Shila

Shila (a.k.a. The Secret Whisperer, That Annoying Old Lady)

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Shila appears as a haggard, slumped old woman in very poor health, however, she is very much in good physical condition and a terrifying brawler when angered.

Apparel & Accessories

Shila still prefers a traditional Hatian Karabela dress that she almost always wears while draped with one of her many hand-knitted shawls.

Specialized Equipment

While she carries no standard equipment, an attentive eye will notice that all of her knitting needles have been sharpened to dangerous points.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Shila was born in Haiti in the late 1600s in very poor conditions. She spent most of her childhood struggling to help feed her family. Eventually, she was kidnapped and taken to America as a slave. Despite relentless punishments for her attitude, the young woman, then 14 refused to submit to her captors, eventually catching the eye of the vampire Raoul Auvray who had recently settled in New Orleans. He admired her spirit and purchased her for far more than her owner thought she was worth.
Upon bringing her home, Raoul told her she was a free woman and gave her the east wing of his house, but maintained his secret. He encouraged her continued study of Voodoo, the beliefs she had been studying since it was brought to her island when she was a child. As she aged, her power grew until she became a well-respected priestess during their many visits back to Haiti.
It wasn't until Shila was in her 60's that Raoul chose to reveal his true nature to her and offer to make her one of his kind. She declined his offer, stating that she would only take him up on the offer with Maman Brigitte's consent once the goddess was done with her as a mortal. It wasn't until the day of her 115th birthday, as her heart began to falter from excitement, that she allowed him to finally turn her.
Shortly after Shila was sired, the pair attracted the ire of many angry locals who were suspicious of their unnaturally long lives. At this time, Shila and her sire chose to part ways, Shila moving to New York and Raoul returning to France. After settling into the city, Shila purchased and opened the magic shop that she still operates today, naming it Ayizo after her mother's native language.

Gender Identity

Female ~ She/Her

Sexuality

While Shila did have two extended courships, she never found herself able to settle down and enter any sort of long term relationship and has never thought deeply about her desires.

Education

Shila received no formal education until she was purchased and set free by Raoul Auvray. Once she was settled into her new life, he brought in an array of tutors and made sure she was able to learn whatever she desired.

Employment

Other than her brief time as a slave, the only employment that Shila has had is as the proprietor of her small magic shop.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Despite being an unknown when she entered the city, Shila quietly worked her way into being the go-to person in the city for the unead. Her uncanny knowledge to always seem to know about everything before anyone else is something that confounds the local undead attempting to keep secrets. She has no problem protecting information when necessary, but is also willing to sell it for the right price or even offer it for free depending on the situation or how kind you have been in her neighborhood. 
Unbeknownst to the majority of the undead population for it's first 100 years, Shila founded House Ayizo, her own personal network of spies and assassins. While few are willing to speak of the House publicly, it is a well known fact that she has ears and eyes present at all times.

Failures & Embarrassments

The only failures Shila will acknowledge is when she is unable to protect someone she has deemed innocent.

Morality & Philosophy

Shila is very protective of those she sees as innocent. She will go out of her way to protect those she loves and, while she is forced to feed on blood, she insists that her victims be willing participants or she would rather go hungry. She is vehemently against taking a human life, believing that, given the chance, vampires and humans may be able to live together.

Taboos

It is blasphemous and dishonorable to take a human life or feed on someone against their will.

Personality Characteristics

Likes & Dislikes

Shila is very social and enjoys have people around. Often it is her attendants, but she also spents a large amount of time with her friends.  She finds political plays distasteful and has never openly backed any of the undead that have ruled the city. While she could easily ascend to the the seat, she avoids the inner workings of vampire society as much as possible.

Virtues & Personality perks

Shila is eternally kind and would rather work problems out than call a hunt on someone. If a hunt is required, she prefers to carry it out herself rather than put the burden of taking a life on someone else.

Vices & Personality flaws

Started smoking a pipe in her teenage years and has not yet given it up.

Hygiene

Shila alwas ensures that she is clean and presentable, paying special attention to her hair or the scarves she sometimes wears.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Shila is very close with the young mage, Jack Kennington. When the young man first moved to the city when he came to America, he was lacking any formal magic training and his power frequently backfired on him or had dangerous side effects. Under her tutelage, Jack was able to refine his natural acuity and hone his skills.
She is extremely fond of Jack's twin sons Euric and Bastian. She is the closest thing the demon boys have to a healthy grandparent relationship in their lives and she spoils them as if they were her own human grandchildren since she never actually got around to having children of her own.
Through her friendship with Jack, she has also befriended his business partner, Fin . She is very curious about his origins and would love to understand the afterlife's consistent refusal to accept the young man no matter how gravely he was injured. Fin's former husband, Marcus , however, Shila is very unsure of him. She does respect the man and followed his laws when he sat as the city's prince, but she would rather keep the man distant.

Family Ties

Shila's parents and siblings have long since passed away, though she was torn from them as a child, so she has no idea what actually became of her family. Shila never married nor had any children of her own.

Religious Views

Shila has long followed the beliefs of Voodoo which she began studying before she was enslaved. After many years of learning, she elevated to a hang rank. She chiefly follows the will of Kalfu, however she has also worked with Maman Brigitte and, naturally, Legba. She avoids working with other gods, considering it disloyal to those who gave her power and long life even before she was sired.

Social Aptitude

Mortals find Shila to be an incredibly likable old woman. When visiting her shop, guests are immediately taken in by her kindness and willingness to discount her goods simply because she's having a good day. The undead, on the other hand, find her and her endless knowledge deeply unsettling and, were it not for the protections House Ayizo and Knight Industries, they would have tried to run her out of town long ago.

Wealth & Financial state

While Shila appears as a low income shop owner, she is in fact, never short money for whatever she may need. The exact sources of this income are highly questionable, but none has successfully learned any details.

Current Location

New York City

Year of Birth

1698 285 Years old

Birthplace

Haiti

Gender

Female

Hair

White

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Rich Umber

Height

5 ft 4 in

Weight

100 lbs

Aligned Organization

Ayizo

Known Languages

• Haitian Creole
• English
• French
• Spanish
• German
• Latin