Name Jala
Alias The Cutwife
Race Human, Mixed (½ Benshira)
DoB 54 Fall 472
PoB Sunberth
Title Tent City Resident and Herbalist
Skills Botany (55), Brawling (30), Cooking (35), Foraging (40), Herbalism (70), Malediction (35), Medicine (55), Scavenging (35), Teaching (45)
Languages Common (Fluent), Nader-Canoch (Basic)
Jala is the sort of woman whose reputation precedes her and she is scorned because of it. Steely, distant, and prone to keeping to her 'tent', she seems happy enough that most do their best to avoid her. And yet she has never turned a single soul away that has needed her and is generous and charitable with her craft.
Found on the edges of the Sanctela, her section is easily identified by the bunches of dried herbs and bone talisman that decorate its entrance. She is an enigma to most outside the Sanctela - something she has worked hard to maintain - and few denizens trust her. Rumours of the activities that occur within her tent are as varied as the people that call the Tent City their home but few are kind.
She is a monster. A killer. She bathes in blood and dabbles in dark magics.In reality, Jala is a simple herbalist and healer. Her poor reputation stems from her broad knowledge of abortifacients and the procedures needed to end pregnancy leading to her being known colloquially as The Cutwife. Some even say she makes talismans from the bones of dead infants. Although untrue, Jala does not try to dispute these audacious claims and uses this fear as a ward of protection.
Her extensive knowledge of herbs, medicine and midwifery comes from growing up in a brothel, learning from the ugly side of the profession. Her mother had known the craft prior to finding herself a prostitute within the city and she raised her bastard to be her aide. Jala's own life as a prostitute was short-lived but her loyalty to the women she worked with remains. Although she now finds herself most often within the dizzying maze of the Tent City, it is not unheard of for her to make outcalls to the various brothels within the city proper.
She is surprisingly forthcoming with her knowledge if one has the courage to ask and - rather ironically - she has a terrible soft spot for children, especially street urchins, orphans and the many unwanted youths that roam the city.