[Merchant] Tattoo Artists: Wind Skins

[Tribal]

Tattooing Tools Comb: A small, single or multi toothed comb is used to puncture the sink and insert the pigment (ink) into the flesh. The teeth of the comb are used to bite into the skin and are usually made out of bone, metal, or shell from animals such as the turtle. Combs range in sizes and are able to produce clean, fine lines in small and large designs, including dotting. Plate: Fashioned from the same materials as the comb (depending on the artist and the traditional methods in which they work), the plate holds the comb in place and joins it to the handle. Handle: The handles are purposely designed for balanced weight and a comfortable grip as tattooing, especially windmark sessions, can take many hours to perform and complete. Combined, these three tools make up what is called a chisel. Tattooing Process Traditional bone used for the comb is made from boar’s tusk, Glassbeak talons, or Spearback quills. The comb is dipped into ink, a pigment made from the soot of a ground nut (usually the candlenut), and then the artist uses a stick to tap against the chisel and draw the desired design into the skin. Basic designs are picked by the tattoo artist as men and women from different clans have their own tradition and starting designs, however, the way in which they are filled in is completely up to the person being tattooed. The family meets with their desired artist to choose a design before praying to their gods (more traditionally Zulrav), to ask for a sign or blessing. The person being tattooed must fast for a full twenty-four hours before undergoing the tattoo and depending on the courage of that person, it can take anywhere between one to eight days to complete a design. The pain of traditional Drykas tattooing is so blinding it soon gets to a point where the person being tattooed can no longer feel the pain and is only reminded that they are being tattooed by the haunting sound of handles being tapped together. Most men and women, depending on their age, will suffer through one to two hours of work before returning the next day to have more work done, while more old-fashioned Drykas bloodlines (those less mixed with outside blood), see to it that their members endure the full work of the design to ensure they’re worthy of fighting for and protecting their pavilion or clan. These practices, however, have slowly been phased out in more recent years and tattooing has become a lot more of a social event. Every tattoo artist has at least one to three assistants to help with the work, with a couple holding the skin taut and wiping away excess ink and blood while the artist focuses on his or her work. The person being tattooed is not permitted to talk during the ceremony as having the work done is seen as a rite of passage from child to man (or woman), but is regularly offered water to drink in order to keep them hydrated (and hopefully prevent them from passing out). If, however, a person does pass out, the ritual is stopped and picked up at a later date. It is customary for the person undergoing the tattoo to be surrounded by family members or loved ones to offer support, and signing and storytelling is usually used as a good way to pass the time and take the person's mind away from the pain of the work being done. For those who just can’t take the pain, there is an option of being treated with Scouts’s Bane which is the name given to a numbing toxin produced by the Spearback. Scout’s Bane cost 50 gold miza per sitting as it is very difficult to get a hold of but not frowned upon by modern day Drykas. Territory: A medium-sized tent lies within Endrykas, it’s opening can be seen with various displays of windmark sketches varying from symbols of the Drykas language to images of grassland wildlife. Shelves of glass jars house opulently coloured liquids. Drykas come to have their stories written into their skin as vibrant history etched into their bodies like paintings on a cave wall. The shop front itself rests on the backside of their home, facing out like an extension. Cushioned tables and chairs, and tables with supplies are placed in groups around the shop, each station set up for every designer. Drawing tables line the side wall and chairs gather around them for consultations on designs. Shelves line the back wall with storage and for extra light, the front and side tent flaps are able to be pulled up, allowing for maximum light during the mid day when the sun is highest. Injal even devised a contraption made of specifically aligned mirrors to direct sunlight in broad rays onto the patch of skin he works on. Purpose: The tattoo tent offers a wide assortment of designs which can be found within several large books scattered on tables at the entrance. If the design the buyer is looking for can’t be found within, then an artist will spend time with the buyer to come up with a suitable design. The time it takes for a tattoo to be completed generally won’t be short, and can take more than one trip depending on the size and colors involved. This is also in part to the care and patience that the artists of the shop take in their craft. For them, no art is more beautiful than that etched onto living flesh. It is something that can not be stolen and will be with the owner until death. It is common for apprenticing or visiting tattoo artists to work at the shop, bringing a new palette of skill to Wind Skins. Wares: Tattoo Size Prices Single Design 1"-4":- 5gm (Small depiction) 5"-10": 10gm (Forearm) 11"-20": 20gm (Arm) 21"-60": 50gm (Chest) 61"+: 100gm (Very Large) Ink Prices Black Ink: Price (X) 2gm Colour Ink: Price (X) 5gm Mono Colour: Price (X) 5gm Di Colour: Price (X) 7gm Tri Colour: Price (X) 10gm Multi Colour: Price (X) 12gm Pain Killer: Price (X) 50gm Prices for tattoos will vary based on size, color and design. The inks used in the tattooing are organic and never toxic. Their ingredients are kept secret by the shop owners. Some of the inks are specially made to give the person a euphoric sensation while being tattooed, although these inks are more expensive. Several different types of needles are used, from single tip to multiple tipped needles that run in a single line along the tip of slender wooden handles. Tattoos are not the only services offered by the Wind Skins. Piercing is also available and the shop offers various studs and rings for any occassion. Prices for the piercing come at a flat rate, while prices for the studs or rings vary depending on size and material of the jewelry. As the expert piercer, Jarrora is highly skilled in the sterilization of the piercing and tattooing needles. This ensures the safety of anyone who gets a windmark - guarding against fluid-transmitted diseases. Advisors Injal Roirim Injal is a tall man with a medium build and dark brown eyes. His long black hair is tied back into a tail and covered with a cap to keep his hair from drooping down and blocking his vision while he works. A single silver stud at the center of his upper lip matches the one resting along his lower lip, framed by the facial hair along his chin. Small tattoos line his arm and wrist, signifying works he’s done on himself. Often caught with a smile and an amused look on his face, he will often strike up a conversation with those around him while he’s working. This is in part helps him learn them by getting in touch with who they are as individuals to better bring out a reflection of them in their windmark. Skills: Tattooing: 86 Sketching: 34 Herbalism: 65 Philtering: 47 Jarorra Roirim Jarorra is Injal’s wife, a woman with sleek and smooth skin and a slender build. Deep blue eyes, which she uses to look upon the shop patrons, exhibit an allure that often keeps buyers coming into the shop to get work done even when they don’t need it. She often wears a sleeveless shirt, displaying the art of a lizard creature, that Injal slew in her defense when they first met. Jarorra is often seen flirting with the males as they pass by the shop, her eyes playful and inviting. But this does not bother her husband Injal for she is often shown to give affection to Injal as he works, finding his practice of etching a tattoo exciting. Both her and Injal find complete pleasure in their practice, even if they display different demeanors in the process. Injal is more social, while Jarorra tends to find the practice a little more sensual, humming a little tune as she etches a tattoo or adds a piercing to someone’s body. Skills: Piercing: 85 Sketching: 53 Tattooing: 42 Sterilization: 61