| Welcome to Imythess, the border between dreams and reality. We hope you enjoy your visit. Imythess is a creative writing board where you narrate the story of a character in the medieval land of Imythess, on the planet Chaon. Each topic is an opportunity for your character to interact with the world and its peoples by cooperatively writing pieces of a story with other members, one post at a time. We call this role-playing, because you assume the identity of your character as if it were your own. In order to play, you must register an account for each character you would like to write about, and begin their tale by filling out their basic profile information: Race (human, elf, demon, etc.), class (warrior, mage, etc.), physical appearance, and any other personal details you would like to describe. You are also encouraged to come up with some background history information for what your character's life has been like up to the point at which their story in Imythess begins. There is no approval process or application required to join, so long as you follow the rules then you are free to write whatever character details you choose. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Create a character now! If you're already a member, you can log into your account below: |
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| Invincible Summer [FIN]; [Private: Zaki] | |
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| Topic Started: Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:29 am (271 Views) | |
| Nkiruka | Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:29 am Post #1 |
 
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As the outline of the Gwilikith Mountains appeared from behind the clouds, Nkiruka realized that everything was coming full-circle. She hadn't seen these mountains since her last campaign with the Red Moon mercenary company over two years ago. So much had happened since then -- almost like her life hadn't truly started until she had left this place. The soldier approached the edge of the airship's deck to get a better look. It was early winter outside of the Istan Desert, so the entire sky was solid white. The jagged black peaks were almost completely covered in a blanket of snow. Mountains eventually gave way to the ocean, where Nkiruka could almost see Striberg floating in the distance. Within half an hour the airship landed at the sky-port of Striberg, and Nkiruka disembarked. She emerged from the bottom of the port tower with a military-issue backpack over her shoulders; it could only hold minimal supplies considering the extensive journey she was planning, but she knew her route would take her through a small stopover site where she could replenish. In her arms she held an unassuming wooden box. While it wasn't particularly large, it was just big enough to be awkward if carried in one hand, and she didn't want to tuck it under her arm and risk damaging what was inside. After wandering through the city for a bit, Nkiruka located a tailor that sold heavy winter clothing. She wouldn't make the same mistake as she did before, having nearly died of hypothermia the last time she was here. The soldier picked out an entirely new wardrobe from head to toe -- one that would keep her alive in the weather her body wasn't even remotely adapted to. "Traveling?" the seamstress asked as she made sure Nkiruka's coat fit her properly. It wasn't customized for her, but it would work. "I need to get to the Deep Cities." The air ferries were closed this time of year due to the harsh weather in the mountains. "So I'm hiking the Grey Road." From what she could tell, the Grey Road, a trail that wound through the mountains, was only passable by foot in winter due to its dangerous switchbacks and frozen inclines. It would take a week to cross, but it was her only option at this point. She left the shop with her new clothing and proceeded toward the ferry to the mainland. Two years ago Nkiruka had flown over these mountains with relative ease (save, of course, for that time when she got caught in a storm). She remembered looking down on them like they were so small. Even though her wings were gone now and, standing at the head of the Grey Road, the Gwilikith now looked impossibly huge, Nkiruka still preferred it this way. A cold wind dusted her scarf with fine snowflakes. The soldier glanced down at the box in her hands, then started up the trail. As far as she could tell, Nkiruka was completely alone out here. No one else had a good enough reason to go to the home of the dwarves. She took the hike slow and ponderous, maintaining a cautiousness that was unbecoming of her usual personality. Thankfully, the forgiving weather -- a pervasive stillness with the occasional bouts of violent wind -- combined with her tactical outlook to make the first several days of the trek fairly painless. Nkiruka took cover from the wind beneath a concave outcropping of rock and ice. Crouching, she placed the box on a relatively dry patch of ground and rifled through her backpack. If her map was correct, she would reach a small mountain village come tomorrow morning if she traveled all night. Then she could finally get some sleep. Rolling her map back up, Nkiruka stared out at the spectacular view. She detested the cold, but the sheer magnitude of these mountains never stopped impressing her. There was nothing like this in Istan. A smile tugged at one edge of her lip, hidden beneath her heavy white scarf; she didn't regret spending her leave from military duty out here. Finally, after five days of literally nonstop travel, she was here. The Deep Cities lay in a massive sprawl that was so far into and around the mountains that the clouds obscured parts of it. Guardsmen at the entrance to the foremost city spotted the woman as she emerged from the swirling gusts of snow, clutching a wooden box in her arms as if trying in futile to protect it from the weather. They tossed her unusual looks, but otherwise allowed the Istani traveler into the mountain. Nkiruka found herself in a city called Skogen's Stronghold and took a seat against a bronze monument so she could get her bearings. Her destination, the partially aboveground Axerise, was about a day's walk east of here. A twinge of excitement gave the soldier the energy she needed to keep walking. The sun dipped low on the horizon, almost hidden behind the mountains. Nkiruka walked slowly up a wide, inclining road in Axerise, studying the structures built on and around the mountain. Lanterns on high metal poles kept the path lit well enough that she didn't need to utilize her night vision. She passed the occasional horse-drawn wagon leaving divets into the snow, but the road was otherwise abandoned. That seemed to be an overarching characteristic of this entire region: everything was very quiet and still. At first she thought it was refreshing, but it was starting to make her a bit uneasy. Nkiruka pushed her thoughts aside and kept looking for the street she wanted. She reached a more remote path that skirted the edge of a wide but relatively protected cliff. The house was secluded from the others at the end of the street. Like most of the aboveground dwellings in the Deep Cities, it was built in the human style, but it was much larger than the rest of the houses. The interior glowed softly. Nkiruka walked up the steps to the front door and knocked. "Hi Zaki." Her greeting, admittedly, flopped -- Nkiruka was actually planning to address her old friend formally, as a superior in the military. She managed a tired but sincere smile. The effects of the trip on Nkiruka's body were subtle: dark circles just barely colored the patches of skin beneath each eye. Her hands were shaking, but she did a fairly good job of hiding it. Rather than ask to come in or strike up some small talk, Nkiruka glanced down at the box in her arms. Now she wasn't sure if this was the best way to approach the situation. It probably made more sense to her back when she was thinking about it on the hike. "The, uh, the commander of the Shattered Regiment talked to me a few days ago." She turned her eyes back down to the box, running her thumbs along the simple carving in the wood sides. "It was supposed to be about sending you the medal you got when we took down that drow matron's experiments, but she realized she had more than that, and pulled this out." One of Nkiruka's hands slipped to the front of the box. She flicked the handle and opened the top, revealing an intricately organized -- and incredibly extensive -- set of war decorations. Medals and badges of all shapes and sizes, polished and set into indentations in the rich Istani fabric lining the inside of the box. A lot of the decorations had been upset from their spots due to the rough trip, but it didn't make it any less impressive. Nkiruka's tone of voice changed slightly, like she was reciting something from memory, something she was told. "You were field-promoted to the rank of Sergeant during the fall of Taras, but you were honorably discharged from the Army of Istan right after the last stand. So I know you probably don't care anymore, but I really think you needed to see this. Look at all the decorations you got for your service." She looked back up at Zaki, her eyes tinged with a bit of sheepishness. "You're a hero." She closed the box and handed it to her friend. "...Sorry. It's late. I probably should've sent a letter beforehand or something." |
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| Zaki | Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:42 am Post #2 |
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Zaki's eyes flickered open to harsh afternoon light. She groaned and rolled over, nestling herself back into her pillow. A little voice whispered into her ear. Zaki kept her eyes closed and attempted to act like she had never woken up. She felt and perceived a slight heat nearing her ear. "Zaki, I hope I'm not a bother but you should really get up! The sun is about to fall then you'll neeeveerrr get up." A little feminine voice whispered to her. One of Zaki's eyes opened to the sight of Naya the imp standing on her bed. The little obsidian and fire critter stepped back slightly and clapped her hands together. "Now, I know you stayed up all night helping them prepare the festival, but Minea is getting reaaally hungry and I can't carry her yak steak to her." Naya explained. Zaki's mind flickered to images of the two pound woman hauling a five pound steak. She rose, slowly, and then lurched from underneath her covers and to her wardrobe. Half asleep, she dressed herself in comfort clothes. A thick and homely shirt found its way on the woman. Zaki quickly combed her hair into quasi-straightness, tying it up with quickly with a length of twine. She yanked on a pair of mismatched socks as a defense against the cold stone floors. The monk walked down stairs slowly, yawning as she went. Naya followed her hand down the railing, babbling about all the things she'd need to do today. The imp was a lifesaver. She grabbed a steaming mug of istani coffee as she walked to get Minea's steak from her cold room. Zaki trudged from the cold room to Minea's room. She opened the door to an intense blast of heat. The massive creature growled at her, shaking a great curled horns at her. Zaki held out the hunk of yak with one hand. Minea advanced forward cautiously, clamping her great jaws around the edge of the steak. She pulled back gently, taking the steak with the grace of a proper lady. Zaki bowed as she left, leaving the great beast alone in the former stables. Zaki yanked her socks up to her midcalf as she walked back into her kitchen. "Naya, I think it would be a good idea to make extra today." "Why? We've got to watch your weight!" Naya squeaked. Zaki thought for a moment as she got together ingredients. "Because I want to have a quick and easy lunch and breakfast. so I can help with the final preparations for the lantern festival tomorrow." Zaki explained. The nymph nodded and began helping as well. A knock rang out on her door. Zaki spun around, leaving Naya to tend to the rice and paneer. She sprinted to the door, wondering if it was one of the dwarves who needed her help tonight as well. Zaki unlocked and opened the door quickly, letting in a billowing, cold wind. Standing before her was Nkiruka in a full dress uniform, toting hiking gear and a wooden box. Nkiruka looked like she'd been on a hard walk, which made Zaki wonder what the urgency was. The wind reminded her suddenly of the state of her dress. Her bare legs were freezing up, the neck of her shirt had slid and revealed a bare shoulder. "Oh, hello Nkiruka." Zaki greeted in kind, hiding her embarrassment beneath an extra layer of sweetness. Nkiruka spoke of the medals she'd earned but never collected, and of the rank she attained in the worst days of her life. Her mind flickered back to endless flames, blood and water running rampant. Demons obliterating unprepared fighters. Her hand gripped down on the old wooden door. Her eyes fell on the rows of medals. Did she really earn them? Nkiruka called her a hero. Zaki's mind stopped and restarted, her eyes snapping up to Nkiruka's face. "Thanks," Zaki whispered, drawing the soldier inside. "You don't need to bring me a letter, the surprise was nice," Zaki continued. She smiled warmly as she locked the door, golden markings on her cheek shining in the delicate light. "I'm going to get dressed really quickly, then we'll have dinner and do the whole medal ceremony thing," Zaki finished. She darted upstairs quickly. The monk put on her dress uniform quickly, moving her hands through the complex knots and buttons without thinking. She combed her hair properly, giving it big curls and making sure it draped her shoulders and back nicely. Zaki hunted amongst her chest of drawers quickly. She pulled a silver and blue insignia from a velvet padded box, and pinned it to her chest. It was the insignia of her regiment, a pair of crossed silver halberds behind a silver ox's head, set in a sea of blue. Beneath the emblem was the name of the Istani Army in old, formal istani. She observed herself in the mirror for a moment, staring at her own wide smile. The uniform stirred vibrant memories of camaraderie in the woman, and she walked back downstairs. Zaki quickly helped Naya serve up the food, and nodded to Nkiruka with a warm smile. "You'll have to spend a week or two up here, Nkiruka. The Axerise Festival of Lanterns starts tomorrow, and there's a few other good holidays coming up. A great time to be in the dwarven cities!" Zaki said warmly. Naya brought out a pair of coconut milks. The little imp had wondered for months if Zaki would ever drink something she bought at such a premium. |
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| Nkiruka | Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:05 pm Post #3 |
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Treating Nkiruka's comment like a compliment rather than an objective fact, Zaki thanked the soldier and invited her inside. She stepped in and looked around. The veteran's house looked even bigger from this point of view, with high ceilings and multiple floors. Nkiruka wanted to ask her why she owned such a huge house in practically the middle of nowhere, but it was neither relevant nor warranted. She simply stood there for a few seconds, taking in everything around her with obvious restraint in both her body language and tone. "We don't need to do a ceremony. I just wanted you to have them." After Zaki left, Nkiruka slipped off her dirty boots and hung up her already unbuttoned coat. To her relief, the dress uniform beneath all the extra clothing was still in good condition even though it had ridden folded up in her backpack for several days. She adjusted all the folds of cloth and other intricacies in the uniform and called it good. Up ahead, beyond the living room, was a dining room and kitchen where a small creature was hard at work cooking something that smelled Istani. Movement from the staircase caught Nkiruka's attention; she was still standing in the entryway, unsure of whether she was allowed to seat herself. To her surprise, when Zaki said she was going to get dressed, she really meant it. The woman had put on a uniform not unlike Nkiruka's own, but with slight alterations to a few important details because of their differences in rank and regiment. "You kept it. Good for you," she said with a smile. Nkiruka followed her friend to the dinner table and took a seat. As Zaki and the small elemental woman served up the food -- rice and paneer, a dish of cheese mixed in a sauce with various vegetables -- she mentioned the current festivities in the city. "Sounds like fun. I timed my trip pretty well, then." Zaki set a glass in front of her, which Nkiruka sipped. When she realized what it was, she started guzzling it down. It was half-empty by the time she put it down. "I didn't know you liked coconut milk, Zaki. You have good taste!" She punctuated her words with a quick chuckle. As it turned out, Zaki was also an amazing cook. Nkiruka indicated her appreciation for the hot meal by consuming it within a matter of minutes. "I was expecting you'd only let me stay a few days, actually," she finally said. "I'm on leave, so this was a good chance to travel for fun." Nkiruka glanced at the box sitting on the other side of the table. "I was also keeping that with me. After a while I couldn't take it anymore -- the thought of you sitting here with no idea that you were so important to the army. It really bothered me for some reason." Nkiruka broke off a piece of bread and dipped it in the sauce remaining on her plate. |
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| Zaki | Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:01 am Post #4 |
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Zaki continued to smile as Nkiruka enjoyed her food. She was glad the woman enjoyed it. Zaki took a few sips of the coconut milk. It didn't set her tastebuds on fire like she thought it would. Nkiruka was clearly wild for the beverage. The monk also realized she was eating uncharacteristically rapidly. She was hungrier than she had initially thought. "Coconut milk is fine." Zaki answered nonchalantly. The reason for Zaki acquiring coconut milk was actually that she had seen Nkiruka drinking it and enjoying it more than once. Nkiruka spoke once more, detailing her trip. Then she told Zaki the reasons why she had actually come. The veteran smiled, her cheek flashing with twin gold markings. "You can stay for a full month if you'd like! Having you around might make things go more smoothly." Zaki said. She wasn't sure what would go more smoothly. "I was only as important as the next person in the army, Nkiruka. I really don't deserve this. The Shattered Regiment was reduced to half manpower in one battle. Half! Most regiments only lose a quarter of their manpower in a pitched battle." Zaki reflexively stated. She shook her head quickly. "It was a tough time, okay? I was the only person who survived on what we called the eighth corridor, which was one of the twelve roads we were holding. A lot of demons hit that corridor to press into the refugee road we were holding. Each person we lost made it worse, until I was the last one standing." Zaki explained. She shook her head. "When they came and got me, I collapsed the moment someone tried to bring me away. At least Captain Inea was nice enough to carry me back." Zaki finished. The soldier stood and left the pile of pillows she'd used as a seat. "But enough about that. I'm so happy to have a guest! Last person I had around here was Rinrae Dromigg." Zaki said. She chuckled and then turned to go upstairs. Zaki immediately stopped. "Oh! Wait, we should do something with those shiny-bits in your box before I make your room up." Zaki suggested. Her excitement at having one of her few good friends as a guest was ruining her judgement. |
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| Nkiruka | Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:02 pm Post #5 |
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Nkiruka hadn't ever had the courage to ask Zaki about what exactly happened back in Taras. She knew all the basics: when the city-state was attacked, the Sultan of Istan sent some of her finest troops to their aid. The heroic sacrifices of what would be known as the Shattered Regiment were very well-known in Istan and throughout Imythess. Many stories pertained to their heroic last stand, but Nkiruka figured that not many of them had more than a few shreds of truth buried under the legends. Getting such a personal story from such an important soldier wasn't something that happened often, and Nkiruka listened closely, letting the rest of her bread go cold. Now she knew why Zaki had received so many decorations for her service. What she had done was so outstanding that it would be impossible not to call it heroism. That sort of bravery in the face of an unspeakable enemy was not only remarkable, but it actually made Nkiruka proud to be Istani. It was nice to know that people like Zaki still existed and weren't just characters in war stories told to children. There was a long silence after Zaki spoke as Nkiruka collected her thoughts together. Even though Zaki took to her own story with a bit of nervous humor, Nkiruka remained serious as usual. "No, you're not like any other soldier in the army. Don't ever downplay your accomplishments again." Her voice was firm, but she seemed more concerned than angry. Zaki mentioned the medals, and Nkiruka stood up. "Yeah. I'll show you I'm right." Nkiruka took the box off the table and walked into Zaki's living room, motioning for her friend to follow. She placed it on a cushioned seat behind her and propped it open, allowing the soldier easy access to the medals inside. "I'm sorry I don't actually know the real protocol for this. This is way too big for the service medals I usually get." Zaki actually deserved a big ceremony, not some informal thing in the living room with one other person. A patrolman in the Istan Army Rangers shouldn't be presenting the medals: the High General or even the Sultan should be. Nkiruka silently fumed at this injustice, but tried to compose herself. "I guess I'll go from least to most important honors," she started, speaking in the Istani language for the sake of being even more official. Her and Zaki had conversed in Istani before, and while Nkiruka was very fluent, Zaki was a native speaker and probably thought she had a funny Common accent or something. Regardless, Nkiruka continued. "Your regiment commander didn't have time to explain all of them to me, so I had to do some research. I hope I'm correct. These..." Nkiruka reached into the box and pulled out a handful of ribbons and medals, "...are the campaign medals of the Taras last stand. This one is just for participating, but all of the others are for distinguished service." One-by-one she pinned them to Zaki's chest, making sure that they were lined up in the proper order -- or, at least, to her best knowledge. As she pinned each individual medal, she tried her best to explain its specific purpose. Reaching again into the box, she pulled out another few medals. Most of them were polished blue and silver. "Regimental medals." She continued pinning them, but stopped at the last one. A silver medal bearing the symbols of the Shattered Regiment hung from a blue and silver ribbon with the Istani word for 'duty' printed above it. "This is Talakh's Medal, the highest honor awarded by your regiment. You received it because you showed 'immense courage and persistence in the face of overwhelming odds,' which is the height of Istani patriotism." Nkiruka glanced up at Zaki in the middle of pinning it to her uniform, but immediately darted her eyes back down to what she was doing. "The last ones are all distinguished service medals." Once again, she pinned each of them to Zaki's uniform, explaining each one's meaning as she went. There were medals for being wounded, for aiding comrades in the line of battle, and for general heroism and bravery. By the time she was almost done, the decorations thickly covered the entire left side of Zaki's chest. Nkiruka held up the last one in the box. "You probably know what this one is. The Medal of Valor, the highest military medal in the Istan Army." When Nkiruka was done pinning it to Zaki's uniform, she stepped back and gave a sharp salute. "I'm sorry." |
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| Zaki | Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:54 pm Post #6 |
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Zaki glanced aside as Nkiruka flattered her more and more. It was awkward, she wasn't used to such praise. An istani monk rarely received praise, they were only ever told to fight harder and longer. Even a master fighter was still told to work harder and longer. It was never a question of success, it was always how long one could stave off failure. She had fought according to that Istani paradigm: Fight until you die. Whether it be farming with the endless drought, penning an epic, or fighting demons, an Istani was supposed to survive first. Success was a gift, not a certainty. Nkiruka went through with the full ceremony. Each medal was explained in detail, each one weighing more and more heavily on Zaki's chest. Her mind flickered back to her dead comrades. The Axe and Ox regiment was however unique. While Tarasian soldiers only barely held their ground, the Axe and Ox fought atop the corpses of demons and their allies. The Istani halberd was the finest weapon ever crafted, and the Axe and Ox was the finest user of the weapon. She had heard the regiment was changed to an ultra-modern pike and halberd regiment. The final medal was pinned, her chest bristling with gold, silver, and fine Istani steel. A uniform fit for a ten year veteran on a girl who served for a few scant years. Was she some sort of a hero back home? Zaki had not been back in ages, afraid to see her place of birth. The ceremony finished before her introspective stress had reached its peak. Zaki nodded quickly and mustered a weak smile. "I'm honored to receive these, representative of Istan." Zaki replied in her light Istani. Her mind zipped back to her nature as a hostess. "But you must be so tired! Come along, I've got plenty of room and I even have all the beds made." Zaki said. She walked upstairs, beckoning for Nkiruka to come along. She opened the first door on the right, stepping into a small room. The moon shown in through the windows, gently illuminating a room that begged for occupance. "This is reserved for special guests. If you need to bathe, the basement is a pretty good place to do it. If you need some snacks, just ask Naya since she doesn't sleep. The little door in the kitchen goes to the cold room, the door next to it goes out to Minea's room. I'll introduce you to her and Atria tomorrow, but for the moment you might want to avoid Minea. She's a little angry at me for sleeping all day and not feeding her." Zaki said with a nervous giggle. She clasped her hands together and smiled. "So that's it! If you want to go to sleep, go for it. I'm going to do some reading before I go to sleep myself." Zaki explained. She ducked into her room. Zaki rose with the sun, preparing a traditional istani breakfast. The stable door was open, Minea's great head barely fitting through. The drake's eyes roved and periodically her nostrils flared as she sniffed at the air. Atop Minea's head was a slumped crystalline creature, its legs dangling and tail moving lazily. Heat billowed out of the stables, warming the entire house immensely. Zaki gazed out of her windows, at the big white clouds cresting over the mountains and filling the valley beyond Axerise. "It'll snow today." Zaki said. Naya glanced over to a small, pocket like knitted structure on the counter. A pair of knitted lumps filled the opening. She motioned to the pair of drakes. "The big one is Minea, don't touch her back, you'll get burned. The little one is Atria. Dears, this is Nkiruka. She's our guest." Zaki explained to the large creatures. |
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| Nkiruka | Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:51 pm Post #7 |
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Nkiruka frowned a little when Zaki quickly changed the subject. She really did seem like she was trying to avoid the subject of her service as much as she could. The soldier didn't blame her and moved on, following her friend up to the guest rooms in her spacious house. The room that Zaki showed her was small and well-kept, lit up by the moon through the windows. "Thanks, Zaki," she said. After Zaki disappeared to read, Nkiruka put her backpack down and sat on the side of the bed. Arms resting on her knees, she gave a tired sigh, pulling down her ponytail and running her fingers through her hair. The hike had been fun -- or the closest thing to fun that Nkiruka could reasonably conceptualize -- but it was nice reaching her destination and being somewhere she could stay for a while. As an added bonus, the bed was soft and comfortable when she flopped onto her back, still in her full dress uniform. After lying there for a few minutes, though, she figured she should get cleaned up before going to bed. Nkiruka removed her uniform, placed it neatly to the side, and put on some rattier clothing that she could wear on her trip to investigate the basement. Once done bathing, she could finally rest. She only woke up when the morning light was too intense to keep sleeping. Nkiruka changed into her cleanest set of clothing, brushed her hair but didn't tie it up, and made her way downstairs. Zaki and her elemental friend were already active, getting to work on an Istani breakfast of a spicy egg dish and bread. Nkiruka waved absentmindedly, still tired from the hours of sleep. Instead of immediately seating herself at the table, she stopped, staring at the massive draconic face poking through a door nearby. A smaller drake made out of white crystals was laying on top of it. Heat billowed in from that room. Zaki quickly explained their names, implying that the huge creatures were her pets. "Oh- okay. I didn't know. ...Hello." It felt odd greeting a pair of animals -- and especially unnatural coming from her -- but it seemed like the polite way to respond to her introductions. Finally, Nkiruka took a seat at the kitchen table. Zaki mentioned it would snow today. "I don't mind snow, I guess," she mentioned. The soldier leaned back on her seat and watched Zaki put the finishing touches on the breakfast. "Are you doing anything today? I can stay here if you have a job you need to go to." |
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| Zaki | Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:21 am Post #8 |
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Zaki finished her breakfast with a flourish of her fork. She stood quickly, staring at Inky. A plan formed in her head, crafting a fun little activity. "We'll head out into town and get you proper winter gear. It'll get cold up here. Real cold. You'll want some nice tall boots to keep the snow out. Some leggings to keep you warm beneath a big coat. Maybe a nice big scarf? Ooo! we could get you a summer-y scarf too." Zaki gushed. It was generally a well kept secret: the so-called Steel Tower of Istan loved clothes. She rushed upstairs and dressed herself into a long double breasted coat with tall boots. An overly-long scarf's twin tails fluttered behind her. Zaki allowed Inky a moment to get dressed in her cold weather gear. The istani chuckled and took her outside with her arms around her shoulders. The istani didn't bother locking the door behind her. They walked down cobbled paths, the wind coursing down the streets with considerable force. Zaki grabbed Inky's hand and lead her with a giggle. They wove through the feeble crowds. Lanterns creaked on their lines. They descended from the uppermost part of the city to the center of the valley, where the habitation was thickest. They had entered the upper city square. In the middle was a staircase straight into the earth, lit with furiously burning torches. Around them were hundreds of lanterns on dozens of lines. Shadows wove a web around them as they walked towards tailor's shop in the center of the square. Zaki entered quickly. "Maeve, this is Nkiruka. She'll be needing coats on my tab." Zaki explained. The seamstress nodded, and advanced with a marked piece of string. "What are you interested in, dear? Hopefully not another military uniform!" She said with a smile. |
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| Nkiruka | Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:23 am Post #9 |
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Nkiruka glanced over at the entryway. "I already have all that..." Looking at it closer, though, it was pretty obvious that Zaki meant clothing that was actually presentable. Her coat was thick and heavy, lined with fur, and intended for high-intensity mountaineering. It was covered in dirt and cuts, with a large L-shaped gash on the side when Nkiruka had almost fallen down a hundred-foot sheer drop. Her mittens and scarf were also in terrible condition. Beside that, Zaki seemed really excited about dressing her up -- odd, but amusing. "Okay. I guess I should look halfway decent if we're going to that festival." They finished breakfast and left. Nkiruka donned her coat temporarily so she'd stay warm for the trip to the tailor, then flanked Zaki out onto the streets. As they descended into the increasingly crowded streets toward the central valley of the city, Zaki grabbed Nkiruka's bare hand with a mitten and happily led her along. Her eyes widened in an expression of quiet surprise, but she was neither angry at nor averse to the friendly gesture. She took in the impressive sights of the city: the massive sky, the clouds around the mountains, the expansive undercity with lanterns everywhere. The soldier couldn't imagine what the city would look like at night, when all of them would be lit. They entered a tailor in the undercity where a tanned young woman with wavy black hair greeted them. Nkiruka nodded at her as a sort of greeting when Zaki introduced her, and she asked her what kind of coat she wanted. It hadn't occurred to her that there were multiple types of coats until then, so she struggled a little. "Um... I guess I'll have one like hers." She motioned to her friend's double-breasted coat. It looked classy enough to work for the more casual situations she'd be in during her stay. Nkiruka slid off her torn-up, dirty hiking coat and left with Maeve to get fitted for her new coat. After a few measurements and tweaks, Nkiruka picked out the remaining clothing while the seamstress finished the coat. When it was ready, Nkiruka emerged from the dressing room in her newly completed outfit. A dark red double-breasted coat -- shorter than Zaki's, only reaching past the hips -- covered a white scarf looped around her neck. She wore a skirt over thick leggings suited for winter conditions, and her combat boots were replaced by a newer pair that reached higher on her legs. "I already paid for it," Nkiruka snickered, grinning wryly at her friend. "No way I would've let you cover all this." She turned and waved to Maeve, almost smiling. "Thanks for the help! I don't know much about winter clothes." The seamstress giggled and bid them both farewell, and they emerged back out into the city. "Any good places to get lunch?" the soldier asked, looking up at the lanterns again. They were almost entrancing in their complexity. "So, what's this festival about, anyway? The one tonight." Edited by Nkiruka, Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:26 am.
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| Zaki | Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:12 am Post #10 |
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Nkiruka picked out a fairly good selection of clothing. Zaki thought it suited her quite well, and realized like usual Nkiruka had aimed for some sort of practicality. A skirt would probably let her move with a little more agility than Zaki's beloved long coats. Of course, Zaki never felt all that impeded by her coats, considering she normally wore heavy armor. "Lunch? There's a really good dwarven meat n' mushroom nearby." Zaki said. It would be interesting to introduce Nkiruka to dwarven cuisine. The monk led Nki across the square into a restaurant at the other side. Most of the clientele were groomed dwarves, with a few humans. The hostess lead them upstairs to a glass room. She smiled. "Master Architect Alefist designed this building with the newest achievements in structural engineering." The hostess explained with somewhat of an odd look on her face. Above them was the clear sky hidden behind a webwork of steel. Sun glittered off of the glass above, and Zaki's eyes trailed down towards the valley. The sky darkened in the distance, white whisps trailing off grey clouds. She could already see the coating of snow on the green trees of Axerise valley. It was the first snow of the year, and it looked to be a gentle one. The hostess seated them where they had an excellent view of the city below. It was a well kept ruin, a gorgeous example of dwarven architecture brought to the surface. Even though every other building was inhabited, it felt like a city worth the majesty of Taras. The hostess placed down their menus, and Zaki giggled as she paged through. She knew what to expect, even if Nkiruka didn't. "Inky, do you want your meat, or your mushrooms? Would you like meat with mushrooms or mushrooms with meat? Meat stuffed with mushrooms or mushrooms stuffed with meat?" Zaki said. She planted her finger on her favorite dish: plump helmets and steak with a sweet pod garnish. A few minutes later their waiter arrived, a stout dwarf with a groomed beard in a suit. He took their orders and hobbled off. "Its better than you think, okay? All dwarven cookery is of the highest quality, Inky," Zaki said, reciting a common dwarven platitude. Their food arrived, tastefully arranged with mushrooms and meat accented with a few proper vegetables farmed in the valley. "So, Nki, how is it being a Ranger? I hear Rangers get a lot more freedom than a normal regiment," Zaki inquired. The monk carved off a piece of perfectly grilled steak, revealing a flawless pink middle. She raised it off the plate, a few droplets of sweetpod syrup falling off. Zaki ate it with reverence, and sipped a little water from her tall glass to wash it down. |
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| Nkiruka | Wed Nov 2, 2011 3:59 pm Post #11 |
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The whole situation was having a strange effect on Nkiruka: her mood was actually improving into something positive for once. She found herself smiling as she took in the sights of the city; she was able to observe the high spires and elaborate masonry of underground Axerise with little thought about where she was going, as Zaki casually kept the soldier in a good path as she led her by the hand. They reached their destination, a highly elaborate restaurant. Once they were seated, Nkiruka listened to Zaki's brief explanation of its architecture with some legitimately vested interest. She stared up at the hidden sky for a moment, then returned her attention to Zaki once she explained the menu. Nkiruka's face turned from friendly, to guardedly confused, to amused and chuckling. Zaki explained that it was "better than she thought, okay?" which only provoked more soft laughter from the soldier. Once she got a hold of herself, she picked up the menu and actually gave it a good look. "Wow. They still get some nice cuts this far north." Steak was a little hard to come by in Istan -- especially the rural areas far from the Great River -- since cattle had so many water and dietary needs. Nkiruka named a fairly quality cut from the menu with a few of those "sweet pods" Zaki mentioned on the side. The smartly dressed dwarf waddled off and left the pair on their own. Zaki asked her how her job was going. She'd heard that soldiers in the Army Rangers regiment had a bit more freedom than other divisions. "Yeah, I suppose. I'm still on a tight schedule, though. Certain places I have to be at certain dates." She wasn't sure if she should go into more detail than that, having never really talked this much about herself before. "Sometimes I feel more like a regional guardsman than a soldier, though. Not much happens, and when it does, it just blows up. Doesn't help that the rural areas are terrified of the Sultan and I don't help with that view at all." An uncomfortable memory tugged at the edge of her mind. Her face became serious again as she recalled a pair of young children throwing rocks at her as she passed through a former Ishali village. Funny how Nkiruka now belonged to the governmental power that caused the cultural destruction of her own tribe and many others -- she should be as angry as those kids, but she honestly didn't care anymore. "But I like my work." She recovered, smiling a little. "I've taken on two students, one of which is going to become a commissioned officer and outrank me." Thinking about the tiny Serelle in an oversized, barely-fitting lieutenant's uniform and jackboots further returned Nkiruka's mood back to something positive. Nkiruka shared a few funny stories she had on the job and otherwise conversed with Zaki until they received their food. The steak, of course, was amazing. Nkiruka hesitantly sniffed the sweet pods, bit into one, and deemed it passable as a food source. It was better than rations, at least. When they were ready, they left the restaurant. The absolute vastness of Axerise made it easy to kill time until night came. Nkiruka and Zaki found themselves sitting on the precipice of a cliff overlooking the city, watching the dwarves go through and light the lanterns at dusk. One-by-one, Axerise became filled with tiny lights, almost like a complex array of stars below-ground. Nkiruka absentmindedly moved her hand back to rest over her knee when Zaki accidentally bumped her hand into it. "It's beautiful," the soldier stated as though it was an objective fact. Even though she was in a good mood, she still preferred to issue her compliments that way, avoiding the fluffiness of something more emotional. |
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| Zaki | Fri Nov 4, 2011 3:17 am Post #12 |
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The joke managed to loosen Nkiruka up a little more. It was nice seeing the woman interacting in such a non-serious manner. Their steak came and she complimented it, pointing out the niceness of the cut. "The dwarves have a large number of cattle underground. There's some sort of mushroom they like to eat." Zaki explained. She had seen the subterranean cattle before, crossing a cavern as vast as a city. Their vocalizations echoed several times in the space, making the sound some what oppressive. Nkiruka explained her job as a ranger, which seemed to bring back a few painful memories. But the army always did in a region like Istan. "Students? Good! I took on a student recently, right after I finished some training of my own." Zaki said. They left after finishing their meal, wandering the city further until Zaki brought the woman to the opposite side of Axerise from her house. Little by little all the lights were lit, like stars appearing in the sky. Zaki's hand collided with her's as they shifted positions, and she giggled. "Tis fine! Now that you've seen everything light up, there's one little thing we should do." Zaki suggested. She stood quickly, with the stars and Axerise's lanterns behind her. "Eat festival food!" Zaki finished. She lead Nkiruka back down the mountain to the main street of Axerise, wandering amongst the little stands selling all sorts of things. They reached a little stand with a familiar fire whisp operating a grill with the help of a sleepy-looking crystalline drake. Above the grill were roasting meats and vegetables on spits, lathered with spices and herbs. A pile of coppers sat behind Naya. "Welcome, ladies!" She said. Zaki took two spits off, handing one to Nkiruka. Naya kicked the coin pile expectantly. Zaki leaned close to the tiny woman and released a sharp exhale. Her fire-hair billowed backwards. "Naya, those are my ingredients. Why would I pay myself?" Zaki inquired. She stood up straight and took a big bite into the grilled onion on the stake. "Come on, Nki, there's plenty more to see. There's a fancy lantern competition out on the square, for example! There were some fancy lanterns last year." Zaki explained. |
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| Nkiruka | Tue Nov 8, 2011 4:35 pm Post #13 |
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Nkiruka stood partially behind Zaki at the kebab stand and waved almost apologetically at the fire imp. "Hello, Naya." She accepted one of the spits from Zaki and started biting off pieces of meat and grilled vegetables. Based on how crowded it was around the stand, the dwarves and other residents of the Deep Cities enjoyed the undoubtedly Istani cooking. They continued wandering around, sampling some of the local cuisine -- grilled meat, grilled mushrooms, grilled mushrooms stuffed in grilled meat -- and more exotic things like "Tarasian Salamander on a Stick." After some more wandering they came upon the section for local artists to present and sell their work. The dwarves were amazing craftsmen, especially of stone and metal. Nkiruka disappeared for a few minutes and returned to Zaki with a bounce in her step and an idiot grin on her face. She held up a silver necklace: the pendant was intricately crafted, depicting a falcon with its wings and talons curled around a tiny orange gemstone. "It's you!" she snickered. "I had to escape for a second so you wouldn't pay for it yourself." Thankfully the Deep Cities accepted the extra Tarasian crowns she had on her from her trip through Striberg. Nearly twirling around Zaki so she was behind her, Nkiruka pushed the monk's hair aside and clasped the chain around her neck. Then the soldier returned to her side, arms straight with hands folded together behind her back. "You should wear jewelry more often. It suits you." Before she would start outright skipping through the festival, Nkiruka was amused to realize that her behavior was emulating one of her students, Rin Dromigg. She laughed inwardly and restrained herself from such an action. Normally it would have been a cold day in hell that Nkiruka, of all people, would be nearly as bubbly as the infinite-ball-of-energy Rin, but she was honestly enjoying being around her friend. Zaki seemed to be happy that Nki was happy, too, potentially creating a vicious cycle of accumulating cheerfulness. Nkiruka's musing on this subject made her fail to realize that they had reached the city square and the lantern contest results were about to be presented. Edited by Nkiruka, Tue Nov 8, 2011 4:38 pm.
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| Zaki | Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:59 pm Post #14 |
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The pair wandered through the festival, selecting the choicest bits. They came across the arts and crafts section, where Zaki received more attention than she wanted. "Where did you get that lovely bit of jewelry on your face?" A stately looking elven woman asked her. Zaki self consciously put her hand on her face, covering up the pair of golden trails burnt into her. "It isn't jewelry, miss. Its a wound." Zaki explained. The woman recoiled and left but several of the onlookers stayed, asking precisely how she would receive such a wound. It took a good minute of deflection before Zaki evaded her pursuers, pulling her scarf up to cover her face. She trotted a little farther, delving into the clothes and silks section. She picked out a few garments, quickly paying with a few coppers. She rushed back to where she and Nkiruka had been, and ended up nearly bumping into the woman. The woman handed her a kestrel necklace. The bird in question was a Mountain Kestrel, a small raptor native to Axerise Valley. She had seen a few of the birds, white with black flecks on the wings. The wing and tail tips were covered fully black. One of the bird's more iconic features was a pair of white and black striped feathers rising from the head that resembled ears. It was a precious little bird. Zaki beamed and put the necklace on immediately, altering her garb so she could show it off a little better. She handed Nkiruka a set of colorful scarves, each depicting different environments in different seasons. "I thought you'd like some colorful scarves, since I see you wearing tons. All of em' are Hosker silk, too!" Zaki explained with a warm smile. |
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| Nkiruka | Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:19 pm Post #15 |
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Zaki had managed to escape from a small group of people, Nkiruka realized after a glance. She flicked her gaze back to her friend, trying to read her reaction to the gift. Zaki seemed oddly enamored of the bird; she looked over the pendant, beaming, before she wore it. The veteran even adjusted the piece of jewelry so it was more prominent on her clothing. Nkiruka smiled dumbly, filled with pride in her apparent aptitude in picking out gifts. She was so distracted by her success that Zaki's own gift came as an honest surprise. The woman held out a bundled set of beautiful scarves, which drew Nkiruka's attention instantly. At first she didn't even realize they were a gift to her -- that thought hadn't even crossed her mind -- so she assumed instead that Zaki was just showing her some new ones she bought. It took the veteran's explanation to make it all dawn on her. "...Oh!" Nkiruka accepted them quickly once she knew, taking them in her hands to look at them more closely. "Wow." The embroidery was superb, creating designs that were both classy and visually appealing. She stared back at Zaki with a mixture of surprise and confusion. She wasted no time slipping off her plain white scarf and letting it crumple to the ground. Nkiruka replaced it with the most winter-themed of the set: a scarf of light blues and whites forming elaborate designs along the edges and ends. The material felt as though it could keep her warm in the northern regions and cool in the heat of Istan, and she couldn't stop running her fingers over it and staring down at the designs even as they continued toward the square, where the lantern contest was being held. Gift-giving was an important custom in many Istani cultures, helping cement bonds between people and families. They were also used to convey a message such as a thank-you, or contribute to repaying a debt of some sort. In that vein, Nkiruka's mind swam with possible explanations for the sudden, mutually unprovoked exchange. She eventually gave up on the thought and assumed she was trying to force something meaningless into her unchanging conceptions of certain customs. Or, more simply, she was just overreacting to a small kindness. Nkiruka let the scarf's end fall from her hands. "I saw you talking to some people back there, and then you pulled your scarf up over your face. Were they insulting you?" she asked while they walked. Her tone of voice remained soft, although her words threatened to elevate it into something more defensive. She reached up and, in a quick and simple action, pushed Zaki's scarf back down to the base of her neck. "It's not very often that someone survives getting molten gold poured on them. Be proud." Of course, Nkiruka herself had been in the same fight, and she had also had the molten gold blood of their enemy dripped onto the front of her thigh. Unlike Zaki, though, it took a few days of healing to repair the burned skin and damaged muscle beneath, and the coin-sized droplet had now replaced her skin in that area. It was a little malleable from her body heat, but still rather hard compared to the rest of her skin. Zaki's abilities with fire and heat allowed her to integrate the gold perfectly into her skin, so it wouldn't prevent her from making certain facial expressions. On her, the two lines of pure gold across her cheek fit well. |
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5:46 PM May 22
