Zatanna

Zatanna or Zatanna Zatara is a well known stage magician, and also a known JLA member. She is known for both her on stage magical tricks as well as known for her ability to cast real magical spells. How exactly she does what she does is unknown, but many people know of her and her abilities. In addition, her place of living is also quite well known, and even her specific address is known by many and has been published in the newspapers on occassion.

Background
Boy, am I old. I'm not old like some of the supernatural or dimensional beings I've met, not even as old as most of the demons I've met, but I'm more grandma old. Good thing I'm not human. I was born to my father Giovanni Zatara who was one hundred percent human and to my mother Sindella, born from a parallel race to Homo Sapien called Homo Magi. You'd think that'd make me a half-breed, and though that's true on some level, genetically I clock in at a full one hundred percent Homo Magi, confusing right? I'd think that too but my life has been full of strangeness and trying to explain my racial background is simply the start of a giant tale, so I'll try and sum it up for you.

My father was my best friend, my life, my trainer, my greatest rival, and he was the world's greatest dad. From an early age he taught me his stage magician trade and we even performed together for the world, and the crowds he could draw. Practice, was one of the many things he taught me, how to practice and experiment with new ways of doing the same basic tricks. Since I was very young I was showing that in this I could keep up, and only after that did he start teaching me real magic.

Father, also known by just his last name Zatara, used words spelled backwards as his focus for his magic, a technique passed to him through the magical writings of Leonardo Da Vinci himself. My mother was gone, thought then to be dead, and so I too learned my father's magic. All too soon I grew in power, and it amazed my father but he kept performing stage magic unless the need for the real stuff arose. Abuse of his power, reliance upon magic was never his way and those ethics were passed down to me. I know how to fight, with some of the best of them, having brawled with many villians and sometimes friends. Though that didn't stop me from excelling at my magic, it made me better at it. Even before my father's death people were starting to call me the world's greatest magician, both on stage and for supers.

The disappearance of my father, in the sixties, led to me becoming acquainted with the majority of the Justice League, without them I never would have found my father, without their aid I would have never discovered my mother again, even though that was a short reunion, I cherish Sindella and her sacrifice always. I have been a member of the JLA since, at times more active than others, but when they need me I am wiling to help, no questions, they have and would do the same for me.

It killed me to keep the secret that so few of us shared, especially after the death of Sue. We thought we were doing so much that we could only describe as... necessary, but it was wrong and it did so much harm to ourselves. There are those even in the JLA who? whom am I kidding? I fiddled in their minds, and I was the one who betrayed so many of my friends. This one thing, I have abused my power and no excuse of thinking it was the right thing to do will repay the friends I have hurt, or the destruction of lives I have wrought.

I go on. I go on as the many titles I have been called. The Mistress of Magic, Princess of Prestigidation, and even the most powerful JLA member. Despite that power, and being around for over 70 years, having countless relationships, I still make horribke mistakes in life and hurt those closest to me. But, I am also the first to respond and drop everything if I am needed.

Only recently have I gone back to my less than full time JLA membership, relying on the calls when they need me. I have had some personal issues to work out, some depression over mind altering my own friends at the request of other friends. Demons attacking my city, taking up residence, and even a short lived apprentice. Being a stage magician helps me keep my cope, and teaches me all the valuable lessons my father taught me again and again, and it isn't so bad at paying the bills. Nothing is what it seems, not my late twenties body, not the illusions I perform on stage, not even death being that ultimate end... for some it has only begun their journey, I should know with how many times I have been aided by the spirit of my father and mother since their deaths. For me, I set out now to try and redeem myself to those I have wronged for good or evil, and I hope they can forgive me, but I cannot expect they will. I wouldn't, I'd get really mad.

Personality
General. Zatanna an optimist, hopeful and otherwise kind person. Though she does get angry, the results are almost never death and she abhors killing. Even when other JLA members might have cause, she will help sedate, capture and at times put in permanent stasis, but she won't pull the trigger on killing anyone. She keeps the hope that there is always another way, and good or bad, most creatures on earth have a place there which she does not hold against anyone.

Code of Magic. Zee lives by a series of rules that her father taught her, and they are useful in keeping her powers in check as well as imparts upon her personality a certain level of habits.

Rule 1: Nothing is what it seems. Whether illusions, super heroes, or mundanes, nothing and no one is as it appears. There is always another layer, and because of this Zatanna has become comfortable amongst liars and cheats, tempting demons and the crazy city of San Francisco. It also makes her skeptical of people and their words, along with the tiniest event in the world, making her never accept anything at face value, but being quite comfortable with this perpetual search for the truth. This is why she regularly is able to discover the true identities of other metahumans, and why she does not bother with a Secret ID herself.

Rule 2: Learn to fool the experts. Misdirection is only truly possible by discipline and training against those who are the best detectives in the universe. Zatanna cannot shoot to deceive the audience that shows up to her performances, she must attempt tricks that baffle even the likes of Batman, and she has, not always permanently but at least for a while, which is better than most can say. Outside of Batman there is rarely the person, on this earth or beyond, whom can see through the deceptions Zatanna creates, on stage and off. Her trick is to always have the truth one layer below where you will look. Too far and you will sense the deceit, but the thinnest of veils is enough to miss the card up her sleeve.

Rule 3: If you can't keep it down, don't bring it up. Knowing your limits is an important lesson even for the most powerful magician in the world. If you want to try a trick, don't mention it to your agent till you practice it so well you can already do it. If the truth is too much to bear, say nothing. Day in and day out Zatanna still practices her backwards speech despite decades of spellcasting with it, so she can consistently grow what she knows she can say, in a fight there is no time for experimentation. If the JLA asks if you can, be sure to know in advance if you are able. She always wants to be able to do whatever the world requires of her at the time it requires it.

Rule 4: Always keep one card up your sleeve. Never be out of ammo. When her magic has failed her and sleight of hand was not enough, Zatanna fights with fists and wit. Her father told her all the time when she was a child that she should not rely on her magic, and made sure she could fight. When all else fails, have something more, and a lifetime of pushing her limits has taught her to be the first to try pushing the boulder up the hill and even after others admit it is impossible, find a way. Zee is not a person who gives up.

Books of her Father. The last time she saw her father was as a spirit in another dimension when searching for the magic books he wrote that were not among all the treasures of Shadowcrest. When she sees him he relates to her that the books are written in her, that she was his greatest treasure.

The book of water is a kind heart. Zatanna is kind, exceedingly so, having even sat at the bed side of the demon Tannarak to nurse him back to health because she felt responsible for his injuries. She is usually the volunteer for talking with other team members when they have too much stress or are feeling depressed. This, along with her ability to heal injuries, has given her the unofficial position of nurse in the JLA.

The book of earth is a graceful body. Whether squeezing into tiny containers that seem impossible with her mass, or death defying acrobatic feats she manages with deft and grace it all stems from a decidedly smooth movement of body and mind. This branches outward to her etiquette and position with people, always taking the kinder route in words, if no less blunt and honest at times.

The book of air is a keen mind. No matter what Zatanna does she prepares and practices, plans and often determines outcomes in a conversation before even starting one. Her willingness to go with even bad outcomes is usually from her confidence in her backup plans as well as her immense power. Some have blamed Batman for overthinking or over preparation but despite not seeming to do as much 'bat cave' loner time, Zatanna is always planning her next web of steps.

The book of fire is strength of spirit. She is more powerful than Superman, but to wield that power requires a will that is indominable. Often she amazes others with her ability to look at the solution and push until she attains her goal no matter what dimensional beings or godly powers block her path. There is little that brute force cannot solve, as long as you have the resolve to use it.