Zarah No
Professor Zarah No
(They/Them)
Used to teach at the University of Doors
“Doors are meant to be opened! Always be prepared to face and learn from what you find on the other side!”
Physical Description
Body Features
Tall and large with a soft, rounded appearance
Physical quirks
Speaks with their hands, makes big animated gestures
Specialized Equipment
Wears an elaborate custom harness/belt packed full of tools, some familiar looking to most, others odd with little obvious purpose, all useful.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Fira’s parents, Orina Var (she/her) and Zarah (they/them) are as in love with eachother as they are with discovery and knowledge. Orina is the shorter of the two and has a tendency to appear more serious and have more gravitas while Zarah is generally more effusive and quick to smile and joke… or to prod her wife into smiling and laughing with her.
They both share a few central principles that they passed on to their daughter:
It is extremely rare to see one without the other close by. They left the relative stability of the Steadfast together to seek out the mysteries held in the beyond. It’s unclear exactly how long they’ve travelled together and while they will spend hours over small details of numenera or something they find interesting they seem to be relatively unconcerned about tracking the passage of time. But it’s clear it’s been a very long time, when speaking with one another it can be hard for others to follow as they have developed a shared personal shorthand. During their travels they founded the research clave of Quina where they remained for just over 20 years and where they gave birth too and raised their daughter Fira.
They both believe strongly that while pursuit of knowledge and understanding is of paramount importance, it is nothing if it is not passed on and so they are always willing to teach those willing to learn. They are able and patient teachers with a great deal of experience between the two, who believe firmly the best way to teach is through experience. Their students must be willing to take on the risks inherent in discovery of the Numenera. Upon meeting them, it’s easy to see where Fira gets her approach to life. In terms of personality and bearing she takes more after Zarah, tending to the effusive and bubbly, though she takes more after Orina in physical appearance and her body language when actually serious or thinking deeply is all Orina. The three of them were a very close knit unit and all peas in a pod.
They both share a few central principles that they passed on to their daughter:
- doors are meant to be opened,
- all knowledge is worth having,
- discoveries should be shared for the benefit of all,
- understanding and using the Numenera is the key to ensuring the bright future of the ninth world,
- understanding requires one to embrace risk and the unknown.
It is extremely rare to see one without the other close by. They left the relative stability of the Steadfast together to seek out the mysteries held in the beyond. It’s unclear exactly how long they’ve travelled together and while they will spend hours over small details of numenera or something they find interesting they seem to be relatively unconcerned about tracking the passage of time. But it’s clear it’s been a very long time, when speaking with one another it can be hard for others to follow as they have developed a shared personal shorthand. During their travels they founded the research clave of Quina where they remained for just over 20 years and where they gave birth too and raised their daughter Fira.
They both believe strongly that while pursuit of knowledge and understanding is of paramount importance, it is nothing if it is not passed on and so they are always willing to teach those willing to learn. They are able and patient teachers with a great deal of experience between the two, who believe firmly the best way to teach is through experience. Their students must be willing to take on the risks inherent in discovery of the Numenera. Upon meeting them, it’s easy to see where Fira gets her approach to life. In terms of personality and bearing she takes more after Zarah, tending to the effusive and bubbly, though she takes more after Orina in physical appearance and her body language when actually serious or thinking deeply is all Orina. The three of them were a very close knit unit and all peas in a pod.
Education
Was a professor at The University of Doors. As with most of those of the university of doors, Zarah’s speciality is doorways, portals and anything that can be opened. When they decide they want to get into a place it takes a lot to keep them out. They are particularly adept with anything mechanical or powered by electricity but enjoy the challenge posed by things more exotic. Was the first to suggest that the pillars of the world may represent a portal and to get very interested in investigating the rumours of their darker twins somewhere in the deep south.
Intellectual Characteristics
- Affable, affectionate, cheerful, inventive, energetic, precise, confident
- Likes to have a plan and be prepared where possible
- Tends to assume the best of people, but if you cross them they WILL hold a grudge
- Is fairly laid back in most things except that they demand absolute accuracy and precision when dealing with any Numenera/ research work
Relationships

One of Fira's parents A past professor at the University of Doors “Doors are meant to be opened! Always be prepared to face and learn from what you find on the other side!”
Current Location
The University of Doors
Spouses
Orina Var
(Partner)
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
The University of Doors
Pronouns
They/Them
Eyes
Emerald
Hair
Colours they change at their whim, generally worn in updos of long variably sized twists or braids
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Deep brown
Height
5'9"
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