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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 9:59 am
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:01 am
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:03 am
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:04 am
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:06 am
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:25 am
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 1:06 pm
Prentice - Journal entry 1 Remaining Home
Vermina stood at the beach, the water reaching calmly up the shore to caress her feet before receding back into the depths. Somewhere out there was the island of Yeal, where her mother had possibly been sent. However.. she had heard about the strange Elarians, the twisted offspring of the exiles. They had been to the mainland. Earthlings had seen them. The exiles now had access to the rest of the world.. so why was there no word from her mother?
Vermina did not like thinking that her mother might have died during the war, but how else could she explain why not even a letter had been sent her way? Surely her mother still cared about her... if she was alive...
“Are you thinking of your mother?”
Vermina looked back at her aunt and nodded slowly. “I just wish that I could know. I do not even need to see her. I just want to know if she is alive or if she is dead.”
Pul’s eyes widened slightly. “How could you say such a thing, Mina? What would the others think if they heard you say that? Surely you wish to see your mother again? I know I would be happiest if my sister were to return.”
Vermina’s cheeks heated and she ducked her head with shame. “I did not mean to sound so cross. I do wish to see her, very much so. I just know that my heart could be made content if there was even just a word sent to say if mother was alive and well.”
Pul sighed and walked closer, placing a hand on her niece’s shoulder. “My dear, you must see how things are. After the war.. after what happened... those who fought know that there is no place for them here anymore. They stole of Aisha and twisted her with the soil of Yeal. How could they face our mother goddess again, knowing that they have been worshiping a broken copy of her? The land has become a spurned place for those who fought, and I wonder if they even have a desire to return here.”
Eyes widening, the prentice looked up with dismay. “Do you mean that mother.. that mother would not return even if she had the chance to? Not even to see us?”
Sighing, Pul pulled Vermina into a tight hug. “What I am saying is that they would be in danger if they returned here. Do you think the earthlings would allow peaceful passage for them? Time has passed, but wounds on both sides remain. Those who left.. they fight because they want to. A couple years on an island are not likely to make any significant change to their views.” Pul had other views.. but she could not discuss those with her young niece.
With a small nod, Mina backed out from the hug and looked out over the ocean again. “I wish they could all just see. I wish everyone could just see and let things be. Why do we need anything that is not on Chibale?”
Pul shook her head. “You are truly a daughter of our goddess; so focused on home. Expansion is important for any race to survive and flourish. The earthlings are keeping the resources of the mainland to themselves instead of allowing us the share we deserve. I may not agree with the war that took place, but I do know that the earthlings are stupid and selfish. We could do much if they would release their hold on the land.”
Mina smoothed back her dreads from her face. “If you feel that way, why did you not fight as well? Why were you not at mother’s side when she left? The earthlings might as well be nizdas for all it seems. Can you not just put them into their place and use what resources you want?”
The elder of the two gave an irritated sigh. “And what is it you feel, Mina? What is it you say when we are alone and preparing for the night? What do you say when no one else is listening? Does it truly matter what I say at all? I did not agree with the war, so I did not follow. You know this.”
Vermina once again ducked her head. “I apologize, Pul. I do know you told me that.” Feeling her eyes prickle with heat, she turned away to hide how she brushed at them. “Not knowing where mother is... I have just been thinking on it too much today, and it has me a little out of sorts.” Turning back around, she gave her aunt a smile. It.. was not the strongest smile, but it was there. “I am better now. Thank you for talking with me.”
Pul watched her niece a moment before smiling as well. “I understand. Get a little more fresh air, and then you should return to the village. There are things to do.”
After Pul left, Mina looked back out over the ocean. Who was she to voice such questions and make a fuss? Her job was to help out and smile. She let out a long sigh before bringing a stronger smile to her lips. She knew better; it did not matter how she felt. What mattered was everyone else in the village. Others needed her help, and she could not let her own concerns distract her from her purpose.
(( word count: 905 = 3 points ))
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 6:33 pm
Prentice - Journal entry 2 Class Affinity
Vermina loved helping out her little island home in any way she could. She had her fingers in a lot of pies, so to speak, and gave each job she was given her full attention. By now, Vermina could sew cloth, cook simple but large meals, mend leather, carry water, forage food, watch younglings, and copy notes. She was almost always busy, and she liked it that way. Being useful was one of Mina’s top priorities in life.
However, being useful was apparently not enough for Aunt Pul’s satisfaction. “It is time for you to come to a decision, Mina,” the older Alkidike started without any sort of preamble.
“Huh?” Mina looked up from the dish of nuts that she was preparing for lunch with a perplexed expression. “A decision on what?”
“A decision on what you will do with your future, of course,” Pul stated, as though it was obvious. Pul hooked a finger and gestured for Mina to follow her. “Come along. You are old enough to decide and have delayed long enough.”
Mina’s nose wrinkled slightly as she obediently stood to follow. She figured she could guess what decision this was supposed to be… She had indeed been putting the decision off, but it had not truly been a conscious thought. She had other things to do that had no requirement for weapons. A simple dagger had always been enough for her up to now, so why change a good thing?
Of course, the Alkidike way was the way of the warrior. While the fighting itself was not the most appealing to her, Mina knew that an Alk was not an Alk unless she could efficiently wield at least one kind of weapon, and the dagger was not going to cut it.
Pul was walking like a woman on a mission, and Mina had to walk quickly to keep up with her aunt’s long striding pace. “Every woman worth her place chooses a weapon once she comes of age. I will say, most have chosen their weapon before even reaching that age, your mother and myself included. While I do not actively seek fights, as you know, I made sure that I found myself a good fit for when I was needed. Pil had chosen the spear when she was a little younger than you are now, and she was considered a bit slow on the matter. She would want you to turn your focus on how you will defend your home in the future without any further delay.”
Mina pursed her lips slightly. “You speak as though I have completely ignored this facet of my life,” she huffed.
“You have!” Pul said sharply, turning around to give her niece a hard look. “Tell me, when is the last time you practiced with a weapon that was not that little dagger sitting at your hip? Hmm? Or a weapon that is not one of those meant for the younglings to experiment with? When was that?”
Cheeks flushing sharply, Vermina cocked her head away and toed at the ground. “I have not had the time for such practice, Aunt Pul. There are many other tasks I get asked to do for-”
“No excuses,” Pul snorted, spinning back around to continue the trip. “As a link in the future of our clan, you must show that you have the ability and determination to be one of the foundations that will keep our way of life alive.”
Mina sighed softly. Every prentice got this same sort of speech to one degree or another. She figured her aunt must be trying to channel her mother a little bit with this tactic. “You sound like my mother,” she said playfully, amused to see the pleased smirk that peeked along her aunt’s lips.
“Your mother was- is a good woman. We all have our faults, but she embodied the strength and will of a true Alkidike.” Pul paused a moment to pat Mina’s shoulder. “Pil would be so proud to see the woman you are becoming… and she would be more so to see you with a proper weapon!”
With the topic securely back on the track Pul wanted it to be, the pair entered the training grounds to practice. Indeed, Mina cocked her hip to stand and look over the provided weaponry already laid out. A shining pair of dual blades sat together on a narrow table. Next to those sat a sturdy bow with a small quiver of arrows. Propped against the table was a long pole of a spear. Mina held back a frown as she looked over her options. These were all sharp… “So, all I do is pick one of these things?” she asked with a smirk.
Pul gave her niece an exasperated look. “Mina, a weapon is more than just a thing. It is an extension of our beings!”
Mina waved her hand quickly. “I was kidding. I was kidding. I know what it means to take a weapon. It is one of the first lesson we receive as younglings, and nary a day goes by that I do not hear some form of their importance.”
“Vermina, you must take this seriously! Sarcasm does not become you. Your future, and the future of our warriors, hinges on this decision. Do not humiliate our family by trying to get through life with nothing more than that dagger.” Pulling out a pair of blades for herself, she gestured to the options. “Come on. I have made sure you are free the rest of this evening so that you may put all of your focus into this.”
Well, there would be no talking out of this… Mina needed to face this task as she faced every task entrusted to her. Her full focus and determination would go into it, even if it was not her favorite thing. Like it or not, she was not going to dishonor the Alkidike way by not picking a weapon for herself… She was not one to usually make use of such sarcastic words, but her nerves were hyperalert. Fighting with actual dangerous weapons…
The spear was what she tried first. Her mother’s weapon of choice, he appreciated the heft that was behind each swing and stab of the pole, but it was quite heavy. Then she picked up the bow and gave it an experimental tug. It was light and powerful, but she would need to keep stock of the arrows. She moved quickly on to the blades, keenly aware of her aunt’s attention now. Holding Pul’s weapon of choice, Mina only saw how close to her they were. Go into battle with these and let an enemy come within this reach? Not for her!
Of course, deciding was not so simple as that. It was hours later when they finally left the training grounds and armory. Pul had made Mina spend time with each weapon, making sure the younger woman knew enough to make an educated decision on the matter.
Mina was exhausted. The blades resulted in sore shoulders from trying to quickly swing them around. Her arms and back ached from lifting and swinging the heavy spear. Neither option had appealed to her. What she left with was a bow strung over her back with a fresh quiver stuffed with arrows. In the end, Mina was happy with her choice, as forced as it may have been. Mina was always a supporter, and the bow would be a perfectly corresponding tool to fit her style.
They stopped at the small tavern for a meal on the way home, and Mina was struck by a new inspiration. Two youngling raced by, each one on the back of a radaku. “Aunt Pul, what is it like to battle with an animal at your side?”
Pul cocked her brow and looked at the racing youths. “I would not know personally. They can be quite useful though. They can carry extra supplies and are extra eyes and ears to watch out around you. Many warriors ride on a mount, and the radaku is what we prefer. They are small, but fast and strong and they don’t take up much space. It is easier to care for them on the road.”
Mina’s brow knit with consideration. It was true that the radaku did seem small for a mount, but there were other animals that could be ridden, right? Maybe she could have one sent for to be brought to Chibale for her? It was strange that Chibale did not come with any natural mounts. That would be much preferred. However, the limited knowledge she had on the mainland fauna indicated that they were quite capable as mounts as well.
She could see it now... Her riding on a grand beast with her bow and arrows, shooting at dangers from a distance while keeping those close to her safe with her cover fire. With a large enough mount, she could help transport supplies and even other warriors wherever they were needed! What could be more helpful in a tumultuous time than that? “After we eat, may we go look at the mounts they have available?” she asked suddenly, finding her second wind. The weapons training had tired her out, but the idea of learning about the mounts available was giving her a boost of energy. After eating, she would surely be more than ready to explore the options!
Pul’s brow rose with surprise, and then she smiled and nodded. “I believe that you would work well with a creature at your side. Let us eat first, and then we will spend some time at the stables.”
(( word count: 1608 = 5 pnts ))
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 10:25 pm
Prentice - Journal entry 3 Wild!
Alone in the woods, Vermina told herself that she was training and practicing. She told herself that the bow and the arrows on her back meant that she was going to use them.
Instead, Mina had climbed up a tree to stare at a pair of nondwa resting on a low branch. Their gentle glow was soothing, and the soft colors easy on the eyes. What would it be like to be a nondwa? What would it be like to not worry about the Dretch attacking, or hostilities with the earthlings? What would it be like to have nothing more to worry about than finding food and a place to rest? What would it be like to not worry about proving herself to the others?
The two nondwa fluttered away, graceful and seemingly carefree. If only…
She hopped down from the tree to land among the roots, confused when she landed on something sticky. Huffing with disgust, it took a surprising amount of effort to pull herself free. With a bit of a tumble, she finally got loose and looked back at the trap she had been in. It was a strange looking web… Wait, she knew what that web was! Or, more precisely, she knew what had made that web! Menzuri!
Mina rushed to her feet to start running, yelping at a sudden pain at her ankle. She kicked hard, sparing a small peek at the menzuri she had sent tumbling back before resuming her retreat.
After a few minutes of straight running, Mina was panting softly and feeling dizzy. Her leg ached and itched where the bug had bitten her, but she had gotten away!
Taking a sip from her water canteen, Mina looked up at the trees and climbed up a few branches to take a break. She was wary of staying on the ground now. Perhaps climbing was not the best idea for her right then, but she climbed anyway, more concerned about the bugs than the heights.
But then she wasn’t dizzy anymore.
Who could be dizzy when they had wings sprouting from their back? Mina looked over her shoulder with a big smile. She had nondwa wings! Amazing! The wings were the same tone as her skin with hints of the green at the ends. Her body felt lighter than air! She reached to touch one wing, and it felt as though nothing was even there. They were so delicate!
Mina stood on the branch and fluttered her new wings before jumping into the air. Arms spread out wide, she flew up into the canopy and the sun above. The colors were radiant up there! She could see maglardilla gliding through the high branches to eat the ripe fruits. She could see kipepwi fluttering around, their wings vibrant colors as opposed to their nondwa cousin’s pastels. She wanted that!
Mina looked over her shoulder again, gasping at the deep gold and bright green her wings were now. Laughing with delight, she danced in the air above the canopy, kipepwi fluttering up to join her. It was absolutely magical! If only she could bring the rain-walking mystic up here with her!
All at once, the wings vanished from existence. Mina dropped with a scream, falling for what seemed like hours! When she hit the ground, she blacked out.
~~~~
‘-up soon.’ ‘Do not worry. She is strong.’ ‘I just cannot imagine…’
Vermina’s eyes blinked open, and she groaned when her body made it known how sore she was. Instantly, three eager faces looked down at her.
“See? I told you she would wake soon,” boasted the medic. “Is there any brain damage?” asked the medic’s assistant with far too much excitement.
“Honestly!” Pul scolded, reaching over to swat the assistant’s head. Pul turned her attention back to her niece quickly enough. “What were you doing out there, Vermina? A hunting party found you face down in the dirt as unconscious as you could be with a bleeding ankle and a gash on your head!”
Mina sat up slowly, a hand rising to touch the bandage on her forehead while her eyes focused on her ankle. “I.. I walked into a menzuri web. It must have bitten me.”
The medic clicked her tongue. “It’s a wonder you’re not still in that nest! Those things are deadly, you know!”
Mina focused on Pul with a grin. “I was flying, Aunt Pul! I had wings and flew all the way up above the canopy!”
Pul looked rightly confused for a moment, and then snorted back a laugh. “Darling, those menzuri have some tricky poisons. I have a feeling you were hallucinating.”
Mina looked over at the medic, who nodded in agreement. “Oh…” That would explain why she was facedown on the ground… She had imagined the whole thing. “I am glad to have hallucinated,” she said with a giggle. “I will be dreaming of flying for a while now.”
Pul shook her head. “You better dream about your feet being flat on the ground. There is plenty enough to do without fluttering off into the wild.”
Mina nodded and swung her legs off the bed, wincing at the swelling around her ankle. For a moment, she had been free of every concern and worry. It had been wonderful.
(( word count: 880 = 2 pnts ))
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Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 11:16 pm
Prentice- Growth Quest Solo Blade
Gaining confidence with use of her bow, Vermina’s progress was steady enough to leave her satisfied. She continued remaining busy doing some running around for the village, making time for training when she found it convenient. Her heart was not quite in the use of the weapon yet, but it was necessary. She ad also been training by riding one of the more friendly radaku on the island. The creatures were known for their tight bonds to their owners, so finding one that would let her practice riding it had been a little bit tricky. Thankfully, her sisters all looked out for each other, and a willing subject had been found. She could ride the creature, and she could shoot the bow… but she could not do both. She was willing to take her time learning the techniques.
Aunt Pul was less patient. Like when she had taken her niece to choose a weapon, Pul was eager to see Mina’s skills with the chosen tools improve quickly. After all, she knew her niece had some catching up to do! “Keep the pace up, Mina! Our sisters will not wait for us.”
Mina nodded and quickened her steps as directed. “You really do not need to go so far out of your way for me. We could just hunt in the forest here, or set up something at the training grounds? Surely you have other things to do?”
“Helping you grow is the most important thing right now,” Pul huffed, picking up her pace even further to make Mina have to walk faster.
Mina hurried along, shifting the bow and quiver of arrows as they bounced on her back with each quick step. A whole day of just training with them… Mina wondered if she would last. It was her first official hunt to take part in, and it was with her aunt and a group of sisters over on Jauhar. She was to be the rookie in the group, and that made her feel quite uncomfortable. Everyone else knew what they were doing… and she did not actually want to be there.
When the others came into sight, Vermina raised her head and smiled as though content with the world. Pul might be able to see through her, but the others would see a young Alk like any other, ready to continue learning the path of the warrior.
The ferry ride over went smoothly, and Mina was stepping onto Jauhar soil for the second time in her life. She was over here far too often! She could remember her last visit and her run-in with that hybrid male. Enlightening, but still thoroughly weird.
The leader of the group gave them the summary of their mission, telling everyone what their role was to be. Mina was to take point with another, more experienced archer. When they found their prey, they would be the ones to shoot and try killing or at least wounding it so that the others could rush in and finish it.
Mina swallowed thickly but nodded along with the plan. Taking point in the group right away? It sounded crazy! Her fellow archer gave her an encouraging smile though.. and, somehow, Mina actually felt a little tension ease. The sisters looked out for each other. Right. She was not alone in the hunt.
As they crept through the woods, Mina felt her heart thudding in her chest. What if she messed up? What if the prey got away because she did something wrong? It would be utterly humiliating! It would embarrass her, and embarrass Aunt Pul, and completely dishonor the memory of her mother! Pil was so strong and capable, and always came home from a hunt with something in hand. Her hand holding the bow began trembling, making the arrow in place click softly against the wood. She closed her eyes and forced a deep breath. It would be okay. She took on challenges all the time without this much concern. It would be okay.
A hiss that had forever been embedded into her mind was heard, and she closed her eyes tighter. It was just her imagination. She was already nervous. There was no-
“Dretch!” a voice shrieked.
Mina’s eyes snapped open and she spun around. A Dretch had appeared and had its arms around one of the hunters! She wasn’t as close as she had been when the one had appeared at the meeting on Chibale, but she was just as terrified.
“Vermina!” The other archer shouted, taking aim at the Dretch. “We have to stop it!”
Mina’s whole body shook as she struggled to keep the grip on her arrow and raise the bow. Her counterpart had already fired at least twice! The other warriors were rushing to help the sister in need, her Aunt Pul among them. She wanted to help… She had to help! Tightening her jaw, she aimed at the horrible creature and let the arrow loose. …It landed nowhere near the Dretch.
She had to help!
Teeth grinding as the creature backed into the hole of air with their sister, Mina notched another arrow and let it fly, a scream of anger chasing on the tail of the shot. This arrow had hit! ..but the creature seemed unfazed. Perhaps the robes were too thick to puncture with her simple shots? Before she could grab a third arrow, the space in the air of the clearing closed… and both the Dretch and the warrior were gone.
Mina gapped at the empty space. Again…. Again, she had been right there, and unable to save anyone…
Pul jogged over to make sure Mina was alright, putting a hand onto her niece’s shoulder. “I saw your arrow land,” she said softly. “Use this memory wisely, Mina. This is why we have our weapons. Others are jealous and hateful of our women, and will seek to harm us. The weapons are not just for show or just for hunting. We attack and defend with them. With such a threat stalking us… it is more important now than ever that we know our weapons as much as possible.”
The walk back to the ferry was a somber affair. Not only had they caught nothing to bring back, but a skilled sister had been lost. The Dretch continued to prove how dangerous they were.
For Mina, she spent the walk in a slight daze, but came out of it once she was on the ferry home. Brow knitting, she looked at her arrows and back to the receding shore of Jauhar. She had always known that the weapons were important in war and battle, but having never actually been in one herself… The attack put the necessity of the tools into sharp clarity. It was not as simple as firing a few shots to ward off the enemy. There would be actual casualties. She had to actually aim at them. There were sisters around her in real danger. The Dretch seemed indestructible, but the war that so many mothers and sisters had fought in… those had been real.
This encounter with the Dretch had been a sharp kick into her mind. It wasn’t just a one-time attack. It could not so easily be disconnected from.
She had a place in her people. She knew now what the way of the warrior meant; at least, a clearer concept of what it meant. Mina was not a warrior yet, but she knew she would be. She had been born to do her best for her sisters, and that was what she intended to do.
(( Word count: 1,265 ))
Conclusion: Vermina has always been content to stay on the island home of Chibale. As such, she has always had a slight disconnection from what it was like to be part of the bigger world. Happy to run around on little jobs, Mina is preparing to step into the role expected of her. This second encounter with the Dretch has shown her that not everything is easily taken care of, and that her urge to help her people truly does go beyond just making life easier and comfortable. She wants to protect them, as they all work to protect each other.
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