[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Pashake embarks on his searching and becomes a man.

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A spot of blood on the desert, the dark keerdash trees leave in late spring with crimson foliage. Their ruddy shade is an occasional resting place for the Tatsuwaat tribe of Chaktawe.

[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Postby Pashake on October 7th, 2011, 12:34 am

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Timestamp: 7th of Fall, 503 AV

Pashake sat cross-legged next to a small campfire staring into the flames. His breathing was steady, in through the nose and out through the mouth, and he watched the flames dance with one another as he would soon be dancing himself. Their shadows mingled with the keerdash branches above casting an eerie flickering glow over the area. It was the day his searching would begin. Pashake had seen the ceremony before, but he was unsure what would happen after he left. Could he bring weapons, food, his horse, or was he to be completely alone? Not that he wasn't used to being alone, he often felt that way ever since his mother died. Pashake's father was still alive, but they were nothing alike and as much as they might try Pash felt they would never understand each other. He often wondered how his parents even came together when they were so different.

Sighing, Pashake let his mind wander back to happier times. He wandered back to a day when his mother still lived. Pashake's mother died two years prior, though he sometimes believed her spirit still lingered to watch over him. They were both spiritists, Pash and his mother, but Pashake had very little experience under his belt when it came to ghosts. Would he even know if his mother were near? The flames continued to dance and Pashake continued to stare into them, letting his mind drift further back. As he looked over his childhood it was with a hint of sorrow that he admitted to himself it was almost over. When he came back from his searching he would be a man, and that was something to be happy about, but gone were the innocent years of childhood. Pash realized in fact that his childhood had really ended the day his mother died. The searching was just an affirmation of what he had already become.

It was almost time for the ceremony to begin. With a branch Pash spread the coals and then dumped sand over them to prevent them from burning. He sensed the movement behind him before he heard it and knew that his father had come for him. Pashake stood and turned around meeting his father who to Pash's surprised embraced him warmly. After a moment's hesitation Pashake wrapped his arms around his father and returned the embrace. "I am so proud of you, Pash. I wish your mother could be here to see you today." Pashake smiled, though his father couldn't see it, and whispered back, "I do too, father, I do too."

His father broke the embrace and held Pash at arm's length, trying to get one last look at his boy before he became a man. "She would be so proud of you, you know. She wanted to see this more than anything in the world." Pashake nodded and placed a hand on his father's shoulder. "I know, father, and I'm sure that wherever she is she's watching now." Flashing his father a boyish grin he turned and headed for the ceremony. "Let's get this thing started. I can't stay a boy forever!"

The sadness of the moment didn't keep the excitement from building in his stomach as they walked toward the place where the ceremony would be. The tall trees of the keerdash grove parted to reveal the ring where the dance would take place. Pash wished his mother was there to see him, yes, but the sadness was replaced with excitement and anticipation for the ceremony to begin. Though he knew exactly what would happen, and had practiced for it for several days, he still couldn't wait to see what would happen. The entire tribe had come out to see him, but then again they came out to see everybody's Searching ceremony so he couldn't feel that special. He could see faces around the clearing and could sense movement in the darkness, though he couldn't see all the pretty girls he knew were there. Though it was a cold night a thin layer of sweat coated his skin as his nerves worked away at him, but he was ready and he wasn't going to back down. Pashake stepped into the circle and waited for the ceremony to begin.
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[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Postby Colombina on November 6th, 2011, 2:11 am



As Pashake entered the sacred circle, he felt unseen hands drape him in the mantle of Eywaat. His shoulders crowned in black feathers and bits of polished obsidian, he felt a taste of the splendor of the occasion.

Happy anticipation was a halo around the community, all were pleased to see one of their own join the rare fellowship of those with guardians. They were also eager to see this latest interpretation of the dance embraced by their daughters. While the soul of the story was always the same, the gestures varied with each telling.

Pashake was not alone in the circle, the striking dancer who played Makutsi was reclining on her side, swathed in all the shades of water: the blues deep as memory and bright as sky and the grays of rivers over stones. Her pose encompassed her, and she would not move until the music began.

In the trees around him, he heard the murmur and shifting steps of the other dancers. They would be the streams of water and the scarlet trees when the time came.

The stage was almost set, all that remained was the appearance of the "beloved". A representative of the woman who was thought to be the reason for the keerdash grove. When she arrived, the performance would begin.


OOCFeel free to improvise a bit! Just don't finish entirely.
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[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Postby Pashake on December 8th, 2011, 10:07 pm

Pashake waited anxiously for his dance partner to arrive, the girl who would be playing the beloved of their god, Eywaat. Pashake had practiced his part of the dance many times, and he had seen it performed more than once by other seekers, but he was still nervous. Who wouldn't be? Pashake wasn't a social butterfly, he didn't like being the center of attention, but for one night and one night he would make an exception.

Finally the girl arrived, and beads of nervous sweat continued to trickle down Pashake's face. He stood in pose, ready and waiting for the music to begin. All the hushed whisper around the grove fell silent as the first not was struck, and both dancers sprung into action. Pashake was not the most graceful of dancers, but his lack of grace he hoped would simply appear as more masculine in movement rather than just showing his lack of skill. He and the beloved, his beloved for duration of the dance, told a story of love and perseverance. They wove the tale of a plea, a blessing for the beloved of Eywaat and her people from the goddess Makutsi.

Pashake may not have been the most graceful of dancers to perform the ritual, but he didn't miss a beat and the end result was the same as every other searching Pashake had seen. The goddess was pleased and girls of blue and red danced among them, streams bringing life to the small forest that was the Keerdash grove. Finally, as the dance was coming to an end, Pashake's nerves left him and the last moments of.the performance were undoubtedly his best. Pashake was ready for whatever came next.

OOCWow, that was a tough post to write. I am a terrible dancer irl so I've always found stuff like that difficult to write. And sorry for taking so long. Been busy and all the usual excuses.
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[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Postby Colombina on December 28th, 2011, 11:13 pm

Despite the stiltedness of Pashake's limbs, the dance was catching. It had a spirit all its own, begging one to forget and live only for itself. It swept through and over him, raising him up and settling him gracefully to the earth. Tones of Eywaat filled the dancers: curious, bright, joyous and still untamed. They sprung up around Pashake like impatient flowers and eddied around him like diverted streams.

It was a celebration, all for him and around him. Today he was going to seek out secrets and answers; he would know and be known.

"Makutsi" played her part, giving her blessing as the scarlet beloved settled between Pashake's arms. Her hair smelled of sun and honey and her mica dusted skin was warm.

At the dance's end, his tribe sang and stomped their appreciation. He felt the weight of their goodwill and the tide of their pride. The beloved twirled out of his arms with a bow and smile.

The Wayhali then stepped forward, parting the happy crowd. In his hands was an intricately woven crown of keerdash leaves. He gestured for Pashake to come forward and accept his accolades.

As the crown was lowered on Pashake's head, the Wayhali spoke reverently.

“Remember us and remember joy as you seek our gods. For though you may tire in the night, strength will come in the morning.”

Now crowned in the leaves of the beloved tree, Pashake was bid stand. From the glowing crowd came a person of especial significance to him who asked,

“What shall you seek in the sands, Pashake?”

oocPick someone to be this person of especial significance and play out a little conversation :) Or you can have another PC make a special appearance to play this part.
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[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Postby Pashake on January 18th, 2012, 7:32 pm

Pashake lowered his head and accepted the crown, as so many young seekers before him had done so. His nerves were returning. He knew what part would come next. And he had a pretty good idea of who it would be, although in his heart he wished that it would be someone else. It was a wish he never expected to come true.

It didn't come true, either, and when his father approached Pashake wasn't even the least bit surprised. Who else would it be? Did he really expect his mother to come back to life just for his ceremony, for her to have lived in secret all these years as a ghost just to see him off? In truth he would have never wished that. As much as Pashake missed his mother, he could never wish such a thing upon her. Those few ghosts he had made contact with, with the help of his mother, all seemed so miserable. No.. his father would have to do.

Hataka, his father, a hunter and a warrior, the complete opposite of Pashake, who aspired to be a mage and scholar like his mother. That was all they had in common, really, Pashake's mother and their love for her. They both missed her deeply, and though his father had remarried it was evident now that the old man missed her as much as Pash did. His father cleared his throat and offered his son a genuine smile before speaking the words that were spoken at each and every ceremony.

"What shall you seek in the sands, Pashake?"

The young Chaktawe sighed, thinking carefully over his answer. He had rehearsed it many times already in his head, but one last check over things never hurt anybody. It was such a loaded question, after all, and though he had never seen anyone told their answer was wrong, Pashake wasn't about to be the first. The answer was supposed to be something personal, something from the heart. Pash thought his answer sounded kind of cliche, but it was the best he could come up with. Pashake was far from an eloquent speaker.

"I seek a story.. whatever story the gods have told for me. And I'll do my best to play my part."

Gods, that was lame! But it was out, and there was no taking it back now. As he waited to see what would happen next, Pashake took solace in the fact that at least what he said had been original, and he hadn't made a complete fool of himself like some of the seekers he had seen. Yes.. he was ready. Sort of.
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[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Postby Colombina on January 7th, 2013, 1:33 am

Stepping forward to guide the ceremony onward, the Wayhali spoke to Pashake. His voice was worn and warm from contemplation.
"May you never fear your role and know the words you ought to say better than any Abayla."
The beautiful dancer who had inhabited Makutsi's part slipped from the gaily adorned cast. Her blue dress made a small river on the sand as she moved. Her flowing grace existed still, for him and his moment. A piece of pottery was cradled under her arm, glimmering with mica dust. She asked Pashake to hold out his hands and it seemed she would pour precious water into them, but when the pitcher tilted, only a star-shaped flower came tumbling out.
"Take and eat, so your searching may begin." the dancer said. Only expectation followed. It was the last gesture of the dance that embraced all of them. After this, it would be Pashake alone with only the hopes of his people behind him.

The flower had a spiced sweetness before breaking into crisp bitterness. Peace ran through Pashake like a flush of blood and his limbs seemed to shed water.
"So come the years," the dancer echoed in ceremonial tones. The rest was the liquid dim that rose before a dream.

***


His cheek was itchy from the press of grains on his skin. He'd been lying curled under a palm frond for unknown chimes or even bells. It was scant shade, but enough to keep him from losing more water. Water... did he have any? A full skin of water was hidden by his body and his pack was wedged in the sand beside him. His tribe had not left him without means.
Gone was the rosy shade and the fragrance of the keerdash boughs, only the magnificent desolation of the burning lands encompassed him.
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[Flashback] Searching for a Story (Bina)

Postby Pashake on January 24th, 2013, 11:04 pm

Pash had witnessed many dances in the ceremony, and while all of them varied somewhat from person to person, they all ended the same way, with the consuming of the flower. Pashake did not know what happened after that. Nobody ever spoke of it, really. The ceremony was public, and the rites were well known to everyone in the tribe, but the searching itself was a personal experience, and was unique to each individual. The flower signified the start of that experience, the start of a new story. Pash loved stories.. hopefully his would have a happy ending. If not, he prayed that at least it would be interesting.

Pashake caught the flower in his hands, staring down at the small, star shaped thing. He had seen many eat the flower, and while he did not know it's exact effects, he could make a few guesses as to what it might do to him. Even so, he was nervous. It wasn't just what the flower would do, it was the mystery of what would happen afterwards. This was the last step, and after he ate the flower, his searching would begin. Mustering his courage, Pashake put the flower to his lips and ate. The taste was surprising. Spicy and sweet at first, but as he chewed it gave way to a bitter flavor. What was stranger was the sensation that swept over him, as if his entire body was at peace. It was as if he'd shed his physical form.. and with it went everything else.

...


He awoke to the familiar yet still annoying itch of sand on his cheek. The last thing he remembered was eating the flower, but the sun had since risen, confusing him for a few chimes as he struggled to fully wake his mind. The first thing he did was sit up and look around. There was nothing.. nothing that was familiar anyway. The desert was familiar, of course, but there was a lot of desert, and this particular portion was certainly not familiar. He did note the water skin and pack nearby, taking solace in the fact that his searching would not consist of dying of dehydration.

Pashake was not an expert at surviving in the wilderness. He was not an expert at anything really, but more a jack of many trades. He did know a bit about surviving however. He had water, which was good. More would be better, but having any at all was a good start. And of course he was Chaktawe, he had his own private reserve tucked away inside him.

It was impossible to get his bearings without knowing which way he had come from first. His only real option at that moment was to pick a direction and go. He knew he needed to find shelter, especially for when the night came. Chaktawe were not the only things that roamed the desert, and he did not want to be caught out in the open in the dark with nothing to defend himself with. Although in truth it might be safer to travel by night, simply to conserve his need for water. He would think about that later, however. He wanted to make some sort of progress on his first day, and so after a quick look through his pack to see what was in there, he picked up the frond and then set out on his journey. If all else failed, he could curl up under it again, but he hoped he would find something better along the way.
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