Wand:
15 inch wand of mangrove wood with engraved hilt. Serpent tooth core. Pliable. Five natural Borneo pearls have been embedded along the shaft. A reddish tint colours the wood as the wand has been immersed in her own blood (from one full moon to the next) - this is a regional ritual that makes it difficult for a wand or staff to be used by another wix, and is considered a form of blood magic.

Salma's wand is especially suited to fighting Dark Magic and casting delicate charmwork. It was a gift from her mother, who was a well-known Pahlawan in Malaysia.

Physical Description:
Salma was considered above average height when she was an older teen in Kuliah Subi, her wizarding school in Borneo. Her holidays abroad showed her that this was far from the case in Britain. At 5'3'' she was towered over by locals and tourists alike, giants who swarmed the streets of London looking over her head of tumbling dark curls.

Her bronzed, tan skin carries a healthy sheen and her features are delicate but not particularly expressive. Salma is very good at masking her feelings, and usually wears an observant and neutral countenance. When joyous, however, her happiness and energy easily shows through.

She likes to wear casual and fashionable attire, sometimes tending towards baggy but generally unafraid to hint at her ample cleavage or curvy legs. Salma is proud of her figure, boasting an attractive plumpness.

While capable of elaborate make-up, her preferred look is a simple one that emphasises Salma's healthy skin and shapely eyebrows. She takes good care of her body.

The witch carries herself quietly and confidently, eyes always scanning shop windows and the faces around her.

Personality Description:
Although it isn't immediately obvious, Salma is a fairly cheerful and methodical person. Most people might find her aggressive to begin with - this is because she defaults to an assertiveness that is more suited to her native culture. At home in Malaysia, this is softened by her attentiveness to manners. The worst insult a Malaysian can receive is "kurang ajar" or "no manners". In Britain, Salma's sense of courtesy has differed to western ones, and roughened in some aspects as a result of not being treated with mutual politeness.

Everything from her antiques shop to her little flat above it is full of clutter. But there is method to Salma's madness and everything has its place. She loves to surround herself with history and magic, believing that her personal surroundings are a reflection of identity.

Salma is always on the hunt for vintage goods and even more contemporary curiosities.

In her shop, she moves slowly and deliberately and tries her best to be precise in speech. Amongst friends she is much more relaxed and sarcastic. She often hosts and attends cosy, chatty parties.

Salma enjoys tough conversations and friendly debates, but she is quick to lose patience with rude people. Her principles are her own and she sticks to them, with little respect for British law.

Striking up an acquaintanceship with Salma is fairly easy if you're not a total arsehole. Nurturing a friendship is harder - she is selective about those she allows into her private space.

History:
Siti Salma Smythson was born Siti Salma binti Atiqah, delivered on Penang Island by her grandmother. This was an unusual surname - typically a Malay Muslim is given their father’s name as a surname (and buried with their mother’s surname). However, Atiqah was a single mum who conceived out of wedlock and whose partner refused to marry her or to even support their child. It was therefore acceptable for Salma to use her mother’s surname.

CHILDHOOD (7 YEARS)
Salma’s childhood on Penang was very pleasant. She was raised by her mother and grandmother in a large wooden house by a small beach. She was a playful child who loved swimming and exploring and helping her grandmother make kuih (traditional snacks/cakes) on rainy mornings.

Her days were filled with games and chores and running about with the other wizarding children whose families lived by the sea. Her nights revolved around her mother and grandmother - mostly helping them brew potions, as they were highly skilled Potioneers. The two witches raised and educated her well but she attended casual lessons with a group of children as well. These were with a neighbour who used to teach at Kuliah Subi, and who now taught reading, writing and basic magical concepts to young kids.

When Salma was five, her mother married a white British wizard who’d been working as an ambassador in Penang. His name was Hugo Smythson.

At first the couple wanted to move back to London together. Salma’s grandmother protested - she did not want Salma to attend British schools, where she feared the girl would lose her culture and morals. As a result, the couple stayed on until Salma was a little older. Then Atiqah and Hugo left for London, having enrolled her at school (enrolment at Kuliah Subi is between ages seven and ten).

KULIAH SUBI (11 YEARS)
Although Salma had visited east Malaysia and the Borneo before, going to study at Kuliah Subi was intimidating to the seven year old. Most children began attending at an older age - so her year at school was relatively small, a group of children who would go on to become good friends as they grew older and were joined by more pupils their age.

Salma proved to be a clever student, slightly above average. She enjoyed participating in different clubs and going on school trips, and was well-liked by most. Her argumentative nature earned her a few enemies, which kept her on her toes. The pupils of Kuliah Subi were not above playing dirty and the faculty either mediated or ignored such hijinks, accepting it as part of their education.

A school year ran from January to October, with short holidays peppered throughout (due to the religious diversity of the school) and two major long holidays - a fortnight in July and, at the end of the year, two entire months off.

Novembers and Decembers were always spent in England, with her mother and stepfather. Salma did not like this at first. England’s weather, people and food did not suit her at all; she dreamt of Penang and its beaches and street food.

Things changed when she entered her teens and learned to cavort about London, and appreciate life in another country.

Due to her early starting age, Salma was given the opportunity to graduate at fifteen. She declined, and went on to specialise in her studies for another three years. Salma left Kuliah Subi with UK equivalent qualifications in Potions, Defences, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Transfiguration and Charms. She also studied sailing and Enchantment.

CURSEBREAKER (7 YEARS)
Salma faced a big decision after graduation: would she stay on to work in Malaysia, or would she pursue her path in England? She explained her career goals to her mum and stepfather. Hugo was able to locate an old Cursebreaker friend in Singapore who was looking for an apprentice - the position involved a lot of travelling in East, South and Southeast Asia. It was much more interesting than joining Gringgots.

Never one to waste an opportunity, Salma leapt at the offer. It was also around this time that she adopted her stepfather's surname, for ease.

The next seven years of her life were hectic. Her mother was a Pahlawan and Salma was no stranger to danger - but the tombs and temples and ancient magics encountered were dangerous in different ways. How do you break a curse so old that nobody even knows how to cast it anymore?

After initial training, she would go on to collaborate with her mentor. They worked mostly for hire. Singapore was full of wealthy wixes who wanted rare, exclusive artefacts for their collections - and they were willing to shell out.

It was through interaction and socialising with such clients that Salma realised she wanted to her own collection. A different lifestyle instead of playing fetch. Sometimes it would infuriate her that these collectors wanted wondrous relics only to lock them up in a gallery for nobody else to appreciate.

After a brief fling with her mentor, she decided to part ways with him and settle in Britain. Here, she was less well-known and could start a fresh reputation as an experienced Curse-breaker as well as collector.

LONDON (FIVE YEARS)
Salma used most of her savings to open her shop, just where Diagon Alley dwindles down into Knockturn. Atiqah and Hugo were happy to help - they had no other children - by buying her the flat above the shop. It was called “Antik Kuno”, Malay for Ancient Antiques.

There had been some tension with the competition but Antik Kuno sold its wares to a much different market from Borgin and Burkes.

And she certainly didn’t stoop to their methods of buying cheap to sell high. If anything, Salma is a faithful customer at Borgin & Burkes, dropping by every few months to look for curiosities to add to her private collection. This bred some good feeling between them.

Antik Kuno stocks a good deal of artefacts she had kept from her time as a Curse-breaker but Salma always has her eye on other things. Living in England had made her especially bitter after seeing so many artefacts from around the world finding their place at the muggle British Museum or even the Wizarding equivalent.

She decided it was only fair to balance the scales (and make a profit off it). This was the beginning of her thieving career. Salma switched from robbing tombs to robbing the treasure boxes of British imperialism.

Curse-breaking and thievery are not distantly related jobs. Salma had a few close calls but she was clever, and had begun by targeting muggle collections at first. Her methods have since grown shrewd.

Much of her current  life has revolved around establishing Antik Kuno and learning tricks of the thieving trade. Salma’s social life, as a result, is rather lacking. She has casual friends - other shop owners, historians, curators, the odd musician - but only one or two genuine ones.

Describe your job duties and how you go about them:
As an Antiquarian at Antik Kuno, Salma opens shop at 11am and closes at about 10pm. She has a small staff of three to four part-time wixes who help but she's the only one who gets to hold all the keys. The front of the narrow shop is long and cluttered; shelves line the walls, featuring a variety of artefacts each on their own display stands. These are organised regionally, based on origin. Next to the counter at the far end, there is a large glass cabinet containing her most dangerous relics.

Past the counter and through a door, there is a smaller room with only a tiny back alley window for light. This is where she stores her private collection. These artefacts are not for sale but she is known to allow certain customers to trade or make offers.

Salma is often weaving mats or restoring old artefacts at the counter, when you enter her shop.

As a thief, she consults only the most accomplished. The British Wizarding Museum keeps a close eye on muggle collections for possibly magical artefacts. These artefacts were acquired through perfectly legal methods and put into storage for examination later - leaving the museum with an immense backlog.

Salma’s contacts at the Museum pass her updated storage itineraries every few months. Sometimes they are open to bribery if she sees something she likes. Other times, they simply turn a blind eye to a missing item or a suspicious footstep in the dark of night. The Museum’s hoarding nature makes it easy to hide things or create non-magical duplicates.

And she is generous with compensation, in addition to appealing to the justness of her cause when convincing others.

Some of Salma’s other thieving jobs simply involve keeping her ear the ground. British Purebloods are proud people who liked to boast or humble-brag about their collections, and word gets around after all.

Elaborate on your expertise in your field:
Salma trained and worked as a Cursebreaker for seven years, which has given her much experience in both obtaining as well as restoring relics. She particularly specialises in relics from East, South, and Southeast Asia but is known to collect objects from other places as well nowadays. In the five years since opening Antik Kuno, she has become better at restoration by consulting her contacts at the British Museum.

In terms of thieving, Salma is skilled at undoing protection and defensive charms. Her experience has largely been in the infiltration of uninhabited ruins or temples but she has seen become acquainted with the folk of Knockturn and has acquired many pieces from various private collections as well as Museums. The daughter of a Pahlawan, Salma is an accomplished dueller and knows how to protect herself in a pinch.

Writing Sample:
N/A

Sum up your character in one paragraph:
Salma Smythson is a friendly antiquarian who owns a little shop between Diagon and Knockturn. She is always on the lookout for both interesting objects as well as friends, and can come across as a little blunt. Salma's shop is stocked not only with artefacts from her Curse-breaking days, but also with those she has been able to steal in her capacity as a thief.

Character Name: Siti Salma Smythson
URL Link to Biography: LINK

Cover Job (If any): Antiquarian
Type of Criminal: Thief
Allegiances / Loyalties / Political Faction: None

Are they currently under pursuit by the Ministry of Magic?: No

What previous crimes have they committed? Were they convicted?:
Salma has stolen from private artefact collections as well as from various British museums, both muggle and magical. She has not been convicted.

What crimes might they commit in the future?  Discuss all possible:
Salma intends to continue stealing, though she is looking for more sources and collections so as to avoid becoming too prolific a thief in some places. She has not intention of attracting too much attention from the DMLE.

Special Ability

Character Name: Salma Smythson
Age: 30
Character Biography: LINK
Do any of your other Characters have Special Abilities?: Yes
If Yes, then Please provide their name and a link to their bio: Virgil Carstairs (Legilimency & Seer), Raine Almasy (Animagus), Balfour Spectre (Animagus), Feliks Spectre (Metamorphmagus), Yavin Morgenthau (Legilimency), Jebediah Layton (Legilimency), Osha Warrington (Veela charm).
 
Special Ability: Parseltongue

What level is this ability at?: Master

At what age did your character gain this ability?: Birth

How did they learn or hone this ability?:
Salma learned that she was a parseltongue as a child, when she was visiting a famous snake temple in Penang. She was able to converse with the snakes.

Describe how the Special Ability influences their life.  What do they use it for?:
Salma has a pet black and white Krait snake from Malaysia, which has been with her for three years now. His name is Lucy, short for Lucifer, and he acts as recon when Salma targets a collection as a thief. He also keeps her company when she is restoring artefacts.

Write a description of what happens when your character is exhibiting this Special Ability: Sometimes Salma gets odd looks from customers when she is talking to Lucy in her shop but for the most part nothing remarkable happens.