|| Stat Page || Updated: Oct/04/17 Experience || 213
Inventory
Weapons Simple Blades || Keen Blades Air lvl1
Items Dye || Nail and Body Paint || Cloak Shaving Kit
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:04 pm
Name: Votzhem [Vot-shem] Race: Alkidike/Ice Hybrid Gender: Male Base Traits:
Harsh Votzhem has not led an easy life. This comes out in his habits – scrimping, saving, and preserving food and resources for an uncertain future even in the relative prosperity of Jahuar – and in his way of thinking, which is occasionally pessimistic and dour. He has little patience for other attitudes, and can often be snappish if he feels that someone is wasting his time, resources, or is otherwise annoying.
Lonely He longs to be a part of the world, and to interact with people, and to have relationships. But, after being reviled for many reasons: his Alkidike blood on one end, his Ice blood on the other, his gender, and his pessimism and defensive nature, Votzhem has never had many friends and retreats from others as a defense mechanism. It has become a self-sustaining cycle of loneliness, betrayal, and defensiveness that is hard to break through.
Sensitive Votzhem, behind the protective wall he builds for himself, is actually an emotionally-attuned young man. His emotions rule him more than logic, and, if given the chance, he is is surprisingly empathetic. He loves not wisely but too well and, to his great dismay, it keeps happening.
Class: Warrior (Dual blade) (Stage 3)
Personality:
Life in Sauti was not easy by virtue of the environment, and life in general is never easy for an Alkidike hybrid raised outside of the jungle. The rarity of his other half, and his great size and odd colors, made his life very difficult as a child, more difficult than even his Alkidike mother, who was considered more of a marvel than anything. He was a freak in a pitiless land, and – though he had two wonderful women to help him - he learned to take care of himself. Along with this, though, has come a grim and pessimistic 'realistic' view of the world, and an attitude that can only be described as 'nippy'. His treatment by the Alkidikes (as a male hybrid) has only reinforced his lack of trust.
He craves acceptance and meaningful relationships, but fears rejection. He often has found the latter, and has had to be careful with whom he interacts with. He is cautious, perhaps overly so, remaining reserved with strangers and acquaintances alike. His vulnerable heart has too often been broken and hurt before, and so he keeps up a guard of attitude and surliness, even though it, counter productively, keeps potential friends away from him.
In general, his lack of trust means he has few friends, and he bares his vulnerable heart only to very specific, special people. His ability to gauge trustworthiness is hopeful rather than rational, and it backfires frequently, letting the wrong people past his defenses. Even despite this he keeps trying, seeking a meaningful connection with somebody amidst the masses.
He had hoped to find a home among the alkidikes, but their lack of acceptance – frustrates him and is morphing into a deep despair that there may be no place for him in this world. He has, thus far, been fighting it, lashing out at his despair and – incidentally - at the world, but only time will tell what he will do when it becomes too much to handle...
Votzhem is a tall man, with a long face much like Ruelash's. His eyes are black and in the alkidike style, and he bears long antennae. His skin tone is primarily ice-tribe blue, fading to green at his hands, feet, and antennae tips.
Crystal placement is unknown or nonexistant, likely on areas he does not reveal, but his markings are the usual teal-green. Marking style is CC.
Clothes are in the Zenan style: warm and furred and covering. They include an overcoat, leggings, and boots. The overcoat is mostly just for sentimental value in the jungle, but he has maintained the hide leggings and boots (though they are thinned somewhat)
They are in the alkidike colors with the traditional alkidike triangle/diamond motif displayed prominently on them to show Votzhem's pride in his heritage.
His hair is short (shoulder blade length), dredded, thick, and mane like. It is a dark blue.
Votzhem was born on the isles, a little blue hybrid baby with very strong lungs (and a unimpressed opinion of the outside world) freed from an orchid-purple lotus. His Alkidike mother, Lakshmi, quickly slipped away with her baby boy.
She carried him over the Tale and up through Sauti, to the town of Iory where her wife, Vennan, waited.
Vennan wept as she saw him, because she knew that she loved the little boy with all her heart, but also that he would never find peace. She was right. The gangly, blue-and green antennaed child did not find happiness in Iory, full as it was with Wind earthlings and the occasional Ice tribesperson like Vennan. He did not fit in there, and they all knew it. He grew up scrappy and strong, and his fists and defensive nature earned him few, if any, friends.
As such, he was close to his mothers, especially Lakshmi. Vennan, though she loved him, became distant, his pain and loneliness among those who should be his peers keenly felt by her. She wondered, often, if it had been a mistake to let Lakshmi go back to her isles to plead for their son, because of the life he would have to face. This distance made it difficult for Votzhem to relate to her, but he managed to do so anyway to an extent, through sheer devotion and love to his mother.
Lakshmi herself understood Vennan's issues and made up the difference in maternal love. As the only person in all of Iory who looked like him (and being a frequent provider of hugs and affection) Votzhem became closest to her. Though she had chosen to live in Sauti, far away from her people and her homeland, Lakshmi was proud of her tribe, and told her son stories of Alkidike warriors and youths.
He became enamored with those stories. From those tales of bravery, he derived a sort of hero worship of the far-away warrior women, and became convinced that they – being of Aisha as well – would accept him as he had never been accepted before. He became obsessed with the idea, yearning for an elusive brand of peace that was not to be found in Iory.
When he came of age, he announced that he was going to Jahuar to join the Alkidikes. Vennan did not want her son to leave: she was certain that the Alkidikes would kill him. Lakshmi smiled and made her wife let him go, knowing that his soul, born of Aisha, needed to return home.
He traveled, alone, down the harsh mountains and through the unforgiving savannah and finally found himself in the hot, tepid murk of the jungle. Tenacious, he made his way through, all the way to Andile.
He was persistent, and eventually managed to gain an audience with a lesser elder. She heard his case, and passed it on, and soon – to his great surprise, he was told that he could be accepted into their tribe – to at least the extent owed to him as a child of Aisha – if he proved his loyalty to them.
His task, though, shocked him: he was to return to his homeland to find a substance called 'metal'. From this, they could craft weapons for the upcoming war. As if it wasn't enough to be essentially sent home, they set him an escort.
It soon became obvious that his escort, a prentice named Kaalnia, was greener (metaphorically) than him. They fought often on their journey, nearly dying as their boat capsized and left them in the cold waters off the coast of the Tale. He ended up saving her life, and so their strange relationship began.
His mothers were surprised and delighted to see him again. Though they suspected Kaalnia was there to kill him, they – with some resistance from Vennan – allowed her to stay with them. Lakshmi helped them find the elusive metal, and he left for Jahuar again with Kaalnia, determined to prove his worth to his tribe.
He arrived, and his success was rewarded with the elders words of proclamation, but it was not as he had thought. His 'sisters' did not accept him with open arms - they rejected him, as the earthlings in his village had, barely tolerating his very existence. He had gained their respect with effort, he became a Blade with effort, but all he truly gained was a small place in their lands.
Attracted to women, he became increasingly frustrated. Because of fear of reprisal by their sisters and his lesser status as a hybrid, he was often turned away, and those Alkidikes who showed an interest in him – either because they were curious about the male gender or were closeted, used him and threw him out, as if he was no more than a practice doll, a test run just to see what men were like, before moving on to other mates or interests.
He wanted more than to be a curiosity or a testing ground: he wanted a mate, a woman he could respect and be respected by... A woman he could love. As this became less and less likely, he started to close himself off to others, retreating behind a wall of surliness that protected his aching, yearning heart. Betrayal and cruelty were rampant: people he opened his heart to in the hope of becoming friends would use him, tease him, or drop him when it became convenient.
He never got used to it. Despite his outward attitude of apathy and strength, every new pain and betrayal hurt as much as the one before. He despaired, wondering if joining this tribe – his tribe – was a mistake, if he was cursed to be alone and miserable. His only friend, Kaalnia, could do nothing to help him except be supportive and listen as he cried to her in secret tears that would never be shown in public.
He felt he would have to face the truth soon: that he was a hybrid, and he was welcome nowhere.
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:43 pm
Positive:
Kaalnia – Alkidike Blade – Votzhem's one main friend, this spunky Alkidike keeps him from falling too deep into despair with her insatiable optimism, energy, and adventurous nature.
Iroia – Leaf Swordsman – A woman he met at the edge of the jungle. Nice enough, maybe they'll meet again...?
Neutral:
Dyakida – Alkidike Artisan – The creator of his swords, Votzhem has an appreciation for the artisan, but wouldn't call her a 'friend'.
Swords: These dual crystal blades, as yet unnamed, were crafted by the Artisan Dyakida and are of decent quality, both strong and sharp. They are a glittering blue color, and very nice.
Coat: A holdover from Zena, the fur-lined tan overcoat is a treasured posession of Votzhem's that he is reluctant to shed.
Boots: Also a holdover from Zena, these sturdy, lined boots are waterproof and hugely resilient. He also does not want to get rid of them.
Bag: Various and sundry supplies
Home:
Kaalnia bought Votzhem a menk, and hes not sure what to do with it...
X ° Unintended Aftermath; Cameo in Kaalnia's Class Quest X ° That Woman; Class Solo pt 1, 1101 words X ° A Job, Class Solo pt 2, 904 words X ° Hit and Run, Class Solo pt 3, 1727 words X ° Served Well Done, Class Solo pt 4, 445 words X ° Sickened, Class Solo pt 5, 1953 words X ° Down for the Count, Class Solo pt 6, 1007 words X ° I am Stronger now; Cameo in Kaalnia's Solo X ° BATTLE: Votzhem vs Myrsky (Lost) XXX ° New Friends; Kaalnia, Iroia, Votzhem, Responses are 261 words, 271 words XX ° Tis the Season; Votzhem, Iroia, Dyakida, Sezarra, Sauron, Ruelash, Versatile RP, Response is 231 words XX ° Ready... set...; Votzhem and Iroia, Response is 229 words XX ° Rain Isnt the Only Problem; Votzhem and Iroia, Response is 486 words X ° BATTLE: Votzhem vs Bhima (Lost) X ° BEAST BATTLE: Rock Solid Plan (Votzhem vs Gani, Lost) X ° BEAST BATTLE: Very Bad Bruises (Votzhem vs Gani, Lost) X ° BEAST BATTLE: Pesky Poultry (Votzhem vs Scorra, Lost) X ° BEAST BATTLE: Very Pesky Poultry (Votzhem vs Scorra, Lost) X ° BATTLE: Votzhem vs Nyiim (Lost) X ° Training, Solo, 956 words X ° BATTLE: Votzhem vs Nyiim (Won) XX ° Prejudice, Versatile Prompt (Did you hear), Response is 240 words XX ° Born of Aisha, Versatile Prompt (Beliefs and Values), Response is 316 words X Side Trip (Iroia and Votzhem) Response is 162 words X ° Battle: Kaalnia vs Ruelash (Cameo) X ° Sweet Mother (Class Solo) 2413 words X ° Full Meal (Beast Battle) XX ° Barter and Haggle ; World Event Prompt: (Votzhem, Kaalnia, Vallenhyyr), Response is 224 words * XX ° Remembering the Past ; World Event Prompt, 792 Words XX ° And Then She Fainted; PRP: Kaalnia, Iroia, Votzhem (131 words) XX ° Sins and Virtues; CYOA X META Tournament Round 1: Votzhem vs Ilyra (LOST) XX ° Walls Between Mountains, PRP: Ruelash and Votzhem X - META: Return to Chibale; The Daughter's Ritual XX ° Creepy Crawlers; Votzhem and Arronthain XX ° Drops in an Ocean of Leaves (Votzhem and Iroia) XX ° Neophyte or No fight? ; Votzhem, Nuawahn, Iroia XX ° Meta Chapter 9: Grave Expectations X ° BATTLE: Votzhem vs Kaalnia (Lost) X ° BATTLE: Votzhem vs Mnyiri (Lost)
Progress: RP Growth Reqs 45/50
EXP Growth Reqs 7/10
Class Quest Needed
Change of clothes x 2: More jungle-appropriate gear
This Quest is for Votzhem who is striving to become a Swordsman.
OOC ||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more). ||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks. ||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner. ||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker. ||. Your responses will be graded with a Pass or Fail. Those who fail will have to continue with assistance from the staff. ||. Questions about quests can be asked here.
IC
The elders had summoned Votzhem not soon after he was back from obtaining the metal with Kaalnia. It was time to recount his events of the tale, and how he thought he did as a 'Sister'. Did he manage to meet their expectations? There was one elder alone in the room, and her face did not seem pleased.
She led him to women in the adjoining room. The three Alkidike women were talking among themselves with hurried voices, their brows furrowed and bodies tense. There had been rumors for a while now that the nefarious Dretch were back from their nightmares and the bug mages (as they were more commonly known as) were spotted more and more often in a forest to the north. This forest had been nicknamed the Dying Forest, or the Dead woods, and was now home to hoards of menzuri - the favored minion of the Dretch.
The women hushed abruptly when Votzhem approached. But soon - with a nod of their heads - they filled Votzhem in to their plans. They were going to bring the Dretch down and bring back a body to show they could do it. They hadn't originally thought of using him to help, but it would seem this elder was dedicated to having Votzhem fail, even though the others in the council saw no such need for additional testing.
Quest Tasks ||. This quest is for Votzhem to prove himself to the stubborn Alkidike elder. ||. Votzhem must recount his journey with Kaalnia from his point of view. ||. He will then be asked to bring back a body of a bug mage along with the help of the 3 Alkidike women. ||. The women are being forced by the elder to not be on Votzhem's side and once in the Dead Woods will leave him there alone. ||. The quest should end with him returning to Chibale and the elder to be forced to step down.
The blue-skinned Hybrid stood before the elders, insolently holding his assigned burden as he felt their eyes rake over him. He knew that, theoretically, he should be groveling, kneeling hopefully at their feet to join this tribe of elite warriors he shared a mother with. But he was done groveling. He was done kneeling. He had traveled across the continent three times – three! - for these people: he had more than earned his place with them.
“Tell us of your journey, and the young Blade, Kaalnia.”
“She told me she wasn't a Blade.” he said, surprised. He hadn't thought her a liar, but what if she was? What would that mean?
“She has only just been granted that rank.” the Elders explained, easing his dismay, “We wish to hear of your journey.”
So. She had not been a liar, then. That was a relief. He didn't want to believe such trickery of his beautiful, energetic companion. It was bad enough that she had hit on his mothers. “Which part?” he asked, a little snider than he ought to have. He was tired, his feet aching from his travels, and he longed to rest. Yet, they had called him in before he could even sit down for a decent amount of time.
“The part where Kaalnia accompanied you.” said the elder smoothly. Her sisters were arrayed next to and behind her, quietly watching and waiting, “Though I am sure you have had many other adventures in far off Zena.”
“Sauti.” he corrected. Yes. Remind me that I'm from far away, and not from your precious jungle. The joke is on you, lady. I'm from a lotus, same as you. I'm from here. he thought, but he held back his ire. He was so close to his lifelong goal, so incredibly close. He would not let his own stupidity get in the way. “Aye. Well.” he cleared his throat and shifted the sack uncomfortably. “She and I started up the coast when we was hit by a storm. We walked from there.” he said, neglecting the part where he'd saved her life. No need to embarrass her if she hadn't lied to him – he owed her that courtesy. He told them a few clipped, efficient details of the Sautian passes and the troubles they had faced, and he skimmed over his mothers. He didn't trust the elders enough yet to give them more information than they needed about their sister, Lakshmi, and her lover, Vennan, who she had loved enough to leave her own tribe. He didn't know what the elders would do to her.
“My mother, she helped us find the metal.” he said, “It were in a cave, lining the walls in veins of shining umber. Not having chiseling tools or nothing, we picked up what ore rocks we could, packed them away and headed back.”
He told the of the passage back to Jahuar, trying to emphasize that they had faced many hardships getting there, hardships that he still felt in his own body and he was sure Kaalnia felt in hers. Vicious Kinfa, aching feet, and brutal thirst were the least of them. Yes, he and Kaalnia had earned the right to be a part of their own tribe. His own story emboldened him. Surely, if they recognized Kaalnia, they also recognized his efforts as well. Or they should. If they were fair. Suddenly, he found himself wondering.
“So.” he said, bringing the bag to them and opening it so they could see for themselves that he had brought the precious metal rocks, “Here they are.”
The elders looked into the bag and he stepped back, letting them whisper amidst themselves.
What if I am not accepted into the tribe? he worried, as they conversed, What if, after all that, they will say I am unworthy? What then?
Joining this tribe had been all he'd wanted to do for years. He had trained hard at his mother's fighting style, struggling until he figured out the moves and methods behind it. He'd spent many coins and traded many furs to make a coat decorated in their motifs and colors, and he had struggled through heat and horrors in the jungle. He had fought his way to Chibale. What would he do if he had to leave again, for good? Where would he go? Home? Again, in disgrace? MamaVenna would be happy to see him, as would Laki, but he would feel his failure in every moment...
“We achknowledge your quest is complete.” said one of the elders, finally, snapping him out of his gloomy thoughts. “You are now, unofficially, a Blade of our tribe in our eyes.” He stared at them, stunned. He... was a Blade? A full Blade? Truly? “You are not, after all, the first such halfblood born of Aisha to do so.” there were murmurs, not all of assent. “Unfortunately, we need to replenish the materials required to perform the official ritual. Tomorrow, we will initiate you properly.” The elders stood and inclined their heads to him. “We ask you to behave appropriately in that time. For now, please rest from your journey.”
And with that, they left him in the hut, all but one elder who looked at him dourly for a few moments before slipping into another room. “Wait here.” she said with a sour voice before disappearing behind a clothen drape. Soon, she reappeared. “Come with me.” she said, “I have an assignment for you.”
Votzhem was about to protest: he had only just come back from a journey, he was tired and frustrated, and he wanted to just sit, alone, and think on his new rank and what it meant. Instead he nodded. He was only barely a Blade, after all, and the elders outranked him, in or out of the tribe. If he did as they said, he figured things would definitely be easier on him. Plus, an assignment from an elder... wasn't that an honor?
The room he was led to had four Alkidikes around a table, pouring over a map. “This is Votzhem. He will be joining you in your quest.” said the elder, giving the women a meaningful look before leaving them there, her movements as graceful as an aldabuk.
Votzhem looked at them for a moment, then smiled and waved as if it was nothing in the world to be so near to Alkidikes who weren't his mother, who were now, officially, his sisters. “Hi.” he said, smiling with pride.
He was one of them, now.
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:39 am
Quote:
This Quest is for Votzhem who is striving to become a Swordsman.
OOC ||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more). ||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks. ||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner. ||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker. ||. Your responses will be graded with a Pass or Fail. Those who fail will have to continue with assistance from the staff. ||. Questions about quests can be asked here.
IC
The elders had summoned Votzhem not soon after he was back from obtaining the metal with Kaalnia. It was time to recount his events of the tale, and how he thought he did as a 'Sister'. Did he manage to meet their expectations? There was one elder alone in the room, and her face did not seem pleased.
She led him to women in the adjoining room. The three Alkidike women were talking among themselves with hurried voices, their brows furrowed and bodies tense. There had been rumors for a while now that the nefarious Dretch were back from their nightmares and the bug mages (as they were more commonly known as) were spotted more and more often in a forest to the north. This forest had been nicknamed the Dying Forest, or the Dead woods, and was now home to hoards of menzuri - the favored minion of the Dretch.
The women hushed abruptly when Votzhem approached. But soon - with a nod of their heads - they filled Votzhem in to their plans. They were going to bring the Dretch down and bring back a body to show they could do it. They hadn't originally thought of using him to help, but it would seem this elder was dedicated to having Votzhem fail, even though the others in the council saw no such need for additional testing.
Quest Tasks ||. This quest is for Votzhem to prove himself to the stubborn Alkidike elder. ||. Votzhem must recount his journey with Kaalnia from his point of view. ||. He will then be asked to bring back a body of a bug mage along with the help of the 3 Alkidike women. ||. The women are being forced by the elder to not be on Votzhem's side and once in the Dead Woods will leave him there alone. ||. The quest should end with him returning to Chibale and the elder to be forced to step down.
✹A Job✹ ✹ ✹Class Solo pt 2✹904 Words✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹
“Welcome to the hunting party, B.” one of the Alkidike about the table said, her face serious, as he approached them, “This is a great honor. You think you can handle it?”
“You'll see for yourself soon enough.” said Votzhem, leaning over them to look at what was on the table. It was a map of Northern Jahuar, etched with a careful hand on a thick leaf. It would have taken great craftsmanship and attention to detail to craft. It had to be some Alkidike's life work, and he found himself smug – this was his tribe.
“Spoken like a sister.” said one of the Alkidike approvingly. She earned a glance from the others, but nobody said anything more about it. They moved aside to let him into their group and he sat down, admittedly grateful after his long journey with the insane and absurd Kaalnia.
“All right.” he said, scrutinizing the map, “Whats the plan?”
“We're going to kill a dretch.” one of them said, with a conspiratorial grin. The others nodded.
“What is a dretch?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, “Some kind of animal?”
“It's a nightmare, thats what it is.” said one of the sisters grimly, “Or it used to be.”
“Its a bug person, a 'bug mage'.” explained one of the others, “Nasty creatures, like someone bred an earthling to a bug and infused them with the things that go bump in the night. They've been seen around, causing trouble wherever they go.” she shifted the map, “We know they live here.” she said, jabbing a finger at the leaf, “Somewhere, with their evil menzuri minions.”
“And we're going to kill one and bring it back. Strike the fear of our Mother into them...” she frowned, an uncertain question in her eyes as she looked at Votzhem.
“Our mother.” he agreed. He'd been born from a lotus, just like they had. They seemed satisfied with his answer. “So we're going out to kill 'em because...”
“Because we can.” they said, “To bring them back and show them for the monsters they are. The killable, flesh and blood or ichor or whatever monsters. We'll show them, and our sisters, that we can drive the ugly things back into nightmares where they belong.”
There was a murmur of bloodthirsty agreement and Votzhem leaned back. “Sounds good.” he said, “I'm in. When do we start.”
“As soon as possible. How does tomorrow sound?” she asked him, searchingly.
“I'd go today if you'd let me.” he commented, smirking. “But tomorrow is just fine.” It wasn't a bluff. He was tired, but the thought of an elite hunting trip, his first act as part of his tribe, had rejuvenated him enough for leaving today to be viable. But tomorrow would, obviously be better.
“Good answer.” One of the others, the older one by the look of it, clapped her hands. “Then its agreed! We go out tomorrow morning, bright and early. Right with the sun.”
One of the others groaned. “But that's early...” she whined, and was soon shushed by her sisters.
“I'll make sure you wake your lazy a** up.” sneered a sister. The unhappy one frowned, “This is an honor. Act like it.” She looked at Votzhem, “You'll be there, won't you?”
“Yeah. I'll be there before any of you, I'm betting. I get up before the sun.” he said, shrugging.
Apparently that was also a good answer. He was making a good impression on his new family, that was for sure. “Well, we've got us a real go-getter.” said the sister, “You hear that, Nakki? The male is gonna be ready before you. Better get your act together!” They laughed. Votzhem was not offended – he laughed too.
The younger one, apparently Nakki, mumbled something under her breath.
“All right.” said the older one, “Move out, get your supplies. I'll see you tomorrow. Got it?”
“Got it!” they all said in unison.
---
Votzhem had trouble sleeping that night. Admittedly he didn't have a proper place to sleep, but that had been the case many times before, so he knew he was used to that. He was a blade now, a proper blade of the Alkidikes, and he had been set on a mission as dire and important as any other. Sure, he wasn't entirely accepted by the women – he'd seen the looks the elders had given him when he'd presented the metal – but they were giving him a chance to prove himself, a proper one this time that didn't involve him going home meaninglessly and disgracefully.
No, this time he would show them, without a doubt, that he was a warrior worthy of the lotus he'd been born from. He was a part of their tribe, and he was happy to fight for that right. Then they, even the bitter-faced old lady, would have to accept him as their brother, their sister in spirit. And even that old biddy must have some inkling of his capabilities – she was the one that had set him to this task after all.
And, ultimately, he wanted to help. He wanted to do something for his tribe. Killing an enemy of theirs would help them and prove him worthy, for sure. He was just happy it was not an earthling he had to kill.
This Quest is for Votzhem who is striving to become a Swordsman.
OOC ||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more). ||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks. ||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner. ||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker. ||. Your responses will be graded with a Pass or Fail. Those who fail will have to continue with assistance from the staff. ||. Questions about quests can be asked here.
IC
The elders had summoned Votzhem not soon after he was back from obtaining the metal with Kaalnia. It was time to recount his events of the tale, and how he thought he did as a 'Sister'. Did he manage to meet their expectations? There was one elder alone in the room, and her face did not seem pleased.
She led him to women in the adjoining room. The three Alkidike women were talking among themselves with hurried voices, their brows furrowed and bodies tense. There had been rumors for a while now that the nefarious Dretch were back from their nightmares and the bug mages (as they were more commonly known as) were spotted more and more often in a forest to the north. This forest had been nicknamed the Dying Forest, or the Dead woods, and was now home to hoards of menzuri - the favored minion of the Dretch.
The women hushed abruptly when Votzhem approached. But soon - with a nod of their heads - they filled Votzhem in to their plans. They were going to bring the Dretch down and bring back a body to show they could do it. They hadn't originally thought of using him to help, but it would seem this elder was dedicated to having Votzhem fail, even though the others in the council saw no such need for additional testing.
Quest Tasks ||. This quest is for Votzhem to prove himself to the stubborn Alkidike elder. ||. Votzhem must recount his journey with Kaalnia from his point of view. ||. He will then be asked to bring back a body of a bug mage along with the help of the 3 Alkidike women. ||. The women are being forced by the elder to not be on Votzhem's side and once in the Dead Woods will leave him there alone. ||. The quest should end with him returning to Chibale and the elder to be forced to step down.
✹Hit and Run✹ ✹ ✹Class Solo pt 3✹1727 Words✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹
Votzhem didn't know when he had fallen asleep, but he must have because he woke up early, his heart racing, his every muscle, from the big glutes to the tiniest sinew, vibrating with excitement. Today was the day he really, truly, completely showed his sisters what he could do for them.
By the time the hunting party met up at the docks, he had been waiting for them, and had even gotten the canoe ready for them. He was energized, so much so that he had to force himself to eat the ration he was offered as breakfast. As dawn graced the Chibale isles, they set off from the quiet shore, traversing the ford as the waters were stained a rosy lotus-pink with the sunrise.
They were quiet as they stepped into the clamoring jungle of Jahuar, their feet sinking into its eternal mud as they settled their canoe on their shoulders and began their trek into the jungle's depths. Votzhem was happy to help carry the canoe, taking it from Nakki, the youngest, to her great relief – and to the relief of the others. Apparently, she complained.
With his offer to carry the canoe came a lifting of the silence they had traveled under and Votzhem learned their names. Nakki, the youngest, and her older sister Bishka were the lowest ranking and the leader of the group, respectively. Nakki was recently a blade and her sister was an old hand, but both weilded the dual blades, like him. Cuerin was an archer and was sociable and cheerful enough, but there was an intensity that made Votzhem uncomfortable at times. Not that it was a problem – Votzhem had met hunters up in Zena, and they were all similarly intense. They had to be – Zena, as any land – had its hazards and pitfalls, and a hunter was closer to it than some. The last one, Ukoka, was a spearwoman, and she looked about as excited as Votzhem felt.
As they talked quietly amid the cries and chitters of Jahuar's denizens, Votzhem began to relax. This was nothing like the waste of time trip with Kaalnia the prentice. Kaalnia was not bad, but it had been disheartening and, he felt, disrespectful to push him into such a lengthy and absurd journey with a literal greenhorn after he had crossed a continent to speak with them. This was a proper quest, with a proper escort, to do a meaningful thing. Obviously, the thing with Kaalnia had just been a test run.
The conversational relaxed comaraderie was short-lived, however. As the jungle around them became swampy and dank, their conversation dribbled down to silence yet again. A tension settled over the group as the forest seemed to grow darker, danker, and less like home. “We're almost there...” murmured Bishka and they all knew where 'there' was.
Even Votzhem knew what the Dead Forest was. His Alkidike mother, Lakshimi, had told him stories of horrors from the depths of the dark woods, a place in Jahuar where no joy existed, where the unnatural ruled and nightmares dwelled. He had thought them mere legends, stories much like the snow-beast of the tundra, or the troll-monsters of the mountains - Stories to frighten children and to give an origin to the things that went bump in the night.
But, as the trees paled from dark blue to a skeletal, stained, bone-white and the fungus that brought light to the understory shriveled and died, he knew that it was no mere myth he was walking into. Pools of inky, untrustworthy water lined the path, and the land they walked on narrowed until, even when they walked single-file, it was hard to maneuver through. The canoe might have offered them a better mode of transportation, as canals of water grew and strengthened as they walked into the dead woods, but none trusted those canals, or the slowly writhing things they could see slithering within it, just beyond where they would be revealed fully. Votzhem was almost grateful.
“I hope those are just fish...” muttered Nakki, grimacing as one of the creatures made their silhouette known just beneath the murky, algaie film of a nearby pond.
“Aisha bless, I hope they are too.” Cuerin whispered back, noching her bow warily.
“They probably aren't.” said Bishka flippantly, “They're probably worms.”
“Hey, maybe they're Illo...” said Ukoka, “Water Illo. And harmless.”
Votzhem coughed nervously and gave the pond, if it could be called that, a wide berth. As wide a berth as he could anyway – there were ponds on either side, everywhere around them. Dead branches formed barriers to the water, holding it's murky blackness back into dams and sluices. “Lets not find out.” he said, wrinkling his nose at the rotten smell of it all.
“Agreed.” seconded Cuerin, “Let us move to a more likely spot, quickly... the trees, perhaps?”
“Do you trust these trees?” hissed Bishka.
Votzhem didn't – looking up, he only saw blackness, broken only by a ray of sullen, murky light every few feet or so. The sun alone was able to light this dead, terrible world.
“Well, how are we going to hunt them, then?” asked Ukoka.
“The ground.” said Bishka, “We find a central place, and then we get a lay of the land and some sense of where they are. We don't want any surprise attacks getting us before we can take one of them down.”
“How about there?” asked Ukoka, pointing to a space of flattish dry land nearby, “That looks pretty central.”
“Good choice.” said Bishka, “All right. Nakki, go with Ukoka. Votzhem, go with Cuerin. You four will scout out an area there and there...” she pointed to paths leading off of the 'island', “And see what you find. I'll stay here and mark the spot so we can find it later, and I'll go after you if you need any assistance.”
“All right.” said Ukoka starting down the path immediately. Nakki nodded glumly and followed behind reluctantly.
“Bishka, a moment.” said Cuerin, carefully. Votzhem watched as they conversed, suddely uneasy. What could they be talking about?
Their voices were hushed and, though his hearing was good, he couldn't catch what was said as they spoke animatedly. What could they be talking about? he thought again, watching, That would get them so excited?
Eventually, Cuerin walked back to him, giving him a nod. “Lets go.” she said.
~~~
“So...” Votzhem said, his voice quiet. They had been scouting for a few minutes, heading out into the eerie forest, and she had been silent for the whole time. “What were you two talking about?” He felt he had a right to know. Why shouldn't he?
Cuerin paused, studying him for a moment before resuming her prowl. “Nothing important...” she said finally. Votzhem was not satisfied.
“Tell me anyway.” he said, ducking beneath a veil of translucently white moss.
She shrugged. “Just... finishing an argument.” she said, shooting him a smile, “In case I don't come back.”
Votzhem was not convinced – he'd been lied to before and, though he understood the necessity and let it happen, he was not easily fooled. “Really?”
“Really.” she said, “Its not good to leave such things... unresolved when going into a dangerous place. I have no desire to become one of the ghosts that haunt these woods.”
“Radakushit.” he cursed, glaring at her, "But...” he sighed and looked out into the darkening ooze of the dead woods, “I guess its your business.”
“Aye.” she said, agreeing. She tensed. “Hey.” she said, tapping his shoulder, “Over there.”
His gaze followed her pointing finger to what looked to be a solid wall of translucent mesh, glittering with its own eerie light about thirty feet out. “Whoa, what is that?” he hissed, drawing his blades.
“Lets find out.” she said. He could see she had the same idea, her bow out and readied, “I don't like it.”
They crept towards the wall, careful to step on the earth of the path, and the earth alone, avoiding even the shallow dark waters as best they could. Soon, the wall loomed above them both, as ominous as anything.
“This looks.. bad.” said Votzhem. His back shivered. He had a feeling he was being watched, but his antennae picked up nothing and a furtive look around him revealed no shining eyes in the darkness. That was almost worse, here: he would rather see his enemy than wonder if it was some kind of ghost or spirit.
“Bad indeed...” Murmured Cuerin, “It's Menzuri web, but it's been worked, I think. Hard to tell. Might be what we're looking for...” she studied him for a moment, and then relaxed. “Lets look around, and see what else we can find to tell the others.”
If the others get back all right. Votzhem thought, but did not say, as they stalked around it.
His instinct was all that saved him from being gavely wounded as a crystalline beast launched out of a strange, withered patch of brush, chittering as it landed where he has been standing moments before.
“Chi's breath!” he exclaimed, “What in the world is that?!”
“Menzuri.” said Cuerin shortly, aiming and firing. Her arrow struck the crystal, cracking the carapace neatly. The beast shrieked and swiped at her. “Lets get out of...”
More chittering. The forest around them lit up as crystalline carapaces emerged from their dark hiding spots, refracting the pale glow of the lichenous woods into a dazzling, eerie display. Votzhem dodged the silk spit of one of them, slashing at the joints of one of their legs. His strike was true: it screamed and collapsed, its black blood spilling from it's leg as he stabbed a soft-looking spot on its underbelly. It twitched and died, it's blood chilling his hands.
Another came at him. “Cuerin!” he shouted, “Run!” as he blocked the blow from it's leg. He hadn't been expecting an answer from her, but when one didn't come, he was concerned. He pushed the beast off of him, dodging another that came from behind and held them back with a dual slash long enough to get his bearings and hers.
She wasn't there.
He was, he realized, surrounded and alone.
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:49 am
Quote:
This Quest is for Votzhem who is striving to become a Swordsman.
OOC ||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more). ||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks. ||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner. ||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker. ||. Your responses will be graded with a Pass or Fail. Those who fail will have to continue with assistance from the staff. ||. Questions about quests can be asked here.
IC
The elders had summoned Votzhem not soon after he was back from obtaining the metal with Kaalnia. It was time to recount his events of the tale, and how he thought he did as a 'Sister'. Did he manage to meet their expectations? There was one elder alone in the room, and her face did not seem pleased.
She led him to women in the adjoining room. The three Alkidike women were talking among themselves with hurried voices, their brows furrowed and bodies tense. There had been rumors for a while now that the nefarious Dretch were back from their nightmares and the bug mages (as they were more commonly known as) were spotted more and more often in a forest to the north. This forest had been nicknamed the Dying Forest, or the Dead woods, and was now home to hoards of menzuri - the favored minion of the Dretch.
The women hushed abruptly when Votzhem approached. But soon - with a nod of their heads - they filled Votzhem in to their plans. They were going to bring the Dretch down and bring back a body to show they could do it. They hadn't originally thought of using him to help, but it would seem this elder was dedicated to having Votzhem fail, even though the others in the council saw no such need for additional testing.
Quest Tasks ||. This quest is for Votzhem to prove himself to the stubborn Alkidike elder. ||. Votzhem must recount his journey with Kaalnia from his point of view. ||. He will then be asked to bring back a body of a bug mage along with the help of the 3 Alkidike women. ||. The women are being forced by the elder to not be on Votzhem's side and once in the Dead Woods will leave him there alone. ||. The quest should end with him returning to Chibale and the elder to be forced to step down.
✹Served Well Done✹ ✹ ✹Class Solo pt 4✹445 ords✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹
Votzhem stopped thinking. His situation was too dire, and there were too many enemies surrounding him to think. Thought would only slow him down.
He would have to rely on instinct and training here. He needed his brain to work on something else, some plan to get out, and in the meantime...
He needed to fight.
The crystalline monsters came at him from all directions and he spun, letting the energy within him do the work. Lakshimi had taught him how to tap into the power of Aisha that connected all Alkidike together and he felt their Mother's power surge through him, leading him into a purely instinctual twirl of life and death.
Dodge, dodge, slice, stab, dodge... he danced amidst their moonstone shells. His hands numbed slightly, and he knew that their blood was probably toxic, but he had no qualms about spilling more of it into the murky waters.
He finished off another one, turning to face one that grazed his leg, his sword clinking on its carapace as he brought the other at its eyes.
His blades struck true, and it screamed, blinded by its own black blood. He dodged a spat string of silk, or thought he did, but he felt a few strands loop around his arm none the less. He kicked the beast, tilting it up just enough for a stab to the vulnerable point where it's crystal plates met in the center.
It was not a fatal blow.
He dodged away from its retaliation, keeping hold of the blade even though he could barely feel it through skin that felt like he wore thick, reinforced leather gloves.
The light was like moonlight now, glittering off the crystal, and for a moment he fancied it a spirit of some sort, some trapped demon of the forest. But spirits didn't strike like this, he knew. Not that it mattered, spirit or no, it would die the same way.
He dodged it's fellows, feeling more errant strands of silk try to entangle his legs. He moved, and they became mere accessories, glowing anklets like what his mother wore...
He stabbed the injured one and it fell, twitching, and for a moment, in its carapace, he saw his mother, Lakshimi, laughing, her own anklets glittering like the moon...
The vision faded as his feelers told him of movement behind him, and he dodged out of the way of a crushing claw that shattered the carapace of its fellow like glass. As it struggled to bring its claw out of its fellow, Votzhem saw his chance. A wispy light appeared, showing him the way, and he took it, running from the remaining beasts.
This Quest is for Votzhem who is striving to become a Swordsman.
OOC ||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more). ||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks. ||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner. ||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker. ||. Your responses will be graded with a Pass or Fail. Those who fail will have to continue with assistance from the staff. ||. Questions about quests can be asked here.
IC
The elders had summoned Votzhem not soon after he was back from obtaining the metal with Kaalnia. It was time to recount his events of the tale, and how he thought he did as a 'Sister'. Did he manage to meet their expectations? There was one elder alone in the room, and her face did not seem pleased.
She led him to women in the adjoining room. The three Alkidike women were talking among themselves with hurried voices, their brows furrowed and bodies tense. There had been rumors for a while now that the nefarious Dretch were back from their nightmares and the bug mages (as they were more commonly known as) were spotted more and more often in a forest to the north. This forest had been nicknamed the Dying Forest, or the Dead woods, and was now home to hoards of menzuri - the favored minion of the Dretch.
The women hushed abruptly when Votzhem approached. But soon - with a nod of their heads - they filled Votzhem in to their plans. They were going to bring the Dretch down and bring back a body to show they could do it. They hadn't originally thought of using him to help, but it would seem this elder was dedicated to having Votzhem fail, even though the others in the council saw no such need for additional testing.
Quest Tasks ||. This quest is for Votzhem to prove himself to the stubborn Alkidike elder. ||. Votzhem must recount his journey with Kaalnia from his point of view. ||. He will then be asked to bring back a body of a bug mage along with the help of the 3 Alkidike women. ||. The women are being forced by the elder to not be on Votzhem's side and once in the Dead Woods will leave him there alone. ||. The quest should end with him returning to Chibale and the elder to be forced to step down.
He was free of the beasts. He had escaped... or had he? Votzhem began to shake as numbness spread through his body and spectral shrieks met his ears. He glanced behind him but there was nothing.
But there had been nothing before, hadn't there.
Before he had been attacked and left there.
So nothing did not mean safe. He knew where 'safe' was. As his thoughts began to blur, he pressed onwards.
He knew he had to keep going. Safety, after all, was forward...
~~~
”Vosh!” came the woman's voice, “It's not safe, be careful!”
Votzhem danced like a sprite at the cliff's edge, pausing to frown at MamaLaki, his antennae, stubby with youth, giving him an almost comically grumpy appearance. “Ma, I'm fine!” he protested.
“It's a cliff you're playing near, not a hill! You're tough, my love, I'll grant you, but I don't think even you can make that fall.” she moved fast, her hands scooping him up easily into a hug, taking him from the edge.
“Maaaaa!” he protested, squirming, “I'm too old to carry!”
“Oh yeah?” she plunked him down ungracefully on solid ground and grinned at him, “Well, you can show me! Come into the woods with me and help me take a few trees back. Shouldn't be a problem for a big, strong boy too old to have his mother carry him, mmm?” her eyes glittered mischeviously, “Hmmm?”
“Fine!” he said sticking his tongue out at his mother, “Last one two em is a rotten egg!” he called, racing into the forest, his mother's laughter trailing behind him like a flock of merry birds...
~~~
Sulfur, the smell of rotting eggs. Votzhem thought of the sour fumaroles that spewed in parts of Sauti... But this was not Sauti, it was too warm, too humid, too dark.
He sweated profusely, gasping in the foul smells around him, his mind and stomach doing cartwheels as he forced himself onwards. Onwards was the only way. Forward was safety, and he had to get to it.
For a moment, he thought he heard birdsong, but it faded and he realized it was laughter, eerie and ghostlike, from far away. Or was it close by? He couldn't tell as he struggled onward, forcing his aching muscles to move, even though they felt crumbly and tough, like old, poorly-cared for leather.
Safety was forward, and that was all he knew as the darkness around him grew, dancing with terrifying shapes...
~~~ “Ha! Got one!” Votzhem said to the girl, holding up the freshly killed bird triumphantly, “That makes the score 2-2, an even score. Next one breaks it. I'm betting I win!”
“Nuh -uh. I'm going to win. I'll catch the fifth one for sure.” said the young ice tribe girl. Two birds already dangled from her pack, her slingshot in hand and ready for her third bird of the day.
“Oh yeah, Nabi?!” he crowed, “Your first one was a fluke. It was my shot that took it, but I let you take the point because I...” he smirked, “Was taught to be polite by my mama.”
“Which one?” Nabi shot back, “The hermit or the barbarian?”
Votzhem's temper was in check. He was used to hearing cracks about his mothers, and they had told him – many times – that they didn't mind. That they were appreciated, and he needed to be cordial and polite. His anger, they had said, only encouraged such things to be said. If he stopped reacting, nobody would say anything. He had yet to see it work, but he trusted his mothers, as they normally knew best. For now.
“Both. MamaLaki has more manners than you ever will.”
“No she doesn't!” said Nabi, “I'm polite! I'm real polite!”
“Sure you are.” said Votzhem, smirking, looking around them at the snow-covered woods. It was the spring thaw, and the birds were coming to feast on the bright sprouts that dared to brave the tundra. It was good hunting season and preparation for the village's winter feast. MamaLaki had let him go hunting with the girl, Nabi, and had said that whoever got the most prey in would get a prize. He didn't know what the prize was, but with Lakshimi, it was probably good. He stopped, his antennae twitching excitedly. “Wait, hang on!” he whispered.
“What?” Nabi said warily.
“Look!” he pointed to a bird, resting away from its flock. “Its mine!” he said, already gloating, “I will have that prize!” But before he could shoot it, her slingshot was up, and with a twang, the bird fell, dead. She picked up the carcass and gave him an insufferably smug look. “I win.” she said.
“No you don't.” he retorted petulantly, “Out of 10. Lets try for out of 10.”
“Thats an even number!” Nabi snorted, shaking her head, “11.” she said, grinning competitively, “I'll trounce you, Vosh...” her voice trailed off as her gaze drifted to the brush nearby, and her mouth opened in a scream...
~~~
The scream was his own, echoing painfully in his ears as he convulsed in the mud. He heard chittering and a sound like dove wings, ringing out over and over, boring into his skull. He screamed again, and he knew he had to get out. Go forward. Get to safety.
He struggled to his feet, even as every movement caused him pain, and leapt at the sounds that tormented him. He barely knew that his swords were in his hands until the impact of blade sinking into chitin - and then flesh - rippled down his arm and the chittering turned into a terrible shriek.
He pulled his swords out of their new sheathe with a slick sound that nearly made him vomit and ran on the wind of that shriek, leaping through the twisting forest as heat scorched his side.
Forward. Always forward.
~~~
The blazing sun of the Tale burned his skin to a dark blue-purple, nearly black. Votzhem felt like an overcooked biscuit and about as useless. He was so dry. He hadn't realized that water in the Tale would be impossible to find, and villages so infrequent as to make his water supplies run low far too often. He had nearly dehydrated before in the East, and now he was in the empty middle of the Tale, where no fortuitous leaf earthlings would find him and save him. He burned for a drink but he had to save his water for the evening when he could move more freely and he didn't have to worry about the precious liquid leaving him as soon as he drank it.
But if he didn't drink it, of course, he would die before he reached his goal of Jahuar.
Ah, Jahuar... the jungle land that was almost mythical. Surrounded by this wide, flat space, he could almost barely believe he had come from a land of stone and mountains, let alone that a place of dense forest and water could exist.
He longed to see the promised dark shadow of trees in the distance, some hint that he was going to the land of.. well, of his birth, he supposed, born from a lotus as he was. He had never seen it.
Suddenly, a mirage shimmered in the heat haze and his tongue tingled with anticipation. Mirages meant that the sun was reflecting off of water, and that meant that there was water in this hellish land. Desperately, hopefully, he ran towards it.
Sometimes mirages gave false hope, but this one did not. A watering hole revealed itself to him amidst the mud and sand and grass and he lowered himself gratefully to it, sipping at it thirstily.
Water had never tasted so sweet.
~~~
The water was bitter, but it quenched the thirst that burned his throat and so he sucked at it greedily.
He was vaguely aware that there was something in his hand, but he didn't know what it was. It hurt to look at it – too bright for his eyes, too bright to be a blade.
He drank until he tasted mud and slime, but his thirst was unquenchable, its tremors ratcheting through him every time he moved, bringing pain and nausea in its wake.
But he had to move. He had to keep going. He turned to look at the leaves above him, struggling to orient himself with hazy images of moss and flowers.
Finally, he turned, staggering in the direction he felt he could go, the direction he needed to go.
Forward.
~~~
Votzhem turned to look, his eyes widening as he beheld the creature. It was huge – thick furred and monumentally bodied, with large ears and beady eyes. It glowered at him, it's teeth visible outside of it's muzzle in a truly intimidating way.
And then it growled.
“Run!” he shouted, turning around and racing back towards the village. Nabi was not far behind. The beast, having taken offense to his shout, made chase.
“Its a Weywa!” Nabi cried.
“A what?!” Votzhem didn't bother looking back to get a clearer answer.
“A powerful cave beast! Run! Mama...” she gasped, “Mama says it can flay a hunter in one swipe! Run!”
Votzhem glanced back – he could believe it. He put on a burst of extra speed.
“Aaah!” Nabi cried from behind him, and soon she was no longer immediately behind. He looked back to see her sprawled on the path. The rock that tripped her was visible, an innocent seeming dull purple stone.
He could see the beast gaining on her. “Nabi!” he shouted, skidding to a stop. He knew that all he really needed to do was to keep running. He'd be safe then. There was that old adage that you only had to run faster than the other person, wasn't there? That was what Vennan had said once.
But he couldn't do that to Nabi. He drew his blades and charged at the beast, slashing it on the nose right as it reared up to slam the girl.
It roared and thrashed, its paw falling short of its target as she managed to stand up. She looked at him and nodded, before running. He wasted no time to follow suit, running against the cold winds of Sauti until the thunder of the beast was behind him...
~~~
The chills hit Votzhem again and for a moment, he thought he was home, back in the mountains during the winter. It was chilly, but beautiful, up there, not that he'd noticed. Here, though, here he could make out leaves through the smoky haze that clouded his vision, and gleaming fungus like eyes in the darkness. Heat pressed against him, oppressive and wet, but he still shivered. No. This wasn't home, this was wrong. He let out an incoherent cry as he forced himself forward. He needed to get out of here.
~~~
”Ow!” Votzhem said, nursing his arm. Lakshmi looked on in amusement.
“Vosh, if you don't want me to whack you with the stick, you have to actually block.” she said, bemusedly twirling a long length of wood, “Or attack if you think you're ready.” Vosh knew what he was ready to do. With a glare at his favorite mother, he picked up his weapon and lunged. Laki expertly blocked. “Not bad, Vosshy.” she said, “Now you have to add a bit more finesse. Come at me again.”
Votzhem tightened his grip on the weapon and lunged again...
Votzhem saw light and heard sea sounds, and he lunged towards it, his hand numbly dragging whatever he held behind him as he spilled out of the jungle and onto soft, sea-worn sand. He gasped in the sun-graced air as images danced before and behind his eyelids, his desperate despair burning away as he beheld the great tree, gleaming with the colors of the sunset, across a shimmering straight of water. He dragged himself as far as he could go, and collapsed, sobbing with relief, into fitful unconciousness.
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:09 am
Quote:
This Quest is for Votzhem who is striving to become a Swordsman.
OOC ||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more). ||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks. ||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner. ||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker. ||. Your responses will be graded with a Pass or Fail. Those who fail will have to continue with assistance from the staff. ||. Questions about quests can be asked here.
IC
The elders had summoned Votzhem not soon after he was back from obtaining the metal with Kaalnia. It was time to recount his events of the tale, and how he thought he did as a 'Sister'. Did he manage to meet their expectations? There was one elder alone in the room, and her face did not seem pleased.
She led him to women in the adjoining room. The three Alkidike women were talking among themselves with hurried voices, their brows furrowed and bodies tense. There had been rumors for a while now that the nefarious Dretch were back from their nightmares and the bug mages (as they were more commonly known as) were spotted more and more often in a forest to the north. This forest had been nicknamed the Dying Forest, or the Dead woods, and was now home to hoards of menzuri - the favored minion of the Dretch.
The women hushed abruptly when Votzhem approached. But soon - with a nod of their heads - they filled Votzhem in to their plans. They were going to bring the Dretch down and bring back a body to show they could do it. They hadn't originally thought of using him to help, but it would seem this elder was dedicated to having Votzhem fail, even though the others in the council saw no such need for additional testing.
Quest Tasks ||. This quest is for Votzhem to prove himself to the stubborn Alkidike elder. ||. Votzhem must recount his journey with Kaalnia from his point of view. ||. He will then be asked to bring back a body of a bug mage along with the help of the 3 Alkidike women. ||. The women are being forced by the elder to not be on Votzhem's side and once in the Dead Woods will leave him there alone. ||. The quest should end with him returning to Chibale and the elder to be forced to step down.
✹Out for the Count✹ ✹ ✹Class Solo pt 6✹1007 Words✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹
Votzhem's head pounded like a drum as he came to. He could taste something sour in this mouth as he grimaced at the feel of sand on his face. Uncomfortable and confused, he tried to push himself upright, only to return to the sand again with a moan as his head and stomach reeled. He listened to the sounds of lapping water as he waited for the nausea to abate, becoming aware of a dry, dull, slimy thirst in the back of his mouth.
“So. You live.” said a scornful voice above him. He struggled to turn his face enough to look, but the sunlight blinded him and he could barely make out the silhouette of a woman. Bergchi? he wondered. Had the death goddess come to take him? No... 'Chi does not have feelers. It was an alkidike, and the pressure of her foot told him she was real, not a goddess, spirit, or vision.
He felt her foot nudge him and he groaned. “You survived the dead forest, and the jungle, and you managed to reach the beach.” she huffed, an amused sort of laugh, though it had little real humor in it. “Somehow.”
He struggled to rise again, only to find that it wasn't his nausea keeping him down this time, but the pressure of her foot. “You weren't supposed to.” she commented idly. His eyes adjusted to the light and he could see her better now. It was the elder, the one who had set him up with the group. “Those girls were supposed to make sure of it. I'll have to give them a talking to later.” she mused. Votzhem blinked, comprehension slow in his ravaged mind.
Supposed to die? Make sure of it? But then... “They're... alive?” he managed hoarsely through cracked lips.
“Alive? Of course. Alive and well. No trophy to prove for it – not a single Dretch corpse among them. They failed... on both counts...” he could just make out her scowl, “They'll pay for that too, those girls. Failing on both counts... pathetic. These young folk of today aren't worth calling warriors. Pah!” he heard her spit.
“Consorting with Earthlings... talking to them... Allying with them...” she gave him another nudge, shaking him from side to side. “Its disgusting.” The pressure of her foot on him became painful and he groaned again, struggling ineffectually against her. It was no use – his muscles were not responding properly. He gave up, gasping against his nausea in the sand.
“Not as disgusting as you though.” she said. He could hear the hatred in her voice – it reminded him, vividly, of the children who used to torment him, long ago. “You are a freak, an abomination upon an abomination. They may have failed me, but they are still my little sisters and I can set them on the right path... You... you...” her voice lowered, “You are slime, a stain on our mother's honor.” Votzhem looked up again, catching the gleam of crystal in her hand.
A spear. Votzhem didn't dare wonder what she was going to do with it. He knew that he had to get away, though, and he bucked like a fish beneath her. To no avail: his injuries were too much and her foot was too forceful upon him. He choked with pain and nearly threw up as his sense of balance reeled.
“Disgusting...” the spear's tip was a brilliant green, refracting the light in ways that stabbed into his head. “I had hoped the forest would deal with you, but it seems it falls to me to rid my tribe of your...” a shine of bared, white teeth, “disease. An end more than you deserve, halfbreed; be honored that you die on my spear.” she said. Helplessly, Votzhem watched her raise it...
“That's enough.” said a forceful voice from nearby. The inevitable decent was halted, and he stared at it, waiting. “Put down your spear.”
It fell, but not into him. He saw it crash to the ground, a hand raised in surrender. “I am only doing what is right for our tribe.” the elder said.
“No. You are about to murder a young blade in cold blood.” a new face suddenly appeared. “Young one... how are you feeling?” he flinched, “Not well... likely there is still poison in him.” The face, strange, alien, and unfamiliar - yet so very like his mother's - smiled. “You've done a momentous thing, child. A menzuri... not even seasoned warriors oppose those beasts lightly” she gestured to his hand.
He looked over, to see a chunk of one of the crystalline monsters clasped tight in his hand and stained with mud and blood and ichor. “I... killed that?” he croaked.
“It looks like it. You don't remember?”
“No...” he said, closing his eyes against the pain.
“Then you killed it while in the throes of its poison, an even greater feat. You see,” she said, turning to the others, “Has it not been our experience that Hybrids are capable of great feats for our tribe? Why else would Aisha produce them?”
“Fool! Our mother's love causes her to cater to the degenerate whims of the impure. He is an abomination! He should be...”
“Silence. You nearly murdered a promising young warrior without cause. You are hereby ordered to stand down and retire from our council with honor, an option only offered because of your age and service to the tribe... Of course, I could kill you in a duel to the death, if you prefer that. It isn't far from the true punishment you deserve.”
“No.” said the other elder, “No. But you'll see. He and his like will destroy us.” she snarled.
“Escort her to her home.” the face returned to Votzhem's vision, and a red-tinged finger touched his head, tracing a shape into it. “There. By the sacred lotus symbol upon your head, you are officially initiated as a blade. I'm sorry the ritual has to be done now, but I don't want others to take up her cause before you are ordained. Now...” she gestured and Votzhem felt himself lifted as if on a cloud... but no, there were two alkidikes by him, raising him on a stretcher. “We shall take care of you. Rest... sister... You have been through a true nightmare.”
It was a lonely night for Votzhem. Kaalnia had offered to sit with him – not sleep with him, obviously, but stick around until he fell asleep – but he'd turned her down. Frankly, that crazy woman did enough for him anyway.
He'd really thought that the Alkidike – he could barely think of her name without a pang of sorrw – had been the one. He'd thought they'd really clicked. What was so wrong with him that women kept breaking his heart? Why did it have to break?
He didn't want to admit it to her face, but he was grateful that Kaalnia was there to talk to. She was his friend, one of the few he could really honestly claim to have.
Still, she wasn't a woman in the sense he needed, and he wondered if he would ever meet someone to be his in that way. He wanted more. He wanted so much more.
Honestly, though, he didn't feel as bad as he had that morning. The Leaf girl... yes, it had to be because of her. Iroia, her name was. She'd been great company, and new besides. He wouldn't mind spending time with her again – she was not unattractive.
Then again, she was Leaf. Not of his tribe, or of his earthling blood... then again, who knew if she would be interested anyway in a man with feelers. No, it might be good to just have a friend. A friend would be nice.
He did need more of those, after all. Lovers... wasn't working so well.
OOC