[Location] The Equinox

[Echelon]

The Equinox Near the docks lies a small brick building with a dark door, and a sign above that reads "The Equinox." The shop is less than impressive from there, some of the bricks being dirty, and some missing entirely. The sight when one walks through the door, however, is very different. The light of a twenty candled chandelier reflects against a smooth stone floor. Large windows around the walls also let in plenty of light on a sunny day. Between these windows are large, elaborate murals depicting different ocean-themes. There are separate stations against the walls, each for a tattoo assistant. The mirror at each reflect the chair with a reclined back for the customer, and a stool beside it for the artist. Next to this is a set of drawers containing tattooing supplies (needles of different sizes, cleaning solutions, clothes, inks, etc.) and a booklet of stencil designs. Against the wall to the left and right of the entrance are chairs for those waiting. At the very back there are two doors. To the left is a door no one ever wants to have opened. This leads to the owner's office, which is in a constant state of disarray, covered in papers and bottles that reek of alcohol. Lewd isn't usually found in here, choosing to hover around the shop. The door to the right is a supply closet containing extra tattoo supplies and additional tattoo stencils. The Equinox is well known for its strange behavior of both its employees and its owners. Lewd, true to his name, will often greet his employees with a cheerful "Hey, vagiks." This sometimes varies, with some other crude alternative taking its place. To anyone who is new to the shop this can come as a bit of a shock, but after a while it becomes apparent that this is more playful banter than actual insult. Another trait exclusive to the Equinox is a paste created by the owner. It is assumed to be made up of smashed up plant material, and is used, by being squeezed from small tubes, to create the pattern on the customer's skin that is to be tattooed. This provides a safe alternative to other methods and prevents the risk of infection from using other drawing tools to map out the tattoo. NPCs : Lewis "Lewd" Santon Race: Human Date of Birth: 28 Winter 467 AV Place of Birth: Zeltiva Title: Owner of the tattoo shop The Equinox Skills: Tattooing 40 Drinking 20 Lewis is about average height at only 6 feet. He is a very large man, though, having thick muscles from years of sailing before starting his tattoo shop. He suffered from premature balding in his late twenties, something he very much hated, though he will now claim he likes being bald as hair is just a "burden." Many who first encounter Lewis describe him as an obnoxious creep. He earned his name from the tattoos that cover his arms, as well as his overall behavior. He is very crude in speaking to and his treatment of both his customers and employees, throwing around a wide variety of insults and swear words he's picked up from visitors from all over Mizahar. He is especially bad with women. He will often comment on women who walk in, or even by, his shop, complimenting clothes their wearing or making subtle remarks on their "parts." He never actually acts on these, and has never actually physically harassed or abused any customers or employees. In fact, after being either a regular or an employee to the shop, one will find that he isn't actually so perverted and obnoxious as he comes off, but is actually just joking around. While this behavior added to his acquiring of the name "Lewd," his tattoos on his arms reinforce it. Covering his arms are tattoos of women, many of them fairly obscene. If asked about them, Lewd will claim that each one is for a women whom he was with, but most of the employees suspect this a complete lie. He also comes off as very self centered, not caring much for the rest of the world but only himself. The others, however, consider this just a coverup to make himself look tough. The fact that he treats Angel considerably kinder, being the one exception to his usual habit of playfully insulting each employee when they arrive at the shop, also gives evidence of this. Lewd doesn't usually do tattoos himself anymore, but sits in the back of the store drinking some form of alcohol or another. His favorite to have out is the infamous Kelp Beer, which even he doesn't actually drink, but keeps simply because he knows almost everyone else detests it. Cordo "Tongue" Brine Race: Svefra Date of Birth: 17 Summer 484 AV Place of Birth: Suvan Sea Title: Tattoo Artist of The Equinox Skills: Tattooing 28 Persuasion 15 Massage 7 Cordo earned his nickname from his skill in speaking. He can talk his way out of nearly anything and talk other people into nearly anything. A such he has become known as the prankster in the shop, always trying to get a laugh from exploiting his fellow employees, and sometimes even the customers. He prides himself in being an "expert masseuse," though in reality he had only taken a single class on it a few years ago. Cordo will often try to get customers to "buy his services," and massage employees thinking it will make them more willing to go with one of his schemes. Cordo is darker skinned, with fairly wild black hair. Having grown up sailing with his family, he is muscular, though not body builder huge. On his right arm is a tattoo of two dolphins, typical of Svefrans, and also symbolic of himself and his sister. Cordo is Coral's brother, the two being fraternal twins. He claims to have been born first and thus has taken the role of the bigger brother, taking care and protecting his sister. The two are very close, and Coral is the one person who Cordo will never prank. The usual playful joker turns very serious when he thinks his sister has been threatened or insulted, and will readily defend or avenge her. Coral "Coal" Brine Race: Svefra Date of Birth: 17 Summer 484 AV Place of Birth: Suvan Sea Title: Tattoo Artist of The Equinox Skills: Tattooing 30 Drawing 20 It may seem like not much imagination was put into Coral's nickname, the "r" simply being removed, but in reality it describes her perfectly. Outwardly she comes off as very unemotional, not shy, just emotionless. Like a rock. She'll smile every so often for her brother, or very rarely if something is very funny, but seeing her smile is rare. She isn't depressed or sad, she just simply doesn't care to express herself. The catch, the source of her nickname, is that she produces diamonds. Coral spends every minute of down time she has drawing tattoo designs. Some of them are fun doodles, but many are extremely intricate, and beautiful. She has actually contributed the bulk of the designs the shop uses. With skin about the same shad as her brother's, Coral is the same height as Cordo, though much leaner and less muscular. She has a tattoo of two dolphins on her right shoulder, typical of most Svefra, though it is also symbolic of she and her brother. Her arms are both covered in a similar tattoo designed up to about her elbow, looking like either waves or fish scales. Her neck bares a small turtle tattoo. Faded colors decorate the short dreadlocks that make up her hair, all of which hang loosely and randomly on her head. Coral is Cordo's sister, the two being fraternal twins. Having been born a few minutes after him, she has been dubbed the "baby sister." Cordo tends to treat her as if she is extremely fragile and is very overly protective of her. Contrary to what one would infer form the way he acts, Coral takes very little notice of anyone let alone what they say to her. It may be this very behavior that prompts him to such extreme defense, however, as she would likely not defend herself if she was truly threatened. Tobias "Eth" Jaybir Race: Human Date of Birth: 34 Fall 493 AV Place of Birth: Nyka Title: Tattoo Artist of The Equinox Skills: Tattooing 27 Body Building 13 Meditation 10 Tobias, or Eth, as he is known as in the tattoo shop, is one of the most kindhearted people in Zeltiva. He is always very polite, and very willing to help anyone with anything they need. He is a very good listener and is the only one in the shop who actually cares to talk to the customers about their lives, even giving advice on some of their problems. He has a very muscular build, stands at about 6'4", and has golden blonde hair. He is almost never wearing a shirt, revealing the two wing tattoos on his back. He also has a candle tattooed on his right bicep and the word "Hope" on his chest. Coupled with his kind and calm attitude, this "beautiful" appearance makes up the origin of his nickname. Many of his friends claim him to be almost as diving in appearance and attitude as an Ethaefal. Eth is the only one who didn't have to go through the usual difficult process of being hired at the tattoo shop. When he arrived in Zeltiva, he was all but broken, mentally and emotionally. His mother had been attacked and killed in front of him in Nyka. She hadn't done anything wrong, but had simply encountered the wrong group of monks at the wrong place at the wrong time. Now lost and alone, Eth fled with a group of strangers headed for Zeltiva. Lewis, seeing the boys state, took him in as an apprentice. He has become a strong worshiper of the Goddess Priskil. When he isn't doing tattoos, he is making himself stronger, either mentally through meditation or physically through body building. Pricing : Small Medium Large Simple 7 15 30 Advanced 10 22 40 Complex 20 40 80 Sizes: Small refers to palm-sized tattoos. Medium would range from the surface of the forearm to the entire arm. Large would be the entire back or bigger. Intricacy: Simple would be simple geometric shapes or stick figures. Advanced would be more complicated geometric shapes or more complicated pictures. Complex would be highly intricate shapes or realistic/life-like pictures. Employment : As the Equinox has a very limited need for many tattoo artists, any prospective employee has to go through a sort of "initiation" to prove they are worthy for the exclusive position. What this entails is various tasks (usually embarrassing or difficult) chosen by each existing employee. If the task is completed successfully, the initiate gains the approval of that employee. Approval must be achieved from every employee for employment. The first task, given by the owner, Lewd, will always involve proving one's ability to apply a tattoo. The last task will be to acquire the "shop's" approval by making a visual contribution. This can be achieved by something like painting a mural inside or outside of the shop. Created By Wart Pricing determined by Arcane.