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| Call and Answer; [P] Ikenna | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:09 am (1,310 Views) | |
| Ikenna | Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:30 am Post #16 |
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Ikenna came back from his life as a statue when Ari pulled him in for a quick kiss. After that he eased, his temperature raised slightly, and a passing thought made him wonder if the other Matandras felt such a way as he did when their interests met the eccentricity of the family. Perhaps Uzoma did not, but that was a rather unique circumstance. Alem nodded and simply said, "After the intersection facing the entry, first door on your left." "That's my home." Adamor said, looking to the patriarch. "Yes, and Sethunya makes sure it is well-maintained." The elder stated matter-of-factly, turning and returning into the complex through the hole in the wall. "I'm the one who keeps it clean!" Adamor exclaimed, following after the old man. "Yes, and we know your love makes sure it is well-maintained." Alem chuckled, "Besides, Uzoma broke the sparring room. Just be happy that those things that Ari summoned did not go through your home." Adamor stopped, not sure how to react to that statement. Disarmed yet again by the old man's wit, it wasn't until Ikenna began following as well that the man saw fit to try his hand at improving his own mood. "Shame for you she did not want the privacy." He said quietly into Ikenna's ear, though he did not get the reaction he wished for. "Shame for you when we track mess into Sethunya's home from the aftermath of the battle." The young scorpion-tailed arakureb said without missing a beat, then added, "More shame for you if she learns she missed meeting Ari." Adamor found himself frozen at the thought, only returning to moving when the twins began pushing him back down the path to their home. The present family was gathered in Adamor and Sethunya's living room, which compared to the rest of the Matanda Complex would seem like entering another world. The inside was well-kept, decorated more like a very small noble's home with bright colors. No unwanted light seeped in through the walls, the furniture was unarguably the most comfortable in the complex, and Amador was slightly worried as his blue eyes darted from each dusty footprint in the nice floor to the next. Alem was sitting on a couch, Ochieng standing proudly behind him to one side and Uzoma standing extremely relaxed to the other. Dura stood against the wall on Ochieng's side, Adamor on Uzoma's, and Ikenna sat in a lounge chair with his tail draped over an arm, and the twins behind him fidgeting a little too much to be happy standing. There was no formal requirements for a family meeting, nobody was about to fault him for choosing comfort as opposed to standing. When Ari was finished speaking, each member of the family exchanged glances before settling their sights to the Patriarch, all having a suspicious feeling that they knew about what he was going to say. "Ari, what you faced just now was Uzoma without her equipment. She has in her possession a full set of enchanted adamantine armor which has the ability to increase her strength and speed exponentially, as well as protecting her mind from psychic and gaseous attacks. I believe that she alone could be used to target all of your enemies' leaders, the different incarnations, and set those factions to disarray with little, if any, trouble. She is Fourth in our family in terms of combative ability. I will say that there are many Matandras in this family, it is quite a large one, most of whom are very practiced fighters, casters, and such, so such a position in our family is far from easy to reach. In truth, you may have the skill to defeat a good many Matandras." His words were calm as he began to explain their position on the matters at hand, "I will order none of them to Nalai, and will explicitly order any who could so easily turn the tide of battle as Uzoma to stay away from it. I say this not out of any intended malice, but through an observation. From what you have said, it sounds as if your home has reached a critical point in its history that will not soon be forgotten. What you need are not Istani Heroes or Legends to be wedged into the history of your people and quickly save the day, but those whose names have yet to be uttered on their own, whose stories are as of yet untold to help your chosen side achieve victory through scars. There are Matandras of such a place in their life, who yearn for more to their stories, but as I said I will not order them to go. The choice is yours to who you will take, but many Matandras are adventurers, as such there are few outside of this room and inside of Istan City, and one of those very Matandras is ranked." He paused, feeling the weight of his words upon his shoulders. It was through mere fate that he was patriarch of this family, rather than the children of his siblings, and perhaps bad luck he was still alive to be put in such a position. Something had to be done to lessen the weight. "As for having a request for arakureb, I would like you to inform that leader that to ask for such a thing is stereotypical. While the arakureb may have been known as fearsome monsters simply for being born, the closest one to resemble their kind in centuries is Ikenna, and we have no idea how that is even possible." His tone became a bit lighter as he spoke, a bit of education, "Many arakureb are actually simple workers with no desire to put their lives on the line. The Matandra family is just crazy on its own." The words of the patriarch were spoken, carefully analyzed by the family, and the twins exchanged glances and gave big smiles to one another. They did little hops then looked to Amador with pleading eyes. The one-eyed man recoiled from their expressions before sighing and turning to face Ari. "Ari, my name is Amador, I'm the father of Larato and Sanaa. While I would normally accompany you, I'm ranked Fifth in this family, as such I'm not allowed to join your battle." He said, his words holding a bit of regret to them, but he continued, "However, my daughters would like to accompany you to Nalai should you allow it. They'e natural disciples of the moons, good with gravity and lunar fire, and they fairly skilled spellblades with quite a selection of weapons at their disposal. They've also proven effective at dealing with some problems in villages throughout Istan, including one situation involving bandits. Should you agree to take them, I am certain they would not disappoint you." "My name is Dura Matandra, I am unranked in this family, trained in healing both magically and non-magically for a variety of different species both humanoid and not." The green orcish lady said next, her words a bit more proud than Adamor's, "What I used to heal you was the least of my abilities, honed on this family. While I may not be as skilled in fighting as any of them, I would like to help those injured in battle where I can." Ochieng turned his attention sharply to the orc and shouted, "If you leave, who is going to fix us when we hit each other?!" "That is not my problem." Dura responded without any apparent consideration for his concerns, "You fools somehow managed to survive long enough before I showed up. I am sure it will just be a good return to form for you lot." Ochieng looked to his father, arms wide as he gave a speechless request for resolution to the matter of their healer. "Do not look at me." Alem said, moving away from his son just a bit, "I specifically said that I would not send those who could critically turn the tide of battle. I will not amend my words just to include the healer who would pick the Nalaian warriors back up. She wishes to go, she may go." Dura took on a smug, victorious expression as she crossed her arms. "Should it be said?" Uzoma had a small grin on her face as she looked to her son, a proud look, "Ikenna has no legend of his own, and his ability with fire outclasses the sisters, as well as his ability to defend so long as he is not distracted." "Should it be said?" Ikenna responded and quickly stood to his feet, no nerves to taint his words, no worries about what had been said showing, "It would take a coma or death to keep me from Nalai after hearing this. I cannot sit by knowing that Ari is to return to such a place in such a time, and since I will not stop her, I will go with her." |
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| Ari | Fri Feb 20, 2015 2:29 pm Post #17 |
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Ari inclined her head. "You are very wise, Patriarch Alem." She dearly hoped that Melati would understand his reasoning. The Royal Butcher incarnation was respectful of the Nalaian legend, but recent events had changed her. The bloody shrike was reaching the end of her rope. The twins and Dura stepped forward to offer their services, and Ari met them with an approving nod and a Nalaian salute. But then the conversation turned, perhaps inevitably, to Ikenna. Ari took a slow, deep breath. She was staring at the ground, not at her partner. Her eyes went wider than usual and glazed over. As Ikenna and Alem had their spot of banter on the subject, Ari lost awareness of the world. She was too overwhelmed by the jagged images in her head and the memories of smell, touch and taste from a time before she was born. "<No>," she said all of a sudden in the Shokanalai language, interrupting Ikenna's last few words. "<I refuse to let that happen again.>" The words were a compulsion, automatic. Ari didn't even make eye contact with anyone as she said them. An instant later snapped out of whatever stupor she was in. She shook her head and looked around. People's eyes were on her. The Nalaian bit her tongue to avoid admitting she didn't remember what she just said. "I-- Ikenna wants to join us? With Dura's healing, I will-- I will allow it. Alem, your family members will return... as heroes..." Sweat beaded at the edge of Ari's hairline. Her face seemed paler, and her hands trembled almost imperceptibly. One of the many drawbacks of being an incarnation was having moments of severe, almost crippling deja vu. This felt familiar, too familiar. She felt like she had spoken those exact words sometime before, in some point in the past. "I thank you all for granting me this audience and allowing me to bring Matandras to the battlefield. However it seems that I am not feeling well. If you have nothing more to bring up, I would very much prefer to retire with Ikenna for the afternoon." She gave a brief bow. |
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| Ikenna | Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:06 pm Post #18 |
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The Matandras stopped and looked at Ari with surprise when she spoke. Her words were intense, a heavy air filled the room, and she seemed to be suffering a sort of trance. None were sure what to do in that moment, but luckily it did not last long. Ari returned to somewhat normal, though Ikenna was surprised to hear worry in her words when she spoke Imythessian Common, when she spoke of Ikenna's joining, whereas the other three she seemed to approve of easily. "No matter the outcome, they will return. I just hope to see you among them, Bethari." Alem said with a warm smile and gestured toward the door, "When you two are ready, so will the rest be. For now you may have privacy." After that Ike would lead Ari down the hall of the main corridor and to his home, to his room. The room was spartan, with a hammock for a bed made from a sheet, with books and scrolls scattered around the wooden floor. There were no windows, but with a quick spell he lit a torch on the wall which the flame of glowed white, keeping the room illuminated very well even after the door was shut. Once they were alone, Ikenna did not kiss Ari but instead wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close in an embrace. "I have no idea what you said in there, but I think I can guess at what it was, what might be going through your mind." He said softly, "I assume what happened in there was a memory overtaking you, something terrible from one of those previous lives your soul comes from. I have never seen such worry on your face, and it makes me worry for you. Do not fear for me as that person might, Ari, for you are stronger than that and I have too much to live for to die any day soon. Dura or not, your permission or not, I would not be able to sit by idly as you go home to such things, even if I had to arrive under false name and disguise like a story character. Air your worries, tell me what fears plague your mind that so I might try to help as best I can, for I cannot stand to know you worry." |
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| Ari | Sun Feb 22, 2015 3:39 pm Post #19 |
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Ikenna's room was a fitting reflection of his personality. Ari was taking in her surroundings when Ikenna embraced her, expressing his concern and asking her what the matter was. The Nalaian stopped staring blankly forward and did her best to return the kind gesture. "Yes. You're right. You're the one in control of your fate. Though I can't help but wonder what might have happened if I hadn't been sent here..." She did something that didn't follow from her words: started to press a bit harder against Ikenna. Stepped into his stance and used her leverage to ease them both toward the nearest wall of his room. Once she maneuvered her partner close enough, she took her hands off him and instead placed one against the wall near the side of his head. Her other hand moved to Ikenna, fingertips caressing his jawline before pushing his chin up. She only let her lips brush his before pulling back a bit. Ari made a quiet sound almost like a chuckle. She was smiling, but when combined with the look in her eyes it only managed to convey a mixture of sadness and exhaustion. "Ikenna, I'm allowing myself to be manipulated." Ari kissed him briefly. "You will find soon enough that everything you admire about me is not, or is no longer, true. I am a pawn in other people's games. I am irrational, impulsive, and most importantly: powerless. I literally can't imagine what will happen to us when I bring you to Nalai. All I have are old memories to go on--" The warrior suddenly tensed up. She buried her face in the space between Ikenna's neck and shoulder as her hands slid down to rest on the arakureb's chest. Ari's hands balled into fists but remained on his chest as she withstood another surge of memories. Clifftop graves, rocky shores, thousands of no-dachis buried in the ground, people in veils. This time it was mercifully brief. "The worst part is," she breathed, "I can't bring myself to regret choosing to come here. I chose seeing you over keeping you safe. I'm selfish." Ari suddenly, and with force, pushed Ikenna into the wall. Her fingers insistently, almost frantically worked at the straps keeping his breastpiece fastened to him. She kissed him hard to distract him from the water collecting in her eyes. "Ikenna I -- almost died today -- and me or you could die at any moment in Nalai--" she gave a manic, excited giggle, showing teeth between kisses. Had Ari stopped and considered how she was acting, she would have known right away how odd the mixture of emotions, actions and body language was. "I am acutely aware of how important it is to make the most of moments like these, just us alone, safe--" |
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| Ikenna | Sun Feb 22, 2015 5:00 pm Post #20 |
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Sad, yet smiling. Forcing herself to, or losing herself to the absurdity of everything going on, Ikenna couldn't tell. Whatever she suffered, whether it be from the haunting memories of the dead or from something that she was not telling him, to see Ari in such a state was gut-wrenching and heart-breaking. There was no joy in Ari's actions, and there was no burning passion for physical endeavors, just a cold feeling that erupted into a fiery rage for Ari's sake when she spoke of these sorts of moments. Just because they were alone made no difference. "Safe? Look at me, Ari, and hear me clearly. We are not safe!" Ikenna exclaimed, though not quite shouting, he grabbed Ari by the forearms to try and get her under control for it did not seem like she was about to do so, herself, to stop her from indulging in actions that seemed based on fear. With her arms in his hands Ikenna would make sure that she looked into his bright, glowing orange eyes, "Do you not see? Do you not know? We will never be safe so long as we are alive, Ari. To fear danger when it presents itself is only natural, but we cannot let it consume us, because as long as we draw breath, so long as our hearts beat, and so long as our souls remain, we are in danger of simply ceasing to exist every moment of every day because there is no telling what horrors this cruel world will throw at us each day. True it is that we should make most of the moments of calm, they should not be wasted regretting things that have not happened yet. You did something few in this world can, you survived my mother's punch when she stopped holding back. As long as I draw breath, as long as my heart beats, and as long as my soul is strong, I refuse to accept you are powerless, Ari. I refuse to accept you are anything less than strong." "It was not selfish for you to come here, Ari." He continued, releasing her arms but only to grab her by the shoulders, "Selfish would have been to go anywhere other than here. Selfish would have been to not tell me what was happening, to follow through with that thought that I could die and think not telling me for the sake of my protection was the right choice. Selfish would have been dying and leaving me to wonder whatever happened to you. If you had not come, I would have sought answers to your whereabouts, I would have learned of Nalai's strife, I am sure of it, and I would have still come to your side, and hopefully not too late! "And to say you are powerless? If you were truly powerless, you would not have come here, you would not have sought the help of the Matandras over all others, and you would not have sought me. In the darkness, where others would have stayed blind, you found the ember of your hope, that small bit of light that grows brighter to remind you what is right in front of you, and you chose to use it. That is true power, Ari. It is not irrational, it is not impulsive, and it is certainly not the action of a pawn in somebody's twisted game. "You say you cannot imagine what will happen when we go to Nalai? Let me imagine for you, Ari. I will not die. You will not die. My cousins will not die. Dura will not die. We. Will. Not. Die! We will live, we will emerge victorious, and your legend will be sung for centuries as Nalai's greatest hero in all aspects. When we reunite Nalai, those who would dare ever to make you doubt yourself will quake with fear. You say you are being manipulated which means you have the weakness of the one manipulating you in your hands. With your power, with your strength, Ari, you can be free of it, I know you can. You cannot let anybody ever tell you otherwise." He stopped a moment, breathing heavy. He had gotten a bit carried away, a bit intense. Ikenna would let go of Ari's shoulders, his voice lowering and the light in his eyes dimming, "No matter what happens, Ari, promise me that you will not ever think to regret it, that you came here, do not ever think yourself powerless, and do not ever think to face the darkness alone." |
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| Ari | Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:34 pm Post #21 |
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The odd, manic qualities on Ari's face toned down, replaced with her usual stare -- if a bit watery-eyed. Her hands fell to her sides. She backed off to a reasonable speaking distance with Ikenna, a little bit less than an arm's length, letting the arakureb put his hands on her arms and shoulders. And then she listened. While the Nalaian was rather quiet, opting to say as little as possible, Ikenna was the opposite. He was an infamous chatterbox. In her experience, people interacting with him usually tried to stop him early or stopped listening altogether. Ari did neither, and found that he was one of the most well-spoken people she knew. He could weave sentences like a master orator, in her mind. As Ikenna went from concern to reassuring to tough love to a request for a promise, Ari kept her eyes locked on him as if the words had put her in a trance. She didn't realize she was blushing. "I promise," she said. After taking a deep breath, she put on a more resolute, straightforward facial expression. Emotionally drained, she moved over to Ikenna's hammock and sat sideways on it, slouching so her elbow was propped over her knee. She patted the space next to her for her partner to join her. Ari slipped her weapons off of her and let them clatter to the floor. Took out her hair-ties and pins to let the wavy black locks hit her shoulders and curl around her collarbone and chest; ran her fingers through her hair and breathed. "You're right. I will remain cautious in my own way, though." After slipping off her sandals, she flopped onto the hammock and pulled Ikenna along as she did. Letting an exhausted sigh escape her lips, she cuddled up close to the arakureb. Her eyes closed. The warmth coming off his body was nice. "Sorry about-- about what happened just now. I keep messing up." Ari cleared her throat, expressing the closest thing to embarrassment she was capable of. "...I know my reaction was not one a normal person would have. The rush after a good fight, after almost dying, and then the panic and knowledge of the future shouldn't-- it shouldn't create a reaction like... that. Dammit." |
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| Ikenna | Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:15 pm Post #22 |
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Ari's expression was better, at least not torn between emotions so clearly. To get her promise was good enough for now. For now she was calm, though still she seemed a bit uncomfortable. Ikenna let a quiet sigh out when she turned her back to him. He wanted to turn whoever made her feel so bad to naught but a smoldering pile of ash. Ike joined Ari on his hammock, which had originally been created through a simple idea he had. In most of the Ikenna Complex's bedrooms, there were no beds, merely tough pallets on the floor. At some point Ike had come up with the idea of nailing his sheet to a couple points in the wall so he could sleep with a bit more comfort. When his parents found out, they laughed with pride to see their son suspended in air. Now he wondered if his father ever considered that one day his son would be sharing that same hammock with a beautiful woman in a peaceful time before an ugly adventure. Ikenna wrapped his arms around Ari as they flopped over onto the suspended sheet and closed his eyes, simply enjoying having her in his arms. It felt like he could keep her safe like this. With his eyes shut, he forgot for a moment of the steel-plated scorpion tail which wrapped lightly around Ari, though leaving her to bear none of its weight. "It is alright, Ari." Ike said quietly, nuzzling her softly, "We all reach moments in our lives that test us, that try to break us, that make us act out of character. So long as we remember who we truly are in the end, all is well. As I said before, I am afraid there is no longer anything left in this world which can be rightly called normal. Whatever normal is, I do not think you are it, Ari. Whatever normal is, you are far more wonderful than whatever it could possibly be." What an exhausting day it had been so far, but that moment was peaceful. That moment felt right, cuddled up with Ari. The Matandra Compound was quiet, in no small part thanks to the effort of the Matandras to fight their instincts to be loud and boisterous. Even the twins who were so excited for adventure quieted their glee and impatience. The war could wait for Ari and Ikenna, surely. Edited by Ikenna, Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:22 pm.
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| Ari | Sun Feb 22, 2015 8:35 pm Post #23 |
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Ari was the type of person who could nap anywhere at any time. When she awoke, it was dusk. Very gently she climbed out of the hammock and moved through the assortment of objects scattered around the floor. She occasionally crouched down to read the pages the book were flipped to. Soon enough she was sitting cross-legged on the floor, doing maintenance on her weapons. If Ikenna woke up, she would ask him about dinner. For now, she was utterly content. The calm before the storm, Agorst said. The farewell was warm, friendly. Ari tried not to admit any attachment to the Matandra family. They had already practically adopted her ever since the fight. Being around them made her feel like she belonged somewhere. The Nalaian incarnation gave her flagpole one last resounding pound against the ground, and declared that they would return. With that, she turned her back and walked. The five of them made it to ground level, exited the slums, and entered Istan City proper. On one of the smaller airship towers on the periphery, soldiers recognized Ari and stepped aside to allow her and her party inside. There, Nalaian agents wearing scarves to obscure their faces converged on Ari's flanks to harry her with news and pile her arms with reports. The rapid-fire mixture of Shokanalai and Common continued all the way up the spiral staircase, to the airship platform. There, a corvette with the old flag of Nalai emblazoned on the fins was ready to board. Even more guards were positioned there, though they were all dressed more like spies than anything. They stepped aside to let Ari and the Matandras pass, falling into kneels that were similar to the one Ari had done for Uzoma. Some let their eyes linger on the arakureb and orc, but no one spoke up. The Captain approached Ari and bowed. "Nice to see you made it through the slums unharmed, Painted Mantis. We will bring you to the House of Thorns in just a few hours' time." "Thank you." Ari spoke very little during the trip. Mostly leaned over the rail, watching the sea pass underneath them. A flock of airship-skimmers flanked the craft, looking for scraps, their scales sparkling in this nice sunny day. She remained buried in her thoughts until the Great Black Eye appeared. Having been raised from the ocean floor, Nalai was an archipelago of an unnatural design. It was a cluster of three main islands ringed by hundreds of much smaller islands. At the very center of the archipelago was the Great Black Eye, a perfectly spherical hole in the ocean floor that was a mile in diameter and was said to extend all the way down to the world of the Ocean Demon King, one of the three gods in Nalaian mythology. Ari pulled the Matandras close and gave them a quick lesson on Nalaian geography. The larger island over there was called Nal'a, hence the name Nalai; the northern island was Kyokal'a; and the southern island was Aketal'a, where they were headed. Nal'a was where the bloodiest, most destructive fighting in the civil war was -- because that was where Nalai's throne, capital city, and largest cities were. "Right now, the Royal Guard -- our faction -- is too weak to even set foot on Nal'a's shores. We have agents everywhere, yes, but that is very different from landing an army on the soil of enemies so monstrously powerful. Worse yet, classic incarnations who travel to Nal'a have gone missing. We have evidence to believe King Etana is capturing, possibly killing them. Etana, the current holder of the throne, is only one of many factions. She is the current incarnation of the Stone Knight, an ancient being. The Stone Knight is the hero of one of our epic poems called the Akasamand. I also feature in the Akasamand, but only as a monster to be torn apart by the Stone Knight." She said that last bit with no small measure of bitterness, as if she was recalling something that happened two weeks ago instead of centuries in the past. The airship decreased altitude quickly, setting them down toward the gorgeous mountains and rolling hills covered in dense jungles and tropical rainforests. The coast of Aketal'a was filled with magnificent jutting rock formations and dramatic cliffs. From this high up, it looked like a paradise. Then Ari started to notice the thin haze of smoke above Nal'a and northern Aketal'a. She also caught glimpses of plumes of smoke, huge bare patches of forest, and black scars where she could've sworn there used to be villages. By the time she took all this in, they were descending below the treeline into an open field in the midst of a war camp. The House of Thorns was not actually a house, but a reclaimed ancient outpost that quickly spread into a semi-permanent military settlement. The House proper was actually a stone fort near the southeastern coast of Aketal'a. Ari remembered strolling through that fort as a man named Kamon over a century ago, scaring the male initiates and making passes at the female ones -- all while they were just trying to do their job of watching for Istani invaders. Me from 150 years ago was a dick. Now the fort was the headquarters of the Royal Guard, one of the nation-like "factions" in the civil war. And now it was covered in massive thorns made of crystallized blood: the signature defensive capability of the Royal Guard's leader, Melati. As Ari led the Matandras now from the airship to the fort, she eyed the soldiers walking around the camp. "Commander Melati has good intentions, but the war is eroding her spirit away. I do not know how she will respond when I bring you four in with me. Prepare for anything." They reached the fort entrance and were wordlessly granted entrance. Tensed, Ari proceeded through the courtyard and into the war room. Nalaians in lamellar armor and half-capes propped their knuckles on a massive map set on a table in the center of the brightly lit room. Figurines representing platoons, agents, and incarnations were set up all around the table. Based on the fervor of the Shokanalai being launched back and forth between the three or four people at the table, Ari had just walked into a heated argument. Then all eyes turn to her, lingered for only a moment, and went to the people behind her. "I have fulfilled the Commander's request for arakureb and Matandra-Istani. Let me report this news to her," Ari proudly declared. The generals stared at her for a second, then broke into laughter at almost the exact same time. Ari's gut sank, but she stood her ground. Waited for them to stop laughing. It didn't take long. General Rua, the man wearing dreadlocks, was the first to speak. "Lady Mantis, I apologize for our reaction, but-- is this all of them?" "What do you mean? Yes, this is all I brought." "Are you telling us... that you left Nalai for two days so you could recruit four people? One of which is not even arakureb?" General Rua pressed. General Tia looked at Ari like she was insane. "There was an attack last night, Lady Mantis. We're still counting corpses, but let me assure you that there are more than four." "I-- forgive me, I didn't know, but know that these four--" "--Can save more lives than you would have if you had stayed? I truly hope that." Ari sputtered angrily, but was unable to form words. |
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| Ikenna | Mon Feb 23, 2015 9:54 am Post #24 |
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"Hmm, how late is it?" Ikenna pondered as he awoke, happy to see Ari at ease on the floor with her weapons, "Dinner is always warm, here, and Matandras always willing to stay even after they're done for words. The benefit of this family." Chipo, Ochieng's wife, and Sethunya, Amador's, had returned from their works and were ecstatic to get to meet Ari before the party left. Chipo was a shaven-head arakureb with a petite body but wisdom in her golden eyes. Sethunya looked somewhat like her daughters, though with bright pink eyes, well-endowed, and wore more revealing clothing. Chipo spoke of her research with annoyance, for she had learned nothing yet in old texts other than legends told by arakureb to explain Ikenna's transformation. Chipo didn't bother mentioning the damage caused by the spar, it was too commonplace and expected. Sethunya watched Ari with hungry glowing eyes and a flirtatious smile, speaking with suggestive choices of words, insinuating certain things with a sultry, inviting tone, mostly about Ari and Ikenna and anything they might have done while alone, but some words leading to more open-ended concepts. She spoke little of herself, vaguely stating how her work was focused on stress-relief, wanting to know more about the girl that could get Ike flustered. Ikenna explained to Ari how Sethunya was harmless so long as her words were paid little mind. Sethunya wiggled a little and responded with an obviously mock feeling of insult. Most of the family just spoke of their last adventures and of other family members who had the misfortune of being out and about at the time. The farewell was loud and boisterous, disturbing the rest of the Slums and coaxing them from their homes to watch a rare sight, a send-off deserving of such a special kind of raucous from the family. They watched the armored woman leading the Matandras announce that they would all return. Oh, word would truly spread to all other Matandras, calling to their sense of adventure and lust for battle. The Matandras followed Ari, mostly chatting among themselves about the coming battles and stories, a little bit of dread overshadowed by their excitement. The family could feel unfamiliar eyes on them, but thought nothing of it, nothing more than a slight variation on the usual looks they received just walking through the marketplace. Before they boarded the ship, Ikenna stopped Dur and spoke to her of his problem with ships, and how such a thing could not simply be dismissed due to the unique conditions of his transformation. A simple spell that would occasionally need to be recast during the trip was all that he required, one he would desperately need to see about learning when he had the chance, but for the majority of the trip he simple stayed at Ari's side, watching the world go by beneath them. When Ari began to explain what the Matandras were going into, they all listened carefully and quietly, all experienced in taking in knowledge of what to expect going in. The King was a woman, so it sounded, a bit of an odd concept but they did not speak of it, not wishing to seem idiotic for questioning foreign cultures. "You said about how it was strange that you would be different from your previous incarnations, did you not? If you are living histories, then history seems to be changing. The hero becomes the villain and the villain the hero." Ikenna said once Ari was finished, "As the roles change, so will the outcome. Unlike the Akasamand it will be the Painted Mantis who emerges victorious, and who is regarded as a hero for future tales." Looking back at the oncoming islands, once details came into view Ikenna spent less time focusing on the greenery and more on the distant signs of burning. Fire was being used, something Ike would be able to deal with easier than most. If his theories were correct, he would be able to force change to the properties of his own fire to combat a potentially flame-resistant enemy, allowing him to test in combat. At least it might be useful to try and douse flames if bystanders caught in the middle of unwanted conflict had to be saved from it. The younger Matandras took in the scenery wide-eyed after the disembarked from the ship, taking in the greenery from ground level and the wondrous appearance of the crystallized blood-colored defenses. When they got to the war room, Ikenna found himself burning with rage at the laughter of the men at Ari's return with reinforcements. Where Ari found herself at a loss for words, Ikenna Abala'Mahal Matandra certainly did not. "It is to be a pleasure to meet you, I assume. I am Ikenna Abala'Mahala Matandra, "The Spitfire," son of Azubuike Matandra, "Of Glassed Sand," and Uzoma Mataka'Damana Matandra, "Mother Scorchscale." I am heir to the Matandra War Mage Legacy, Legends and Heroes of the Istan Desert. I am the first arakureb in centuries to have grown a tail and utilize it skillfully in combat. Accompanying me are Larato Alav'Sata Matandra and Sanaa Kasa'Vala Matandra, "the Twin Lunar Flames of Lan De Yue and Sarilyn," daughters of Adamor Sivalin Matandra, "The Windswift Blade of Cascadia," and Sethunya Safela'Tarasa Matandra, "Soft Touch." As well as Dura Matandra, "Htogrom's Healing Hand," trained in all forms of healing both magical and non in ways applicable to almost any situation. She may not be arakureb, but she is a Matandra, and rightly so. "I mention all of these the names because they are some of the greatest members of the Matandra family. Dura is unmatched in healing ability, able to repair us damaged Matandras after our sparring sessions and in some cases even end them. Azubuike Matandra was ranked Fourth in our family, and his brother Ekene Matandra, "He Who Shakes the Earth," ranked Sixth before his own death, both before being murdered by the monster known as the Pale Fiend, a monster I am not sure if you have had the horror of knowing the existence of, or the pleasure of remaining blissfully ignorant to just what sort of nightmare it is for the rest of Chaon. Uzoma Matandra then claimed my father's rank. Adamor Sivalin Matandra is ranked Fifth in our family, once Seventh behind my uncle. "They, and others of my family who could easily end this war were disallowed by our Patriarch to come to Nalai during this time of strife for worry that in attempting to save your home from itself, they might accidentally destroy it in the process. Bethari can attest to my mother's power, alone. Word will shortly begin spreading to other Matandra adventurers as they return the Matandra Complex in Istan City, before long those Unranked will come to Nalai and fight on behalf of Royal Guard so long as we, sent at the front, so deem it. We are merely the beginning of a cascade. "On behalf of the Matandra Family, you are welcome for our restraint and our aid. You will notice shortly that your number of dead will reduce, and once we are finished here I am certain that Dura would like nothing more than to see your dead and show you the rarest sort of magic. I understand that these are especially stressful times and you are feeling the pressures of war, but I see no reason that should lead to a lack of civility, and so I must insist you now apologize to Bethari, who you call Lady Mantis, or I shall feel ample need to demonstrate why only four of us were sent. Because she was gone, and because she returned with us four, your war will be won, and those unfortunate enough to remain dead will not have lost their lives in vain." There was no anger to Ikenna's tone, no rage upon his face, simply an intense challenging look with every syllable uttered. Edited by Ikenna, Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:04 am.
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| Ari | Mon Feb 23, 2015 5:02 pm Post #25 |
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The Generals' collective expressive response was boredom and annoyance-- until Ikenna insinuated that Dura was going to resurrect fallen soldiers. Ari didn't look shocked, but the other Nalaians in the room looked anywhere between insulted and horrified. That was the exact point that the displaced Mantis remembered something important about Nalaian culture: resurrection was taboo. As much as Ari tried to interject and the Generals tried to interrupt Ikenna, he pressed what he was saying with a fervor that was typical of, well, Ikenna. The literal moment he stopped speaking, General Rua exclaimed, "For the love of the demon kings, get that necromancer out of our sight!" "Agreed. I will arrange the orc's detainment," General Tia said, moving briskly to the communication runes lined up on the side of the room. "We can still use the three arakureb on the battlefield, but only after an investigation." Ari drew Agorst and pointed the living weapon at the Generals. She had stepped between them and the Matandras quicker than a blink. "Everyone freeze," she murmured. Surprisingly, they did what she asked. "I only give this faction my support because I agree with Melati's goals. I can withdraw support at any time, for any reason. And these four are loyal to me. You do not want us as enemies. So grant us an audience with Melati at once, let her decide on Dura's restrictions, and we will go from there." The two Generals glanced to a third: the tallest one, yet paradoxically the one with the weakest presence. Hakatere, the faction's spymaster, was a slim woman with one grafted eye and a long scar across her throat. She saluted the other generals and began to lead Ari and the Matandras into the back halls. "You were awful quiet," Ari said once the assholes were out of earshot. "I have my reasons," Hakatere said without turning. She stopped at an iron door and moved to open it for them. The spymaster gave the group as a whole a respectful nod as they passed her on their way into Melati's room. Whatever this room was before, it was an antechamber now. Flags of Nalai -- the old design, the real one -- were hung vertically from the walls leading all the way up to a raised area. There, a woman sat at a small wooden throne as she conversed with a man who sat at the front row of chairs. Ari was already proceeding down the center aisle of the empty chairs as Melati finished what she was saying and looked up to her new arrivals. The man stood, turned. His grin and cat's eyes went straight to Ari. He was of average height for a Nalaian, but well-built, with angular facial features and long hair pulled into a low ponytail. For some reason, he was wearing Nalaian formalwear -- surely not because he was meeting with Melati. The Commander herself remained seated, but it was clear how diminutive she was from this distance. She was only five feet even, with brown skin, red eyes and a hooked nose. She wore intricately embroidered cloth draped around brand-new lamellar armor, helmet resting on a rack nearby. "Ari! Glad to see you returned, beautiful as ever," the man said. "Are you well?" "Well enough to speak privately with Melati." Ari reached the front of the room and stood to the side to reveal the four Matandras to the Commander. She side-eyed the man as he enthusiastically shook the hands of all of them. "Well met! My name is Haroun, the incarnation of the Cloud Tiger." He hesitated before shaking Ikenna's hand, giving him a look before taking on his usual grin and giving the arakureb a hand-crushingly strong one. "I thank you all for coming and fighting for us. Do me a favor and protect Ari too, will you? The way she is now, I can't help but remember when we were lovers a couple generations back." The Painted Mantis tensed up beneath her thick armor. "Please leave, Cloud Tiger." "I'm going, don't worry. Best." Melati chuckled as soon as Haroun was gone. "My, my! I won't ask what that was all about." She stood and stepped down to the level of the Matandras. "Hello, Matandras. Thank you so much for coming so far to help us! My name is Melati. Now, I will warn you that I'm a hugger, do you mind?" If allowed, she would hug each and every one of them, including Ari last. "So you brought four. Good, good. More than I expected." "Far less than the Generals expected," Ari quipped. "The Generals forget that I wish to re-install the old monarchy, not create a military meritocracy like Istan City. No offense intended, Matandras." As soon as she got proper introductions and descriptions of each Matandra's abilities, Melati went back to her seat on the throne and propped her hand on her chin thoughtfully. "I'm very sorry, but I can't let you resurrect fallen soldiers under the scrutinizing eye of my subjects, Lady Dura. Resurrection is utmost taboo here, even worse than worshiping incarnations as deities. Ask a local priest and they will say that it violates the order of the universe and prevents souls from reincarnating naturally. But I recognize that this is an extremely valuable ability, one that my enemies likely do not possess. I am in a difficult position. Ari, did you tell them about my incarnation?" "No." "You're no fun. I am the incarnation of the Royal Butcher, the bloodsoaked shrike-bird, patron of the army. Those soldiers who survive a costly, bloody battle are said to have the 'spirit of the Butcher.' What you're doing now, speaking to me, is analogous to speaking to the kite-bird that features on Istan City's coat of arms -- for I am why the national bird of Nalai is the Masked Shrike. This is an awful long way of saying that I, as a living symbol of Nalaian patriotism, am hesitant to allow use of Dura's wonderful ability." |
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| Ikenna | Mon Feb 23, 2015 6:24 pm Post #26 |
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"What kind of inbred, backwater, isolationist islanders. . .?" Dura muttered, casually raising a hand in preparation to defend herself before Ari interjected. The orcish Matandra wasn't about to fight anybody, she was more ready to let them wear themselves out attacking shields made from holy energy. Most of the world to this point had regarded Raise Dead for the difficult-to-master magic that it was, she had thought that a culture which seemed to have Resurrection woven into old souls would have seen a return to the original bodies when available as a gift. Just went to show that whenever Dura tried to think the best of things, it always turned out for the worst, unlike what her Master tried telling her. Only Ikenna's tail moved when the Nalaians reacted negatively, the rest of him appeared as attentive as when he had begun speaking. The twins had each raised a hand, questioning whether or not they should pull their weapons from their pocket dimensions. Ari saved the day by drawing her own weapon first. Those who were ready to strike at mere mention of life-bringing were gone, a woman Ari seemed to know was left behind, and the group was led further through the base. The room they were led to seemed like a large meeting room, but seemed to come with a more relaxed atmosphere than any place of official gathering. There were two people, the leader that Ari spoke a little of as they neared, and another who spoke so comfortably with the leader that Ike just assumed it had to have been another of Nalai's incarnations before the man, Cloud Tiger he introduced himself as, confirmed it. He came off as a bit envious to Ikenna, though, with a firm handshake, which the others were clearly spared of, that he returned with a warm smile. Ikenna was about to tell Cloud Tiger what he had told Ari before, that none of them were ever safe, but Ari spoke up before the war mage got the chance. "Well, he seems nice." Ikenna said with a smile, feeling more comfortable by this point, even with Cloud Tiger's reaction, "Mostly." The Matandras would accept the hugs dolled out, the twins most enthusiastically as they were just so happy to get the chance to be at Nalai, and Dura the most reluctant though she still accepted it. "No offense taken," Ikenna said, "Though more Matandras may be trying to find their way to Nalai in days to come. Adventurers The Matandras introduced themselves, their specializations, their lineage except for Dura. Ikenna's was, as could be expected, the most long-winded and thorough introduction, tracing his line and having an accompanying explanation and apology on behalf of the high-ranked Matandras absence. The orc made an extremely restrained comment inquiring to the reaction of bringing the dead back to life, fully intact. Dura rolled her eyes at the concept of the reincarnation-focused society thought that returning a soul to a fully healed body would somehow ruin the soul. It was rare magic, yes, but even Necromancy wouldn't ruin the soul, merely capture it, and Raise Dead was holy magic, nearly perfect for bringing people back to life, with even rarer exceptions. "Fine." Dura said, though clearly off-put by the idea of letting people just stay dead, "Assuming healing magic isn't also thought to taint the soul, it will save mana for more injured people." "As. . ." Ikenna paused, at a momentary loss of words in reaction to Dura's reaction, "Pleasant as this all is, I cannot help but wonder what we are to do now, Melati?" |
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| Ari | Mon Feb 23, 2015 8:10 pm Post #27 |
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Melati made a conciliatory gesture before pressing all her fingertips together. "We're slaves to our own cultures. Me more than anyone else, perhaps, being the mascot I am. I hope you understand." Coming from Melati, who had up to this point been almost bubbly, those words hinted at deeper, darker frustrations. "Yes, you four are needed to the north. One of the Great Generals of Antiquity, an unnatural incarnation, is cutting his way south with his army. I don't even have enough intel to pinpoint which one he is." Melati shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. "Our numbers are spread thin across this island. We only really have a military foothold in this region of Aketal'a, but our sympathizers are spread out. I just recently lost contact with the town of Setubanda, so set out there first. Your first priority is to gather information and, if necessary, evacuate Royal Guard sympathizers to the settlements around the House of Thorns. If you can conquer Setubanda with just the five of you and local sympathizers, go ahead, but don't push yourself. Our local enemies are fearsome for a faction as weak as ours. ...Ari? You look like you want to say something." The Nalaian snapped to attention. "Setubanda, you said?" "Yes. Is that a problem?" "N-no, I suppose." "Oh! You have family there, don't you? Hill-Lord Sukarno and your grandparents. Don't worry. I'm sure they're fine. Your bloodline isn't eradicated so easily." She chuckled. Ari kept the troubled look on her face, but not for the reason Melati assumed. The Royal Butcher turned to the Matandras. "I would like you all to set out for Setubanda tonight. Traveling by night will be safer for you. In the meantime, please report to the supply officer on the east side of camp to get any gear you might need. After that, Dura, please report to the medical bay to heal the wounded. Larato, Sanaa and Ikenna, find Captain Mila and ask her about cleaning detail. That should keep everyone busy until dusk." "And me?" "Stay with me for a minute longer. Then-- you know what you're doing." Ari's gut sank. She squeezed Ikenna's hand as the Matandras left for their busy work. Several long moments of silence passed in the almost empty antechamber. Melati stood and walked silently down to Ari. "How are you holding out?" "One bloody loss after another. This country unravels by the day, and more and more of my followers become aware of how unfit to be King I am. And now that I have someone who can raise the dead, I can't even use her because of some ridiculous taboo." "Ignore what they say, Melati. Do what you think is right." "Easy for the Painted Mantis to say. You've always done whatever you wanted." "That's a lie and you know it." The Royal Butcher sighed, recollecting herself. "Nothing about this is simple. I have heavy support from the priesthood and elements of other old organizations -- the Guard, the Army and Navy, the scholarly organizations. Their manpower and funding is the only thing keeping my operation going. If I lose that, what do I have? A few classic incarnations I woke from sleep? A few Matandras, none of which are high-ranking? Speaking of which..." Melati got up close, eyes burning, and slapped Ari across the face. Hard. Hard enough for Ari to stumble one step backward. "What the hell?!" "You left at dawn, and you should have been back by dusk -- especially since you didn't even bring arakureb with a name people know. Instead, you took two days, and I have a damn good guess as to why. You need to seriously re-evaluate your priorities, Ari. This country needs to take precedence over everything else. The stakes are too high." There were so many ways Ari knew she could respond. She could ask Melati if she meant "her," not "her country." She could tout the fact that Ari didn't have to follow Melati's orders. She could threaten to go back to how the Painted Mantis acted in the old wars: the Captain-Killer who hunted down and devoured officers on both sides of a conflict. Instead the two words that came out of Ari's mouth were, "I understand." "Good. Because I need you to get out there in your true form and motivate the troops." Deflated, Ari left without a word. Whether it was laundry, cleaning the semi-permanent structures, pit toilets or any other bit of cleaning detail needed, word traveled fast through the war camp in the House of Thorns. "It's the Painted Mantis! In true form!" were words that flowed through the soldiers like a wave. Crowds formed around Ari. She placed her claws upon soldiers and issued them "blessings" that made them move faster for a short time. 'I am nothing but a mascot,' she recalled Melati saying on more than one occasion. 'This has never been about who I am, or even what I am. It's about what I happen to stand for in the minds of these people. Sometimes I don't even feel like I exist, like I'm just a space of nothingness draped with the collective expectations of a thousand strangers.' Among the medical bay, where Dura was working, she spoke with injured soldiers and listened to what they had to say -- about the war, about the country, about the history and legends. That made her feel less like a mascot and more like she was actually helping boost morale, however shallowly it was presented. As the sun moved closer to the horizon, Ari returned to her personal tent and geared up her human form for the traveling to come. Low-ranking soldiers saddled up her trusted horse and four others for the Matandras, then helped her deliver them to the place where the five of them were planning to meet. When it was time for them to gather up and head out, Ari looked deeply unhappy. "So it begins," she murmured to the dark hills hiding a jungle full of dangers and, worse, the town of Setubanda where her family was located. |
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| Ikenna | Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:26 pm Post #28 |
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Setubanda. It seemed like it was Ari's home, for what home a wanderer of the world could have. Her family lived there, but speaking of it did not seem to ease her mind at all. Ikenna wondered a bit if it was embarrassment, worry, disappointment, or something else about her family, but he had nothing to truly go on. She had said before that she was being manipulated, but by who Ikenna could only guess. Perhaps it was her parents? The arakureb did not want to let go of Ari's hand, but apparently he was going to start helping out by cleaning around that place, then cleaning a town later on. Ikenna, Sanaa, and Larato all got to doing menial chores while Dura got to work healing. By getting to work, what Dura really did was channeled a spell with the minimal amount of effort on her part, channeling healing energies into her surroundings. Based on how much mana it was taking to heal the injured, Dura figured she would be able to heal until food was served. It would be a good break to recharge her reserves before getting back to healing. Dura acknowledged Ari's presence as the Pale Mantis warmly, but did not take up the hero's time as she showcased herself like an animal on display at a Lord's house for children. Dura did not say anything to anybody about her opinions on the matter of Ari having to be in that form outside of battle, nor would she. Word was traveling, the healer could tell, and would no doubt be overheard by any of the three arakureb before they left for the night. Indeed it was, and by Ikenna. The form that he saw on the beach, then again at his home, the Painted Mantis, was bringing hope to the people of the Royal Guard. Yet of course those were the same people who spoke questioningly about the arakureb's usefulness. Ikenna didn't mind their doubts, their worth would be proven in time to come, but for that moment he needed to focus on what little bit he had been asked to do. "I solemnly swear to never clean again." Sanaa said on the back of her horse. "Say that again for me, I am still trying to get the smell out of my nose." Larato complained on the back of hers. "I, Larato, solemnly swear to never clean again." Sanaa said with a laugh. Ikenna rode his mount next to Ari, taking in her expression quietly for a moment before his mouth began to run. "Your expression, Ari." He noted aloud, "Not proud, not worried, not angry. Your Painted Mantis form sounded as if it was bringing hope to the people, but it does not seem to make you happy. I heard you visited the wounded where Dura was healing them, should that not make you feel some bit of good? Though, the times I have seen you as the Painted Mantis, first on the beach, then even after your fight with Uzoma, your reactions were different. Though, perhaps that is not it. I would say that perhaps it was just that you are not looking forward to your family, I cannot say for certain, but that seems unlikely since you did not seem to know we were going to Setubanda for a mission, for our first mission. What you said to me, back at the Matandra Complex. You did not worry about the generals who laughed when you pulled your sword. With this war, with your leader, who we left you alone with. She spoke light and happy to begin with, then the weight of her words changed and you were left alone with her. Left alone before becoming the Painted Mantis. Before going from spot to spot in that form, before we left." The mood had changed quickly, even for the twins and their lighthearted complaints about the bit of work they had to do. They knew that bit of Ikenna's mind, the part that worked only when his mouth did. It caused a spot of trouble when he took tests at the Istani Academy of Magic, but always seemed to just chip away at a problem until he found an answer. "Uh oh, Ikenna is doing it again." Larato said quietly to Sanaa. "Wait, what is he talking about?" Sanaa asked. "Politics of War, the reason the Matandra family tends to stay away from wars despite our love of battle." Ikenna explained, "The secrecy, the manipulation, the darkness that engulfs all during such a time. It is often said in written text by those involved that such are the horrors of war, yet cannot be acceptable. Is it normal for her or the bird to act in such a way or is it something new? What did she say? What did she do?" "Melati suggested we take Setubanda. If we could." Ikenna said, those three words sour in his mouth, but it sparked a thought, "We will do just that. The uncivil war goes unwell, what better way to bring true hope to the people than to have a victory pushing against the enemy? At the same time we showcase why Ari brought us here and remind all enemies, in all camps, of all kinds, what the Matandra name means, rank or no. It sounds like manipulation, perhaps a bit it is, but is it not the reason we are here?" "Devious!" Sanaa gasped, "Who knew you were capable?" "Victory through victory." Larato mused. "Ari is our leader, not Melati." Ikenna said, "So, does it sound like a good path?" |
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| Ari | Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:17 am Post #29 |
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Ari kept her eyes forward, even when Ikenna was speaking. She was in the lead, being the only one who could find her way to Setubanda without the use of a map. They were climbing a network of wide switchbacks where the jungle was encroaching on the edges. It was pitch black, and they couldn't even light torches to give away their position. Ari's eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness, and she hoped Dura would be okay as well. At least the three arakureb had night vision. She did not react or respond, merely listened, in the minutes that Ikenna discussed politics and Melati. Her partner asked her what she thought of his plan to secure Setubanda -- not because Melati told them to, but because it was a good thing to do for the country, the war effort, and their image as a five-man special squad. "Yes," was her only answer. This whole situation was a difficult one. Ikenna was right that war corrupted everything it touched, including allies with their good intentions. But Ari continued to follow Melati's orders for a reason. And, of course, there was everything with her parents on top of the Melati-related politics. There's no way she forgot I have family in Setubanda. She remembers everything about every sleeping incarnation she woke up. What's her game this time? Thinking hard? Agorst chimed in all of a sudden, startling Ari so much that it almost showed. The living weapon hadn't spoken in hours upon hours. Shall I lend you a hand in the coming battle? Just say the word, and I will sharpen for you. "Excuse me, I need to speak to my living weapon Agorst. If I ever start talking to no one, that is what I'm doing." She looked down at Agorst as a courtesy to the people looking at her. "With you, there's surely a catch. I may need you for even more difficult battles yet to come." No, there is not a catch. Not quite, at least. I've noticed something, Bethari. Your personality is... developing in a way I find interesting. I want to see more of it. And so, I will sharpen for you on request whenever you give into your true self. Call it a reward structure, if you like. "That doesn't make sense, Agorst. And besides, I've proven fully capable of killing people with you regardless of whether you're sharp or not." You will need me sharp as much as possible in the coming tribulations, I would wager. "I'm not agreeing to any deals with you until I understand what the hell the conditions are." If you say so... His presence quieted in her mind. Ari felt a strong urge, in that moment, to kill something. Anything to vent her frustrations with the fact that everything in her life was turning into a field of eggshells she had to walk upon barefoot. They continued through the darkness. Around an hour to midnight, Ari passed around leaves that, when chewed, made the imbiber more alert and less tired. She herself decided to chew two at once, considering how much she overslept yesterday. Fortunately, there were no enemies. Plenty of wildlife was disturbed when they passed, but no hostiles jumped out at them. "Larato and Sanaa. I confess I haven't yet gotten to know you two better. Tell me something interesting about yourselves, that I might tell you two apart easier." It was a light enough subject matter that Ari didn't have a problem tackling it. |
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| Ikenna | Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:01 am Post #30 |
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Perhaps winning this war would make Melati manipulate Ari less. Rather than forcing her out to parade around as the Painted Mantis, it would be the sight of Ari who inspired the soldiers. That was Ikenna's main hope, anyway. At the very worst he entertained violent thoughts, an unavoidable aspect of being a Matandra around politics. Perhaps the battle to come would help put such urges to rest. "Living Sword?" The twins inquired simultaneously as Ari began speaking to her weapon. "Yes." Ike said simply, then remembered that this truly might be the first time his cousins had a chance to learn about Agorst's existence and lagged behind Ari and Agorst so that he might speak to the twins, "Ah, did I never say? Agorst, an interesting fellow, a sword his whole life. Who knows, if all goes well you may even get to speak with him, if Ari and Agorst so decide." "We do not have any living weapons in our arsenal!" Sanaraa whined a little. "No, such things are rare." Ikenna explained, "I think Agorst may even be unique, but living swords are usually intelligent entities trapped within the confines of the weapon, usually elementals or ethereals such as spirits. Even rarer do they speak. I suggested you take classes at the Academy for a reason." "Yeah, but," Larato paused, "Learning from Adamor was boring enough. He barely uses true magic." "That is why you cannot best me." Ikenna said matter-of-factly, "All brawn, no brain between the two of you." Larato, closest to Ikenna at the time, attempted to kick him from horseback but was out of reach of her cousin. Ike laughed at the failed attempt and trotted a little faster on his horse away from her. A while more passed in relative silence, the arakureb accepted the leaves from Ari, but unfortunately the night was uneventful. Maybe it was just the benefit of an enemy resting after each attack, or the wisdom of beasts not to strike at travelers, but the sisters did not much care for the calm of the night. Ari's question was a welcome distraction for the two. "I am Laratoa." Larato said, and pointed to her missing sleeve. "I am Sanaa." Sanaa said, and pointed to her missing sleeve, opposite of Larato's. "We fall into that category of identical twins that are largely alike." Larato continued, "We came up with the idea for the missing sleeves to make it easier a while ago, in case our differences in equipment would not be enough." "Our differences are not many to think about," Sanaa agreed, "We both like fighting, as any Matandra does. We both like noble clothing, though it has absolutely no combat worth. We both dislike all of the sand, and are considering becoming wanderers or moving to Cascadia, a floating island seems so wonderful." "I prefer dresses while Sanaa prefers skirts. It is not a big difference to most, but to us it is quite a big deal." Larato stated simply, "I like the uniformity, she prefers the ability to mix and match. We both agree on solving problems with violence, though." "I am also more prone to using the blades of our shared arsenal, while Larato prefers the blunt weapons. That is, we are both Spellswords, but we share the same arsenal." Sanaa explained, "Sometimes we will use similar weapons to show off for a stunning finishing move!" "Now, same for you. Tell us more more about yourself." Larato said, "Not, like, that bug stuff. The Painted thing. You can tell us all that later." "Ikenna has been somewhat tight-lipped. Most of what we know of you, not much, we learned from Ochieng who accompanied Ikenna on the journey for the dating thing." Sanaa added. Edited by Ikenna, Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:22 am.
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7:31 PM Jul 11

