Natural Leader [+] – If you want someone who is take-charge and is not afraid to step up, then look no further than Iaqa. The young girl is a natural leader, and she is as magnetic as she is charismatic. She has a way of drawing people in, and she isn’t afraid to initiate things, be they plans or simple conversation. She doesn’t hesitate to take charge, either, and will gladly throw out suggestions or orders if no one else seems to be eager to do it. She has a way with words, and is fully aware that she is capable of taking on lots of responsibility. Her eyes are set to the highest position possible - that of the Matron. She also wants to grow up more quickly, as people don't really follow what a kid says to them.
Devoted [+] – Iaqa would do anything and everything for the Alkidike extremists, the Elaria, and Elzira. They are of the utmost importance to her. She would never turn her back on them and would defend them with her life, if it came down to it. Should any of them ever need something, all they need to do is ask, and she would oblige without question. They are always the foremost things in her mind, and everyone else comes second. No one can say that she lacks in caring for them, nor will her devotion ever waver.
Perfectionist [+/-] – Although others might not hold her as such, Iaqa sets very high standards for herself. Everything she does has to be perfect, and the young girl is meticulous in order to make it so. Don’t expect to find a hair out of place or a misstep during combat forms. And if there is – Iaqa will then work for however long it takes in order to perfect it – hours or even days. There is a benefit to the girl’s perfectionism: it makes her good at detail-oriented tasks or ideas. She will never be accused of being lazy or not trying hard enough. She falters, however, if others don’t meet up to her standards. If her sisters around her don’t meet up to how a warrior should be, it grates on Iaqa’s nerves. They needed to focus and try harder, otherwise they will all look bad. Anything less than perfect can be viewed as weak, and that is the last thing she wants to be seen as.
Quick-Witted [+/-] – No matter what life throws at her, Iaqa is always quick to react. She is able to come up with a thought or a solution to something on the fly without much down time needed. Such a trait comes in handy, as it means it’s difficult to catch the young girl off guard. Where it can hurt her, however, is in her attitude. Not only is Iaqa quick to react, but she is also a snarky individual. This can be problematic if she says the wrong thing to the wrong person. Her words can get her in trouble, and all she’d have to thank, in the end, is her mouth. The young girl is frequently snarky to her mother, Vieela, often earning her a variety of punishments ranging from physical exercise to boring household chores.
Intolerant [-] – Iaqa views herself, the Elaria and the Alkidike extremists as the best there is. No one else can compare to them, period. Earthlings and the Alkidike separatists of Chibale are of lesser importance and value in the young girl’s eyes. The customs and importance of the others out there in the world mean nothing to the young girl. The Alkidike on Chibale are traitors and scum for mixing their genes with the lesser Earthlings. The Earthlings – regardless of race or tribe – are lesser than the Elaria and Alkidike extremists, for they have not been blessed by Elzira. Their ways are not only strange but backwards and wrong. One could try to change her views; to show her proof in an attempt to sway her, but it will do no good. Iaqa is fully bigoted against anyone from outside her home due to the extremist environment she was raised in. The young girl’s intolerance also goes a little further than just people, as well. If someone from her home has a different viewpoint than hers, Iaqa has a hard time seeing or respecting that belief. She will berate others for their different thoughts or just outright deny them entirely. Her views are the most important, and that is that. If it's one of her sisters that doesn't believe as she does, she will allow them to believe what they want, but she will distance herself more from them. This is to hinder any arguments or lashing out that might happen from Iaqa.
Ruthless [-] – If you expect pity or sympathy, then don’t expect to find it from Iaqa. As a product of her environment she has been brought up in, she is cruel and merciless. She will not hesitate to show off this ferocity. It is not unheard of for Iaqa to lash out or retaliate, if she feels it is necessary. Whatever she needs to do: push, bully, beat, degrade – she will do it, if it means she comes out on top. Iaqa will also show this aggression toward those around her. She might beat up and bruise someone, but she won’t flat out maim them. Toward people she has been told to hate, however, do not expect her to hold back. People will need to pull Iaqa back if she lashes out against an outsider, as she will not stop herself on her own. If left to her own devices, all that would be left is a broken corpse in her wake. The Elaria is also prone to blacking out in a fit of rage, which causes her to not remember what she does. After coming out of this state, she usually doesn't believe she is the one who has done so much damage.
History
After the birth of the first Elaria, the celebration of the ones that would come after died down a little. Regardless of this, two women in particular still pleaded to Elzria for a child of their own. Rassa, a guardian with a radaku mount, and her partner Vieela, an Amazon - begged to be blessed with an Elaria to raise and care for. Their prayers were answered, and the two women were sure they would be good parents. Rassa was known for her patience and hardworking spirit, while Vieela was a tough and capable warrior. Together, they would be the perfect fit for Iaqa.
Rassa’s primary job, as Iaqa grew up, was to tell her child the more spiritual side of Elzira, the Elaria, the Alkidike, and her connection to it all. The guardian was always thorough in her lessons with the girl, and did her best to instill a sense of pride and patriotism to where she came from. Elzira was her Blessed Mother, and she should always be kept in her mind. Never should she forget where she came from. Young Iaqa would drink in these lessons with her mother, and her love of her family grew and blossomed, just as she had from her very own.
Iaqa feels grateful to Aisha. Although she doesn't worship the tree, she is glad that Aisha brought both of her mothers into existence. She wouldn't be there, if not for the two of them. This is the extent of her feelings toward the tree, however, as all of her love and devotion is saved for Elzira.
Vieela had a more difficult task at hand. It was her job to physically prepare young Iaqa, in order to shape her into the warrior that she would become one day. While others idolized the Elaria and put them on a pedestal, the Amazon would wave her hand at such treatment to the younglings. Yes, of course, they were important, but in Vieela’s eyes, their importance was meaningless if there was no strength behind them to back it up. As such, Vieela was often more hard on Iaqa than Rassa was. She would push the youngling, challenge, and prompt her to do her best. She would have to be on point for when she was old enough to go out on her own. Anything less then ideal, and she would let not only herself down, but also the rest of the Elaria and Alkidike in their camp.
When it comes to her parents, Iaqa is a bit resentful of how harsh Vieela is with her. It has caused a lot of tense moments within their little family. When pushed too hard by the Amazon, the young child lash out in whatever way she seemed fit. It wasn't unheard of for Iaqa to get violent with Vieela, and when this would be the case, Rassa would often have to step in and act as mediator. Although she doesn't say it out loud, Vieela is often saddened when her daughter lashes out toward her. She understands her daughter's volatile nature, however, and would rather take the brunt of Iaqa's anger or frustrations, then have her lash out at someone else. Iaqa, ultimately, is not fond of how harshly Vieela treats her, and wishes that she could be a little more like Rassa. She has even gone so far as to tell her this, but it has fallen of deaf ears.
The idea of having to wait to go out of the village is a bit stifling to Iaqa. However, she understands the importance of such a rule, as the elders want to keep the knowledge of them a secret until the opportune moment. As annoying as the rule is, she will do her best to abide by it. She will just be like caged janarim pacing back and forth until the time comes where she can be let out.
At the age of five or so, Iaqa got into an altercation while playing with some of the other Elaria children. One of them angered her by taking a flower that she had her eye on, and she attacked the other girl. After jumping on her, she proceeded to beat up on the girl for a few more minutes before eventually stopping when her victim fell unconscious. Iaqa's anger got the better of her, to the point where she blacked out and lashed out to do the damage when she wasn't herself. When her parents found out, Iaqa received the harshest punishment ever -- being yelled at by Rassa, whom she knew she had disappointed. As a result of the incident, the young Elaria had to be supervised by Rassa whenever she was spending time with the other kids. This was something that, while embarrassing, the child begrudgingly accepted. Her mother needed to make sure she didn't hurt anyone else, and her watchful eyes helped to keep Iaqa in check. Not only did she feel guilty for what she did afterward, but she also couldn't believe she had done such a thing. How could she have hurt her sister? Surely, it was someone else, wasn't it? Although she does not know it, this blackout may have just been the first, but it wouldn't be the last she would experience.
Iaqa is eager to prove herself in the new world she was brought into. While physically different in appearance from her mothers and cousins, her ideals and attitudes are aligned one and the same with them. She questions how the Alkidike on Chibale could even share the same space with Earthlings, and why they would taint themselves in such ways. She is also curious as to what, exactly, Elzira has planned for the Elaria, in particular. More than anything, Iaqa wants to make a name for herself and to carve out a place for herself in the home in which she lives.
Quirks
Feels the most comfortable around her radaku, Zaz. Doesn't go anywhere without her familiar. Has a fondness for collecting and pressing flowers as a hobby. Blacks out when she gets angry. Clenches her teeth down when frustrated or stressed. Looks up to her mother, Rassa.
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