Alya, the Badass

Alya bint Sobia (a.k.a. she is not interested in nicknames)

Physical Description

Body Features

Warm tanned skin, long limbs, slim, tall, thin fingers

Facial Features

Sharp features, long, thin face, with high cheekbones - cheekbones that could cut a man, yeah. Angular eyes, deep brown, with thin, angry eyebrows, a pointed nose, thin lips, small mouth. She is made of edges.

Identifying Characteristics

Nothing, save the scarf wrapped around her head whenever she leaves the house. It is perfectly circular, and helps to make her face even sharper. Also the belt around her waist that people gulp at the sight of (that she leaves at the city gate whenever going to university - they keep it safe for her).

Physical quirks

Ambidextrous, of course. Walks with quick feet, doesn't stumble. Straight posture, but not relaxed. Always on edge, waiting for something to pop out. Always on the defensive - that's what happens when you live in a village crawling with unsavouries, that are ready to come at you soon as your defenses go down. A silver band around her thumb she twirls when she gets antsy, but the rest of her stays composed, even her posture - always straight, always ready to defend.

Apparel & Accessories

Alya is known around her village, and the surrounds, as someone who can get a job done. Sometimes the job involves cleaning, or fixing a wrecked cart, and sometimes it's a bit more unsavoury. Sometimes she's called in to get rid of a pest problem - the human kind. And she takes the job, of course she does. So her attire is not fancy. It's practical - a dark coloured shirwal, with a long qamis of the same colour on top. The qamis fits well, allows her to move easily, and around her waist is the belt of weapons she's acquired through the years. Some were gifts, others she made herself. All are special to her. On top is, as always, her black scarf, pinned so it stays in place, and out of the way, so it isn't used against her. The fabric of her clothing isn't anything special - just normal cotton. The weapons belt was especially special, as it was a gift from one of her favourite customers. The silver band around her thumb with carved patterns was her mothers. She didn't technically steal it. Her mother saw her put it on, and said nothing. And Alya just never took it off.

Specialized Equipment

Her most favoured weapon is the trusted dagger. It wasn't big enough to do any real danger - save when put to the throat - but it hurt like hell, and it gave the warning she intended. Of course, her skill in combat, and weaponry was impressive, but she'd never taken a life. And she never would. Murder in this world was not worth Hell in the next.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Alya was born to two parents who had just fallen on hard times - they were stripped of their noble status, as well as everything they'd ever had. Instead of Alya being a new hope for them, they saw her as a nuisance, a pressure, another mouth to feed. They didn't hate her, but they did almost resent her. It wasn't her fault that they were stripped of their status, and their wealth - no, that fault fell on their own shoulders (or the shoulders' of their past selves). But she was an extra expense at a time where they had to learn to hold tight to their money, in case it never showed up again, in case they were stripped even further. As a result, Alya was a neglected child. Nobody paid much attention to her, nobody showed much affection for her. They were never mean, but everyone, her siblings included, were stuck in a stupor, always reliving their days of nobility, and luxury, never being able to live in the present, because it was so much worse than the past. But Alya had never known this life of luxury they were used to. She just had the present, and the life they all now lived was the only thing she knew. She didn't wallow in self-pity. She began to rely on herself. Out she went into the world, soon as she was able, and began to explore. And she never stopped. There was nothing Alya didn't learn - from domestic activities, to manual labour, to acrobatics, to fighting, to creating artwork. Anything to get her out of her home, where nothing thrived, save the plants she so meticulously cared for; where the inhabitants walked like phantoms through the halls, always longing for things to go back, for time to reverse, for life to return. She didn't want to be one of them, one of those phantoms mourning a past life. Life was outside the door, waiting for her, and she would take it by the hand and run alongside it, and take from it everything it had to offer. She was always thinking, searching for ways to help her parents. Maybe an opportunity would arise and they would be reinstated in their nobility. Or surpass it, perhaps, if they were lucky. But she knew that was near impossible - not with the current malik, the man who stripped them of their lives. But who knows? Crazier things have happened.

Education

Alya excelled at the village madrasa - the only ones her parents could afford. So much so, she was offered a scholarship to the Inqaa University, and is studying there currently. Her parents were thrilled with the news of the scholarship, of course. Anything that gave them a leg up - or made them look and feel superior to their neighbours - was absolutely welcome.

Employment

Alya was no stranger to her village, and many of her neighbours employed her. She was an efficient worked, quick, reliable. Her resume includes work in the local bookstore, the bakery, as well as some credits in the stage shows put on by the schoolhouse. She also set up her own little business - made a name for herself as the best green-thumb in the village, and in any of the surrounding villages too. She could bring a plant back that was on the brink of death.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Her blossoming plant business, of course. It's not something she ever thought she'd be interested in - gardening - but she tried it once and it just stuck. Her garden out the front makes her house much more attractive than all the rest around it. It thrives - financially too. She is a brilliant fighter too, in hand-to-hand combat, as well as with weapons (namely daggers). She also has some pretty amazing grades at the madrasa, and was offered a scholarship to Inqaa University.

Failures & Embarrassments

Upon first arriving in the city, where the university was located, she felt out of place. Her attire didn't fit in, she was always a little sandy, her accent sounded wrong, and it seemed, while she was smartest in her madrasa, she was just another girl here - surrounded by smarter, richer, fancier, better adjusted people. Her most embarrassing moment was when she answered a question wrong in class. It wasn't being wrong that embarrassed her - she was there to learn after all. It was the aftermath. Because she'd answered so confidently - and perhaps because she had shown them up previously - a little girl from the village - the class destroyed any confidence she had left. They tittered and laughed for a good while. And, worst of all, the Ustadh did nothing about it. He just waited until the laughter died down, and called on someone else for the correct answer. The chosen person was a smug boy who didn't look away from her, as he answered the question correctly. The embarrassment lasted a while longer. She almost didn't show her face in the class again. But she was not so easily beaten. Another embarrassment was meeting that annoying, charming stranger. He had eyes of the bluest blue, and he definitely was a rich kid. It was when she had a stall in the Souk al-Madina. He was instantly attracted to her plants, and she was glad to play along with his charming little game. Maybe he'd shell out extra 'ajin. He ended up insulting her by giving her some gold and returning her plants - as if she was a charity case. She fumed at him, he went away, apologising for offending her, not meaning it. She fumed for a moment longer, then promptly forgot him. Until he returned. He looked the same, and so did she, so when he came up to her stall and treated her as if he'd never seen her before - the anger returned and this time it didn't leave. It instead brought with it some vengeance, and she swore she'd get him back - because he embarrassed her two-fold: firstly, by assuming she needed his charity; and secondly, by forgetting he'd ever met her.

Mental Trauma

Just the fact that her parents never gave her the time of day, and her siblings seemed too lost in their own world to even consider her. That's gotta affect a person. No afflictions, no phobias.

Intellectual Characteristics

She is good with numbers. She can calculate the force needed to take down anyone, depending on their height and width. Even age plays a factor. She understands the language of numbers better than words. Her speech isn't as refined as someone raised, say, in The Palace, but she does alright. She's not really a girl of many words. Her hands speak better. She is extremely logical, scientific, more than creative. Even her plant business, she approaches in a scientific way. Even through all of that, she is still very religious. She believes in a higher power, and prays regularly, in good and bad times. She wraps a scarf around her head, as the scripture encourages, and it helps her to focus on more important things, instead of appearance. Not that she begrudges anyone who does take time to cultivate a specific appearance. To each their own. Her motto. You do what you gotta do to survive. That's all anyone can do, she thinks.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

She doesn't want to ever stand still, because if she does, she fears that she might start looking back, like her parents, her siblings. And she's not interested in living in the past, a past of which the information she is not privy to. Her parents are lacking in many ways, and she wants to be able to support herself. Because who knows? Maybe one day her phantom family will disappear for good. When she first started making her own money, she offered it to her parents, thinking it would help them, lift their spirits, but it only worsened things. It only reminded them of what they didn't have - none of the nobles' children had to work, after all. So Alya stopped talking to them about money. But she never forgot about it. Maybe there would be a way to help her parents. Maybe she could find some way for them to be reinstated of their previous status. If she could find someone willing to pay her a good deal of money, or someone who needs assistance with something that may reinstate her parents, then she could help them. She just needed to find that someone.

Savvies & Ineptitudes

Skilled fighter, logical thinker, great at mathematical games, like backgammon, and good at scientific equations, not great at the whole chatting thing, small talk is the bane of her existence

Likes & Dislikes

Likes everything, tries everything - food wise, activity wise - rarely says no to trying things; tried reading and doesn't love it, it's too slow for her, too stationary, she'd rather go out and do the thing instead of read about it, save for one fairy-tale book she's had since she was little - because those stories speak of impossible things, things one only wishes were true; hates arrogant charming boys, isn't big on sweets (they slow her down), food is sustenance, not enjoyment

Virtues & Personality perks

Ambidextrous, quick on her feet, logical, rational thinker, doesn't let her emotions sway her decisions. Lithe and nimble, moves like a shadow. Efficient, and reliable, trustworthy, will never con a man. Always remembers a face.

Vices & Personality flaws

Hot-headed, can hold a grudge for a loooong time - patient in that way. Vengeance is written into her mainframe - the fact that nobody is ever allowed to get away with anything. Makes for an exhausting life. Will argue allllll day. Like she will not let you go until she's proven she's right, or until you've come to an agreement. Usually the former. Has deep insecurities - deep enough that she doesn't even know they're there - because of the years of being ignored by her parents and siblings, of having to fend for herself, depend on herself. Can't really get close to anyone, doesn't want to. People always tend to disappoint her. She has friends, likes her neighbours, but none of them ever get too close. When it comes down to it, she doesn't really think anyone cares about her, and doesn't feel like she matters. Like she's not enough.

Personality Quirks

Spins the silver band around her thumb when antsy, when thinking. Rolls her eyes so often, they may get stuck there someday.

Hygiene

Always clean and showered, and looking presentable. But she doesn't have time to worry about cleaning her house. She is a minimalist creature, anyway. Hasn't amassed a large number of things. So it isn't hard to keep her things organised. Maybe if she had more, she'd be messier. She doesn't give it much thought, though.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Alya has contacts all over her village, and the surrounds, as well. She has no qualms about helping people of other faiths, genders, creeds. She'll help anyone, long as they can pay. Doesn't have any close friends. She's more or less a loner. A friend to all, a friend to none.

Family Ties

Mum, dad, three siblings. Aunties and uncles she never sees because they are noble, and haven't kept in contact with her family.

Religious Views

Definitely religious - believes in the monotheistic God of her ancestors. Wraps her head in a scarf like the religious are wont to do. Prays regularly, a series of motions taught by her religious house leader.

Social Aptitude

A little abrupt, serious, confident but quiet. Definite introvert, thinking deeply, acting only when necessary. Courteous but not sweet, or exactly kind. Logical. Says what she feels needs to be said, doesn't take emotions into consideration. Doesn't worry her if she offends someone. Not likable, but she does good work, so people don't avoid her. She can laugh, but it takes someone she's known for many years to bring that out.

Mannerisms

Walks straight-backed all the time, but on the defense as well, eyes always searching corners for any coming threat. Never really feels comfortable anywhere.

Hobbies & Pets

No pets. No specific hobbies. She just tries everything - fighting, gardening, backgammon, acrobatics, even cooking, though that one didn't stick well.

Speech

Uses short sentences, just enough words to get the message across. Not flowery speech. Clear, concise, short. Her voice is low - a lifetime of feeling unheard. Doesn't insult, doesn't annoy. Only speaks facts - or what she thinks is fact. If it hurts someone, that isn't her problem.

Wealth & Financial state

Alya and her family are not rich. The work Alya does around the village has not changed that. But it has made her independent of her parents. She can take care of herself, and does so very effectively. She knows how to save money, and she knows how to spend it. She is logical, and clever with numbers.

Ethnicity

Human

Year of Birth

1180 AA 20 Years old

Circumstances of Birth

Alya was born to two parents who had just fallen on hard times - they were stripped of their noble status, as well as everything they'd ever had. Instead of Alya being a new hope for them, they saw her as a nuisance, a pressure, another mouth to feed.

Gender

Female

Eyes

Chocolate brown, angled

Hair

A brown so dark, it's almost black; unmanageable; kinda frizzy

Height

169cm

Weight

52 kg

Known Languages

English, Arabic