Flashback [Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Zukwa enlists.

(This is a thread from Mizahar's fantasy role play forum. Why don't you register today? This message is not shown when you are logged in. Come roleplay with us, it's fun!)

Taloba, home to the Myrians, is the thriving core of Falyndar. Inhabited by a fierce and savage tribe where blood sacrifices are normal and a way of life, they are untamed and proud of it. Warlike, and with their numbers growing, the Myrians are set on reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. [Lore]

[Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Postby Zukwa on July 20th, 2014, 4:22 am

Image
7th Winter, 513 A.V.


Zukwa let the cool mud slide through his toes as he made his way, barefoot, down into the ever bustling array of warrior amenities that made up the military complex of the Taloban Army. His bow was slung naturally over his shoulder and a full quiver of arrows poked over the opposite one. He peered through dark eyes over the black cloth he always wore over his face when walking through the more populated areas of Taloba. His shame allowed no other course. He would deny his past identity until he had crafted a new one. One with honor.

The sky was dark, though it was mid afternoon. The cloud coverage was heavy and threatened rain for the third time that day. Zukwa was not concerned with the rain, he did not mind the cool water on his skin after a day of hard work. He had much more real concerns, like his future in this city. The Myrian youth shrugged his armor into a more comfortable set on his shoulders and leant forward into his stride. Confidence counted for everything here. The young would-be warrior knew that it was one of the few things he would have going for him walking into this place.

A female walked past him, scarred and vicious looking, and did not even grace him with a glance. she wore a twin set of kukri and carried a spear in her hand in the manner that begged for something to comfront her. Zukwa was used to this level of arrogance, being raised in the Poisoned Arrow Clan. But here he would have to work past it, he needed to speak to someone about where to go.

The Myrian spun on his heels and hailed the female. "Greetings, warrior. I need to find the recruitment office, could you instruct me?" Zukwa was not one for wasted words and hoped that the female would appreciate his expedience. Otherwise he might be in for a beating.

She turned only her head, braided hair pulled back in a fierce tail and dark eyes judging. She let her deceivingly delicate lips pull down into a frown, clearly not satisfied with what she saw. "Over there, tent with the blood red canvas." Her spear cut through the air with an audible whoosh and pointed further down the path he was traveling, next to the wide open arena.

Zukwa nodded in thanks and turned back towards the tent. "Hey you." Her voice rang out once he was farther away. Zukwa heard the blades of a few nearby warriors stop, their attention obviously on the female. He turned around to face her once again.

"Call me Tokoh, or else I'll gut you." Her smile seemed so pleasant, as if the mere thought of killing him was enough to brighten her day. Zukwa nodded again.

"Of course, Tokoh." Zukwa intoned, keeping his voice level and his gaze on her. Confidence...

A few warriors snickered, but said nothing. Such reprimands were common amongst Myri's warrior race. This was the fiercest group of fighters under Syna, and they were not pleasant.

With a newfound motivation to one day possess the warrior swagger that that Tokoh did, Zukwa stepped through the mud to the tent. He pulled the flap and stepped into the semi-open tent. He nodded to the two warriors sitting down in front of him. The male looked up at him, whilst the female continued to run a whetstone slowly across the edge of her gleaming blade.

"What do you want, pup?" The large, bulky male asked. One of his eyebrows was badly mangled and he was missing two fingers on his left hand. Zukwa did, however, notice the man had no less than seventeen large fangs dangling from a leather thong around his belt. Seventeen dead Dhani. Zukwa stood to his full height.

"I want to serve."

Image
Last edited by Zukwa on July 20th, 2014, 10:56 pm, edited 5 times in total.
User avatar
Zukwa
I bleed only for Taloba.
 
Posts: 36
Words: 40294
Joined roleplay: July 20th, 2014, 12:40 am
Location: Taloba
Race: Myrian
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes

[Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Postby Voodoo on July 20th, 2014, 5:11 am

Image

She had decided to come down from Scout's Roost to investigate the Military Yard, where new recruits trained with their Tokoh. It was a good vantage point to scout for potential recruits for her branch. To be relatively sneaky about her mission, she wore black clothes with no mark. Something very similar to that of a new Rekrut. Only those in the Enlistment tent knew of her existence on the premises. And it was here she started her watch. Those that were the newest to the military would not know of her existence or importance in the military. While she had her back turned to the entrance of the tent, she worked a whetstone on a dagger that was used for training new Rekrut's about pain. If they knew what it felt like to be cut, they were able to prepare themselves for an injury during battle. This also made it easier for them to counter attack simply because they were prepared for the pain that followed a deep cut.

She was listening as each Rekrut came in and announced why they wanted to serve Myri. Many stated they were in it for glory, that they wanted to honor their clan. Some said they were in it to impress Myri, others wanted to avenge some loved one. For the most part, they were all fairly selfish needs with underlying tones of serving Taloba. No answer to the man's question seemed to serve her purpose until...

I want to serve...

There was no personal purpose in those words, and it caused the woman to stop working with her whetstone. Slowly she set everything aside, standing up to place a hand on the man's shoulder. Before he could even speak again to address the man, she had moved. Clearly, she had more authority than he did. Lowering his head, he acknowledged her touch and moved to leave the tent. His eyes scaled the man briefly before he disappeared into the yard.

"You wish to serve. That can be arranged." She lifted a hand, her nails long, curved, and sharpened with fine attention. "Your name?" The woman questioned as she reached up to remove her black hood. What met him was a Myrian woman, aged with time. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, but it was her gaze that was important. One that she hoped he would always remember. One eye, chocolate brown, saw him as he was. An innocent youngster with a need for purpose. The other, milky white from injury, saw him not.


Image
User avatar
Voodoo
I'm known for ma graveside manner...
 
Posts: 183
Words: 73986
Joined roleplay: June 3rd, 2014, 4:50 pm
Location: AS of Taloba
Race: Staff account
Office
Medals: 2
Featured Contributor (1) Power Fork (1)

[Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Postby Zukwa on July 20th, 2014, 10:41 pm

Image


“Your name?” The black clad woman asked, after rising from her seat and dismissing the male with a gesture. Zukwa was not surprised that she was the ranking official in the room, being used to a matriarchal hierarchy. She moved with a predatory grace only attained by those who had spent much of their life taking those of others. Zukwa sensed an easy authority about her, as if she was accustomed to having her way, and able to enforce it with little effort.

The hulking form of the male warrior stood. He pushed his way past Zukwa, easily moving the younger male aside with his boulder like shoulders. The man said nothing as he left, but he was clearly respectful of the female. After he left Zukwa was alone with the woman and feeling as though there was not enough room in the tent for the both of them. She had a towering presence about her.


“You wish to serve. That can be arranged.” The woman’s low voice was hidden beneath a midnight cowl, but Zukwa peered beneath it curiously. “Your name?” She inquired as her claw like nails brushed away the hood, revealing a chocolate face and pair of mismatched eyes. One was a dark brooding brown, the other a foggy white. Blind? What manner of beast or blade had gotten in that close, Zukwa wondered.

Zukwa was accustomed to giving his clan name as well, should he in this instance? He was conflicted, simply staring for a moment. “I am called Zukwa, blooded warrior.” He did not know of her rank or name. Addressing a superior by name would be a great dishonor, so he instead referred to her by the ambiguous title to show respect and deference that was relatively common amongst the Poisoned Arrow.

The Myrian youth said nothing else, having been asked nothing else yet. He tried to stand motionless and maintain eye contact, but those eyes seemed to bore deep into his soul. Even the blind one seemed to see things he had tried not to look at for a long time.

Outside the sky finally opened and Makutsi let her water fall. The tent was pelted with cool rainwater. Zukwa felt it peppering the backs of his calves as he stood just inside the open flap. He reached back and without looking closed the beaten leather cover to his quiver. Water could damage his arrows, and without his arrows he was nothing.
Image
User avatar
Zukwa
I bleed only for Taloba.
 
Posts: 36
Words: 40294
Joined roleplay: July 20th, 2014, 12:40 am
Location: Taloba
Race: Myrian
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes

[Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Postby Voodoo on July 21st, 2014, 5:43 am

Image

He was young, she could tell by how he acted. Already within the few chimes he had been in the yards, someone had scared him into using formal language like 'blooded warrior.' Her lips curled into a slight smirk. If he knew who she really was, she doubted that he would have been so calm. Yet, she kept it a secret for this fresh blood. There was something about him that kept her interest piqued and she did not want to ruin that so soon. When he presented his name, she had assumed he would give his clan as well. Yet, when he did not, she could immediately assume he had shamed them in some way. It looked like she was going to have to pry from him the information that she wanted.

Stepping forward until she was barely six inches from him, she reached up her hand to lift his chin up. Her nails probably pricked at his skin sensors, the points of them sharp, capable of drawing blood if she dug at him. Of course, that would have been rude. "Zukwa. Of what clan I wonder. Yet, it is of no matter. You are who you create yourself to be. A name is simply a name. It is the stories that you put behind this name that makes you truly something."

Was she giving him advice? It certainly sounded like it. Pulling her hand back to herself, she gave him one last look before turning her head so he could only see her ghostly eye.
"As a new Rekrut, you do not have to concern yourself with politics of clan life. Where you come from is no real matter. Your Fang will be your family now, your superiors will be your teachers, and our Goddess-Queen will be your mother. Adhere to this, and you will go places."

It all seemed to make sense, but some of it was made-up. If he believed that Clan politics did not play a role, he would be sadly mistaken. Although in an ideal world, soldiers were soldiers and not politicians, it could not be helped in this society. Everyone always had to justify the ends with their purpose. It was rather tiresome at times. Turning her back on him completely, she returned to her seat. Picking up the dagger and whetstone, she seemed to dismiss him altogether as if she had already given him too much time.

"Find the man that just left this tent. He will assign you to your new Fang."

Image
User avatar
Voodoo
I'm known for ma graveside manner...
 
Posts: 183
Words: 73986
Joined roleplay: June 3rd, 2014, 4:50 pm
Location: AS of Taloba
Race: Staff account
Office
Medals: 2
Featured Contributor (1) Power Fork (1)

[Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Postby Zukwa on July 21st, 2014, 12:08 pm

Image


Her fingernails bit into his skin, but not enough to draw blood. She was so close he was foxed to look into her eyes and found himself transfixed once again by the cloudy orb. As he had expected, she wondered aloud to what clan he belonged. But he was surprised to hear her continue on to speak of how it was actually irrelevant because his identity would have to be created anew from here on out. That was, as it were, exactly what he had been hoping for in making the muddy trek down to the military’s corner of the city.

The Myrian warrior released her victim after a moment and turned back towards her whetstone and dagger. As she was turned away from him he found himself scouring her form for any sign of who she was. This mysterious warrior who so easily manipulated the seasoned soldiers around her unhinged a curiosity in him that was allowing for him to risk the inspection. But when his eyes returned to her face, he found that same ghostly eye staring at him.

"As a new Rekrut, you do not have to concern yourself with politics of clan life. Where you come from is no real matter. Your Fang will be your family now, your superiors will be your teachers, and our Goddess-Queen will be your mother. Adhere to this, and you will go places." Zukwa gritted his teeth at his own social clumsiness. He mentally scolded himself and hoped it would not be too embarrassing once he was placed amongst real warriors of the Goddess-Queen.

“Thank you for giving me the chance to prove myself, blooded warrior.” Zukwa bowed his head. Though indifferent to the youth, this officer had told him exactly what he was hoping to hear. It firmly set in his mind the decision he had made to come here and enlist his services. Though there was no other path for a self-respecting Myrian, it was a comfort to know he would have the opportunity to regain his honor. “I am but a blade of the Goddess-Queen, my only aspiration, sharpness.”

He said the words without thinking. Zukwa was not prone to speaking unless the words were important enough to say. Apparently such statements of conviction were something she needed to hear. The young archer watched as she resumed her sharpening without responding. He hoped she did not mistake his passion for brown-nosery. After a short pause in her work she told him to go outside and find the male who had slain the seventeen Dhani. Zukwa nodded and bid her good day before leaving in search of the warrior.

As he stepped out into the rain he could almost feel his past starting to wash away. But not quite...
Image
User avatar
Zukwa
I bleed only for Taloba.
 
Posts: 36
Words: 40294
Joined roleplay: July 20th, 2014, 12:40 am
Location: Taloba
Race: Myrian
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes

[Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Postby Voodoo on July 22nd, 2014, 3:52 am

Image

While managing the whetstone with skilled hands, Naekasi turned her good eye to the young boy as he exited the tent. She hoped that she was correct in this aspiring warriors.

Outside, the man grumbled and barked orders to new Rekruts. Many of them were running around to grab certain pieces of equipment that were not designed to suffer Makutsi's wrath. He turned back and forth, delegating jobs before finally catching Zukwa in his sight. He closed the distance in a few steps, his eyes narrowed. "Well, Ghost-Eye has set her gaze on you. You are in luck. Tokoh Seku just had a position open. It's really sad, just how many new Rekruts she goes through. Maybe you'll do better. She's over there."

He jammed a finger over his shoulder to a vicious looking woman. Her hair was sleek with rain, her muscles cut by trails of rain. When she noticed the recruiter make a gesture towards him. Her look did not change as she focused her eyes upon Zukwa. Already, recognition gleamed in her eyes. The young warrior that had run into her earlier. Now this was going to be interesting.


Image
User avatar
Voodoo
I'm known for ma graveside manner...
 
Posts: 183
Words: 73986
Joined roleplay: June 3rd, 2014, 4:50 pm
Location: AS of Taloba
Race: Staff account
Office
Medals: 2
Featured Contributor (1) Power Fork (1)

[Military Complex]From Nothing to Something[Voodoo]

Postby Voodoo on July 25th, 2014, 6:37 am

Image
Your Powers Grow

Zukwa
Experience :
    Socialization: +3
    Observation: +3

Lore :
    Taloban Military Rank: Tokoh
    Naekasi: A Mysterious Recruiter
    Seku: Leader of the Fang
    Taloban Military: A New Start
    Location: Military Complex

Comments :
Congratulations, you have a job! Please don't forget your two job threads you are required to do by the end of the season to get your seasonal wages. This does not count as it is a hiring thread and a flashback.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please PM me.
User avatar
Voodoo
I'm known for ma graveside manner...
 
Posts: 183
Words: 73986
Joined roleplay: June 3rd, 2014, 4:50 pm
Location: AS of Taloba
Race: Staff account
Office
Medals: 2
Featured Contributor (1) Power Fork (1)


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests