MARJANI, ZURI

NAME ;; Zuri Marjani
NICK-NAME ;; Zuri
AGE ;; 6 (24)
SPECIES ;; Zebra
GROUP;; The Bellator
RANK;; Herdmate
PERSONALITY ;; Zuri, is, well, a bit different. For one, she thinks she has sorcery powers. She is constantly performing rites and rituals, for various things. To bring the rain, banish evil spirits, curse or bless, practice voodoo, et cetera. Included in this is her belief that she can see into the future. However, her ‘magical aura’ has a downside. Zuri is convinced that the aura is irresistible, that people are drawn to it. She watches others – and especially crowds – with utmost suspicion. While it has yet to happen, there is every possibility that someone could attack her, overcome by awe and longing. As a result, she becomes very defensive if anyone makes any sort of move toward her, unless she initiates it or indicates that it is allowed. Large groups are even more hazardous, as she fears being mobbed. In preparation for this, Zuri carries a staff; a polished branch, with beads and woven string tied near the top. (This is also used in sorcery, and for smacking people that talk back or are simply dense.)
On to her more general personality, Zuri is very dramatic, usually speaking with an airy, drawn out tone and exaggerated movements. Appearing mysterious and mystic, even unfathomable, is an important aspect to her appearance, as is seeming all-knowing. And yet, I wouldn’t put it past her to say ‘all we know is how much we don’t know.’ Zuri tries to put on the façade of having achieved complete inner peace, but many would say she whacks people with her ‘magic staff’ when irritated. Despite being impatient, she is caring and concerned with the greater good, and the balance of the world.

HISTORY ;; Raised in a small, primitive village in Kenya, this is where Zuri lived her entire life. There is no particular event that changed her; she’s always been a bit odd. During the early years of life, she trailed after the elders, listening to their stories and tales. Later, to her delight, she was apprenticed to the shaman, who taught her healing and medicine, herblore, and sorcery; how to command the winds and reach the souls, to protect from demons and summon spirits. Voodoo was an essential part of this, the base for reaching the spirits, casting spells and creating charms. Dance, rituals, and sacrifices are the core aspects of voodoo. (She also learned other African languages, of which there were many, in addition to her native Kiswahili.)
Zuri knew she was a retromorph, having discovered her human form at a young age, and her mother being one as well. She learned from her mother that they’d been accepted into the village because they were blessed by the spirits. In secret, Zuri was told that the villagers believed them to be human with an animal shift that strongly affected them, but in reality it was the other way around. Thus, much of her time was spent as a human to keep up the charade, though she didn’t see much reason to it. This life continued peacefully for a few years, before she woke in the middle of the night to shouts. A moment later and something pricked her arm, causing everything to go black. She awoke in the Menagerie, and has since spent most of her time trying to learn English.

GENDER ;; female
HEIGHT ;; 4’4” at withers
WEIGHT ;; 600 lbs
BODY BUILD ;; sleek and stocky
FUR ;; short and smooth
EYES ;; black
MARKINGS ;; her coat is striped black and white, underbelly is white
ANYTHING EXTRA;; click.

HUMAN DESCRIPTION;; Tall and slim, with deep brown skin, dark brown eyes, and black hair. She wears a sleeveless wrap dress in a russet red and gold pattern that reaches her ankles, and woven leather sandals. Beads and charms hang around her neck, bangles and more beads on her wrists. Beads are woven into her hair as well, which hangs loose except for being held back from her face by a simple, narrow band of red cloth. There are two slender gold rings on her right hand, and one on the small toe of her left foot. Zuri also carries her ‘mystic bag.’ It is a simple sack, made of thin, flexible leather, that has a long strap that allows the pouch to be slung over one shoulder. It contains herbs and other ‘materials’ needed for sorcery and healing. (faceclaim is Oluchi Onweagba)

PARENTS ;; Dayo Jasir Kenyatta Alisiri Marjani, father unknown
SIBLINGS ;; none she knows of
BIRTHPLACE ;; Kenya
BLOODLINES ;; African

NAME;; rumor
OTHER ACCOUNTS ;; somany. x.x
HOW'D YOU FIND US? ;; shifter v3