|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 6:05 pm
Be ConfidentNiabi x ZuriNiabi meets a new face while sneaking off to find some peace and quiet.
[Finished]
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 6:53 pm
CYOA EventNiabi x GroupNiabi decides to join Yaholo and the others on their treasure hunt but is too skittish to finish the journey.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:51 pm
Should I Stay or Should I Go?Niabi x YaholoNiabi discusses traveling woes with Yaholo, trying to convince herself of leaving.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:59 pm
Alone at LastNiabi x KaalniaNiabi tried to relax on a hot summer's day, only to find that she is in no way alone.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:44 am
Meta Chapter 4: TrialsTournament BattlesNiabi signs up for a tournament, and surprisingly makes it through the first round, but loses to her friend Yaholo.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:45 am
The StandsMETANiabi is overwhelmed by the amount of people who came to see the tournament.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:50 pm
Obedience
class affinity solo Niabi looked down at the pool of water she was standing in. She was about waist deep in an outlet to the river that coursed through Jauhar and the refreshing water felt nice against her skin. She had come prepared this time, bringing her typical swim gear with her, though she secretly relished her nude dips alone. It was the one time she truly felt free and exhilarated. It was like she was breaking the rules, letting it all loose in this river and letting all of her negativity float down stream with her. Maybe she could just follow the current and end up somewhere else? Maybe she should. Who knew where she would end up? Yaholo probably would. He had been to so many places; of course he would know exactly where it went and ended up.
Niabi let the water flow past her as she created a break in its continuous current. It would have to work a little harder to get past her, but it would continue on like it always did. She sunk lower and lower until she was up to her nose in water. She let her thoughts wander and drift with the current, going wherever they pleased to go. This time they wandered to her mothers. Her mothers. They loved her so much. She knew they did. They were only looking out for her, and for her best interest, but really she had just had so much of them lately, she couldn’t stand it anymore. Not that she could even manage to say it out loud to anyone.
All they ever did was try to coerce Niabi into fighting and being strong and being like the other Alkidike, and like them. They were both warriors, both using weapons with pride, taking down whatever opponent they needed to without hesitation if it was for the good of the Sisters. They knew what was at stake if they didn’t. It was their passion for protection and honor that drove them into each other’s arms really, and Niabi knew that.
Her mother Esosa wielded the dual blades, preferring the up close confrontation it allowed and the aggression it deserved. She was entirely graceful when she swung her blades back and forth, moving as if she were born with blades extending from her arms. She was so strong. And her mother Tawiah was no different. Tawiah was an expert with a spear, having had a custom one built for her with a curved blade at the end, and a thinner, more lightweight handle carved from the strongest wood in Jauhar. She moved with long sweeps, and could use her spear in over thirty different ways to take down her opponent. They were both from the islands and both moved out in order to protect their Sisters who had chosen to move to Jauhar.
Both of her mothers wanted Niabi to take after them, choosing their own weapon so that they could train her and have her become like them. And that was all an Alkidike mother would want for their daughter. But Niabi had a sour taste in her mouth whenever she thought about holding either of those weapons. They were both so harmful, so dangerous and sharp. The smallest mistake and you could kill someone rather than just stopping them from attacking. She couldn’t handle it. She didn’t want blood on her hands. She could barely speak properly for fear of hurting someone’s feelings, how was she supposed to hurt someone physically?
Niabi sunk farther into the water, letting it come over her eyes and drift past her forehead and she finished her submersion. She could stay down here forever if she didn’t have to breathe to live. The water was so cool and refreshing, and it didn’t hold expectations. She pulled herself up and let her body float on its surface, holding onto a rooted plant lightly, just barely enough so she didn’t float away.
But she had to choose a weapon, she was an Alkidike, so which would it be? She had already missed more training days than she ever should have. She thought about the three choices she had. Well, spear and blades were more than out of the question. But the bow… it could keep Niabi out of reach of her opponents. It couldn’t be used with deadly force unless, and only unless, Niabi wanted it to. That was a big plus. But it still seemed so rough.
But there was another option. She pushed her hand against the water, letting the tension of the surface break and take her hand under. Magic. Magic was an option. It wasn’t the kind of magic that the earthlings used, but it was something. Magic infused weapons were rare with the Alkidike, she knew that. Not many chose to learn the extra techniques necessary to use it. But it could buy Niabi more learning time and less time on the field. And it was so graceful.
She thought back to the only time she had seen a magic weapon being used. A Sister had come from the islands and a pack of wild radaku had attacked a group of younger prentices in Andile. Niabi was one of the prentices. She had shot her bow and it glistened and radiated a light before bursting into flames when it reached its mark. The flames were a little harsh for Niabi, but she could only bet that it would look magnificent with water spiraling around it and pushing it forward.
Niabi opened her eyes against the sun barely filtering in from way up in the canopy and almost smiled to herself. If any weapon would have to do, it would be a magic weapon. Her mothers could be proud in the fact that she would be one of the few to do it. It would be a win - win she hoped. She sighed and let the water rise just that much more over her face, coming up to the corners of her mouth.
She righted herself and stood, pushing the water out of her hair and holding her head steady for a second. If a warrior was what she must be, a warrior she would become. But she would do it her way, a gentle and graceful way. A way that would suit only her and her mothers would be proud.
[word count: 1,063]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:43 pm
Secrecy The night was slightly cool for once with the small breeze that was sweeping through the forest of Jauhar, and Niabi could be glad for that. It made her cloak that much more bearable to wear. Normally she felt stifled by it, the fabric draping so much longer than what she was used to. But tonight it was comfortable. She hugged it closer around her body and turned her head to both sides, scanning the area.
She was sneaking out tonight. Lately Niabi had been feeling restless, something she couldn’t do much about when the sun was out. But her mothers had gone to bed, and the night had settled in on Tendaji. Naibi looked up to the canopy that shadowed everything down on the forest floor. She could only guess that the moon was high up in the sky as she left her home in the trunk of one of Jauhar’s massive tower of a tree. The rest of the village was equally as quiet, most of her Sisters taken to bed, save a few who were left on guard duty. It was one of the things that all Alkidikes rotated in, regardless of where they were from. She had heard that the islands had guards also, mostly for their Mother Aisha, but also to protect from intruders. But the guards here in Andile were far off and wouldn’t be a problem.
Niabi wasn’t sure where she was going, but it would have to be somewhere she could return before the sun was up. She would be exhausted tomorrow, not planning on sleeping at all, but her restless legs and wandering mind wouldn’t let her have it any other way. She scampered through the forest and off into the wilderness, leaving the sights of the village behind her. Her walk was quiet and undisturbed, nothing was alert enough to care that Niabi was wandering around alone. She had brought a practice bow, just in case, though she doubted she would be able to use it even if she needed to. She touched the bow that she had draped across her shoulder and laid on her back. It was cold and heavy, something she hadn’t expected, but she would have been more prepared if she had actually practiced like she should have. But it was something that she wouldn’t regret really. Not enough practice was just fine by her if she could live her life some in the meantime.
The ground was soft under her bare feet, with only the occasional crunch of a twig or leaf to change the tempo of her steps. She silently leaped over extended roots and landed without much of a sound. Not without effort though; Niabi was close to sweating only an hour out on her journey. Her cloak was an addition she also wasn’t used to.
But soon, she saw something in the distance. It was flickering… some sort of light… She narrowed her eyes and peered out over the forest at the source. She couldn’t make it out from here though. She would have to get closer. She tiptoed towards her intended target, not really quite sure what she would do when she found out what it was. What if it was dangerous? She shrugged her shoulders. Now was not the time for denial and regrets.
She had leapt over the last of the roots in her way and on the other side was what she had seen early. The flicker and sway of the light was a torch, multiple torches really, all lit up in a circle. Niabi hid behind one of the protective tree’s trunks and crouched down; peering through a tangle of roots to see what it was these torches were doing way out here in the forest.
But what she saw surprised her. The torches weren’t just randomly placed in the forest; there was an entire village above them. Was this an earthling village? She sure didn’t know of any new Alkidike villages that had sprung up to the east of her own, and she doubt it would have been in the canopy or that it would escaped her, since they would have had to have traveled straight through her home to get here. Niabi crouched further down as she saw shadows approach.
Three shifter women, one of them not much older than Niabi, appeared in the circle of torches, each of them taking a stance and freezing where they were. Odd… was the only thought that passed through Niabi’s head. But then a drum sounded and began to make a tempo, and another joined in and before she knew it, there was a song playing in the clearing. The three women seemed to start as if on cue and it was such a beautiful sight. They swayed and flowed with the music, letting the rhythm take them in unison to their next graceful step. They arched and bended, twisted and leaped, creating a pace like the flowing of the river. It was gorgeous. Niabi found herself enchanted by the movement, wanting to know what it felt like to follow the movement of a song. She wanted that for herself.
The song ended and the dancers bowed to each other before hugging and laughing and giggling to one another. It was a bonding experience for them. Niabi sighed and leaned herself against the trunk of the tree. Her soul needed that. She felt content, she had seen something she might not ever see again, and it was so special to her. She had ventured out for the first time on her own and it had not let her down.
She turned back towards home, looking back just once more to make sure she wasn’t noticed, and hopped back over the roots that had led her to this place. Maybe she would get some sleep after all tonight. One thing was for sure: she could feel her body wanting to move with the rhythm of the drums she could hear in the distance as they picked back up again for their next song.
[word count: 1,014]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 2:03 pm
Class QuestBladeNiabi is forced into a training session with an elder that goes very very wrong.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:39 pm
Seclusion Niabi sighed heavily, letting her body melt into the tree she was leaning on. She had been on Chibale for weeks now, refusing to leave. She didn’t want to go back out to Jauhar. Not yet. She wasn’t ready yet. She shuddered at the thought and closed her eyes, shutting the world out. It was dark in the forest, but she knew that the sun had to be nearly in the center of the sky by now. After her trials, Niabi had secluded herself from everyone. She barely saw any Sisters, and she ran from any animals. She was a frightened mouse, skittering away from any form of confrontation or danger. She felt like she just needed to get out and away from everyone and everything. Kerr’ba was gone. And it was her fault. If she hadn’t had been so weak, she could have helped Kerr’ba. If she had known how to use a bow, she would have been useful. And if she had just gone to training like she was supposed to, she wouldn’t have even been called to the elders, and Kerr’ba wouldn’t have had to go out with her on a hunting trip.
Niabi wasn’t ready to give in to the future yet. She was a blade now, but that didn’t mean she liked fighting any more now than she did before. And now she just hated the unknown even more. As far as she was concerned, she could be no happier than if she never had to see another bug mage again. She had hoped that someone else would get to them and stop whatever it was they were doing to cause havoc in the forests. She also hoped that she could just fade away and not see anyone again. But she knew better than that. She knew that that wouldn’t happen, but she could pretend. She could just live in the forest – barely alive – until she knew she had to go back and live as a Sister. Which was inevitable, that she was sure of.
Niabi opened her eyes and looked toward the canopy, so far in the distance and just barely glowing with the light that was hitting the top of the leaves. If she wasn’t so unsteady on her feet, she would be up there, where it was light and she could know she was safe, rather than on the floor, where she was vulnerable to whatever hid in the darkness. Niabi sat up, pushing herself away from the large trunk supporting her and swayed forward, getting to her feet. It had been weeks that she was in the forest alone, and her time was coming to a close. Even though she blamed herself for Kerr’ba’s disappearance, and what Niabi was certain was death, she had a new orientation on life. She did not want to pursue confrontation, but she knew that she had to support her Sisters from any dangers that she knew would come to them. She was an Alkidike, and if her trials in Jauhar had shown her anything, it was that she had to learn to use her bow, learn to kill, learn to hunt, and learn to defend those she felt alliance towards. And her Sisters were the only people that fit the bill. After seeing what these unknown bug mages could do, she had to wonder what would happen if Oba really did take over. Or worse, what if the earthlings sided with Oba and left the Alkidike to fight off the rest of Tendaji? She didn’t trust them. Not anymore. If they weren’t a Sister, then they weren’t there for Niabi. She had a wary eye now, she wasn’t so naive to believe that everyone had good in them. But the Alkidike: they were all connected on another level. They all shared the same true Mother. They all shared the same blood. They would all die for one another and for their species. They were the ones who could be trusted. Niabi thought back to the earthlings that she had met, but her memories were tainted with hidden meaning now. She had to wonder what was lie and what was truth. Who wanted to hurt Niabi and her Sisters, and who were friends. She thought back to Ruelash and knew that there were evil earthlings out there, just as bad as the mysterious and incomprehensible bug mages. Those that thrived on combat and killing, and enjoyed the blood they shed. Niabi shuddered again and shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. No. She would not lump all earthlings together, but that didn’t mean that she had to befriend them all either.
She looked down at the bow that was on the floor. Kerr’ba’s bow. It was given to her after her trials by the elders, and they had thought that she could put it to good use, but she was scared. She didn’t want to mar the only thing left of Kerr’ba. She lifted the bow gingerly and stroked it lightly, feeling the wood under her fingers and the tight bowstring. Niabi frowned, knowing that this was the time she was almost dreading. She knew that it was time for her to join society again. She wouldn’t be able to put it off anymore, but it was almost a weight lifted off of her shoulders. She would be able to move forward at least. As scary and unknown as the future was, she would be able to contribute to her Sisters and be of use. She could never replace the guilt she felt for causing Kerr’ba’s defeat, but she could be stronger, for Kerr’ba’s sake at least, and eventually it might be something Niabi had needed all along. Niabi could be a better person after all of this, after giving in to her elder’s desires and the traditions of her people. She was tired of feeling alone, tired of not having her Sister’s to lean on, but she would have to contribute to their people if she was going to get anywhere. And she at least felt ready for that.
[word count: 1,015]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:38 pm
Escape to the Trees!Niabi x VollereiNiabi meets a large Alkidike with an appetite. Together Niabi gets her first lesson in hunting.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 1:14 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 4:48 pm
Niabi vs BriellaJauhar BattleAn older Sister - Briella - offered to help Niabi train with her. Niabi lost quickly, but the experience was more than helpful.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 1:47 pm
Hunger PainsNiabi vs MaglardillaNiabi is sent out with a group of sisters to gather some of their tasty delicacies.
[Finished]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
