Zayla Amaranthé

Zayla is an elite member of the Black Bastards mercenary group in Tabularaza. While she generally works alone like the other members of the A-Team, she is capable of working with her comrades on assignments of particular import.

Childhood
The eldest child of the House of May in the Feywild, Zayla was burdened by responsibility and obligation for as long as she could remember. Lady Aelinor tirelessly trained her daughter in the ways of court, so that she may one day take her place as ruler of the house. Such a life was of no interest to Zayla. She was born with the rare ability to sense the world around her with her mind, which she used to manipulate the people around her with ease. Like any good Eladrin, she spent much of her time teaching herself the arcane arts, but in time she still needed more.

The Pits
After sneaking out one night, Zayla met Cain Nightingale, who would later become her truest friend. A couple years of petty crime passed, and they found themselves curious about the underground pit fighting scene of the traveling Witchlight Carnival. There she was surprised to meet Thiana Wren, the captain of her father’s guard, who after some convincing agreed to train her to fight. Years passed, as she became a capable combatant and wielder of magic. Unfortunately her parents caught wind of what she was doing and took her magic as punishment to coerce her to behave as they wished, thus widening the rift between Zayla and her parents.

Incarceration
After a plot by Zayla and Cain to fix a fight turned awry, the friends found themselves in a bloody street fight that left Cain, Thiana, and their assailants dead or driven mad. Zayla survived thanks to the full awakening of her psionic potential, but with no witnesses to vouch for her she was arrested and put on trial for murder and assault. She was found guilty and sentenced to death by rapid aging.

The Bastards
Lacking any interest to be executed for crimes she did not commit, Zayla murdered the man who bore false witness against her using her psionic power, then teleported away using only her instincts, not knowing where she would end up. She found herself within the teleportation circle of the Black Academy. Alarms were set off upon her arrival but the quick-thinking James D’Cannith covered for Zayla on a hunch and took her under her wing. In the fifty years that followed, Zayla’s abilities grew to the point where she was awarded the highest honor a Bastard can obtain: membership with the A-Team. Some speculate that her talent rivals that of even James herself. Her most recent exploit was with the A-Team for a hit on Ares Macrotech, which included an assault on their underwater base and moonbase.

Personality
Zayla is fanatically-independent, driven, and practical. While she was born a princess, the ways of the court lack all passion for her, especially since she was told that no other options were available. She ends fights as quickly as possible, and adapts quickly to keep herself in the most advantageous position. She has a dark sense of humor and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but she cares for her comrades more than she lets on.