeping peace both within the city and without. That the grace of her words, the sharpness of her mind, and the strength of her beauty are equally suited to negotiating trade deals as they are entertaining a visiting Princeps of Altalusia. That her taste in fashion was capable of bringing untold fortune to a visionary tailor or ruin to an uncharitable cobbler; and that her piousness was capable of bringing a sworn heretic to the Truth. There are no tales told, however, of the true workings of Tsara, for she is truly the Unforeseeable.
Her fellow Tokura al-Shams speak to none of the silence of her pace as she stalks a corrupt Baara'Kasa known to be selling Suldaza crystal to enemy tribes within the Kaikias. No one sees the few minutes she slipped into his study during a feast the night before to find the document that proved his guilt. Only many hours later does the street sweeper witness the mark left cleanly by her jambiya, with no story to tell of the woman who left it behind. No, these tales are only told to the Mansa, in accordance with his will.
Appearance
| Height 5'9 |
| Build Dancer |
| Hair Ebony, often woven through with precious metal or colorful fabric. Worn usually in knots or box braids. |
| Eyes Almond-shaped and slightly downturned. Honey-brown. |
Tsara is a woman in her early thirties and at the height of her beauty. With luminous deep-brown skin, above-average height, and a physique toned from combat training and traditional Miradi dance, she has faith in the power and capacity of her body to accomplish what she desires.
As the Unforsakeable, Tsara is prone to wearing lavish fabrics tailored into garments that combine elements of traditional dress and Miradi ingenuity. Always the Suma-crafted cloth of each article is infused with magical purpose or function, and regardless of the hue each pattern of fabric interweaves transcriptions of holy verses and prophesies from the Mansa's public words. She is never seen without a large, finely crafted metal or ivory torc, is always wreathed in rings, bangles, and ornate headwear, and enhances the lines of her face and the shape of her eyes with stark yet dramatic makeup.
As the Unforeseeable, Tsara is relatively unremarkable. Usually donning whatever styles the common gari wear in grays, whites, or browns, it again is always crafted of Suma-woven cloth for her protection, function, and efficacy. Typically she is only adorned in understated bangles and rings, pieces of magi-tech that do not draw attention to themselves and are not reflective. Often she wears a turban or another style of head wrap or scarf to obscure her hair and face.
As the Unforsakeable, Tsara is prone to wearing lavish fabrics tailored into garments that combine elements of traditional dress and Miradi ingenuity. Always the Suma-crafted cloth of each article is infused with magical purpose or function, and regardless of the hue each pattern of fabric interweaves transcriptions of holy verses and prophesies from the Mansa's public words. She is never seen without a large, finely crafted metal or ivory torc, is always wreathed in rings, bangles, and ornate headwear, and enhances the lines of her face and the shape of her eyes with stark yet dramatic makeup.
As the Unforeseeable, Tsara is relatively unremarkable. Usually donning whatever styles the common gari wear in grays, whites, or browns, it again is always crafted of Suma-woven cloth for her protection, function, and efficacy. Typically she is only adorned in understated bangles and rings, pieces of magi-tech that do not draw attention to themselves and are not reflective. Often she wears a turban or another style of head wrap or scarf to obscure her hair and face.
Personality
Tsara is skilled at coming across as however she needs to be seen in the moment.
As the Unforsakeable, she is a dazzling jewel. Bringing her intellect, wit, and flirtatious humor to bear, she typically occupies the center of attention, keen to engage others in conversation and ensure that proceedings are moving along as expected.
As the Unforeseeable, she is the wallflower yet-to-bloom. Pleasant and easy to talk to, she avoids making much of an impression in any way.
Regardless of the role she is taking, however, Tsara is observant, relentless, and composed. She wants to always be the most knowledgeable in the room, even if she feigns vapidity, and she aims to never be on the receiving end of a surprise. There are times in which she becomes trapped, and thus less effective, in webs of her own weaving, especially when people do not act in ways that she expects. Her frustration when things do not go as she would hope is as palpable as her laughter is infectious, and when her composure is broken she is motivated to swiftly deal with the situation so that others retain the image of her she wishes for them to.
As the Unforsakeable, she is a dazzling jewel. Bringing her intellect, wit, and flirtatious humor to bear, she typically occupies the center of attention, keen to engage others in conversation and ensure that proceedings are moving along as expected.
As the Unforeseeable, she is the wallflower yet-to-bloom. Pleasant and easy to talk to, she avoids making much of an impression in any way.
Regardless of the role she is taking, however, Tsara is observant, relentless, and composed. She wants to always be the most knowledgeable in the room, even if she feigns vapidity, and she aims to never be on the receiving end of a surprise. There are times in which she becomes trapped, and thus less effective, in webs of her own weaving, especially when people do not act in ways that she expects. Her frustration when things do not go as she would hope is as palpable as her laughter is infectious, and when her composure is broken she is motivated to swiftly deal with the situation so that others retain the image of her she wishes for them to.
Skills
Debate. Espionage. Singing. Dance. Blades. Aesthetics.