Zuala

Zuala was the wife of Yasha Nydoorin and a member of the Dolorav tribe. Because she and Yasha married in secret against the tribe's traditions of assigned partners, she was executed by its leader, the Skyspear. Her death deeply affected Yasha throughout the events of Campaign 2.

Description
Zuala had tangled hair and brown eyes. After she successfully survives the marking ceremony, her face is painted with blue-purple line angled from the inside corner of her eyes down across her cheeks.

She had an optimistic and hopeful outlook, particularly in her belief that the traditions of the tribe could change for the better. She also rejected the idea that the world was full of poison, as espoused by the tribe's leader, the Skyspear. Instead, she felt that the world was beautiful and held onto her original people's celebration of flowers in their usefulness and beauty. Zuala was also knowledgeable of the practical applications of plants, including in healing poultices and for food.

Biography
Zuala was forced to join Dolorav tribe in the Iothia Moorland in her adolescence or young adulthood. Though she was initially angry, she came to like her home in the tribe as she grew closer to and fell in love with Yasha Nydoorin, with whom she spent much of her time. Zuala trained to be a warrior, and she was eventually chosen as a candidate to be a marked warrior, who swears obedience to the tribe and to the decisions the Skyspear's makes for her or face a penalty of death. During the trial, she refused to abandon Yasha when Yasha was injured, and she used her knowledge of plants to heal Yasha and find food. Together, they survived the trial and were successfully marked.

Though Yasha only felt happy with Zuala, upon the advice of the then-Skyspear, she tried to avoid Zuala for weeks after the marking ceremony. Zuala was unhappy with the sudden distance and implored Yasha that she was essential to Zuala. They began spending time together again and eventually married in secret. Their partners were to be chosen by the Skyspear, but Yasha hoped that eventually, the Skyspear would choose to marry them to one another.

Shortly after, in 834 PD, the Skyspear chose to marry Zuala to another. Zuala, who hoped that the tribe's traditions could change, urged Yasha to go with her to tell the Skyspear that they were in love and married. Because Yasha was afraid of the Skyspear, Zuala went alone. Yasha followed shortly after and arrived as Zuala and the Skyspear argued in the center of the village. The Skyspear stabbed Zuala through the torso with a long knife, killing her, and declared her "spoiled" for breaking her oath. Yasha then killed the Skyspear in a blind rage. Though Yasha witnessed Zuala's death, she did not remember it and believed that she fled before she could see it.

Zuala was buried in an unmarked grave on the southern banks of the Seepfeed River.

Influence of death on Yasha
Zuala was the only person Yasha had been with before meeting the Mighty Nein. A year after Zuala's death, the tribe was still recovering from the violent revenge Yasha took in her rage and grief.

Throughout Campaign 2, Yasha collected flowers that she intended to place at Zuala's grave. Zuala appeared in two visions that Yasha experienced. In the second, Yasha chose not to reach down for Zuala and instead moved forward without her, prompting Zuala to express her happiness and pride that Yasha was not allowing Zuala to be a shackle on her.

Yasha eventually returned to the Iothia Moorland and was able to find Zuala's grave with the help of her girlfriend Beauregard Lionett and directions from the tribe's new Skyspear Jadek. Both talking to Zuala, Yasha introduced Beau, and Beau said that she felt that Zuala would be proud of Yasha and that she was grateful to Zuala.

Appearances

 * Campaign 2
 * The Mighty Nein Origins: Yasha Nydoorin
 * The Mighty Nein Origins: Yasha Nydoorin
 * The Mighty Nein Origins: Yasha Nydoorin

Mentions

 * Campaign 2

Quotations

 * "That's a hearty fox for one. Care to share it?"
 * (to Yasha, in a vision) "I'm proud of you. Don't let me be a shackle."