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Post by Shitakibo on Oct 13, 2023 15:06:12 GMT -5
The morning greeted Taki and her companions with a swirling fog and a cool chill in the air as autumn descended upon Charon. Rina and Kamina greeted the shaman as she strolled out of bed to fix breakfast for everyone and get the day started. A selection cured bacon, fruit preserved from the summer harvest and a batch of muffins were brought out to the Stables where her smaller companions gathered to eat with her. Outside, Keiga and Hakaze shared their breakfast of smoked tuna and boar respectively while Hanehiko spent her morning at sea gobbling up anything small enough to get caught in her filter feeding gullet. After breakfast, Yukina retired to her cozy loft to sleep the day away while Shion and Shuna accompanied Taki into the garden to get the day's work done. Kamina spent her morning zipping about, taking stock of their stores and making a list to be picked up when the shaman headed inland to a town or city again.
Rina made her way to the courtyard, to her second hive where she'd spend the day watching for messengers and visitors while she tended to the various flower boxes other pollenating plants that Taki had cultivated just for the Flitten. While she could eat small berries, she much preferred the varieties of nectar that the flowers provided.
As the sun started to climb in the sky, the morning fog thickened into a dense, heavy cloud that settled upon the Bamboo Forest. Taki took a break with most of her companions to let the heat of the day clear it up, or at least that was what she had hoped. Rina came bursting into the house a few minutes later, with a scared and startled look on her fluffy face.
"T... There's... Emergency... Courtyard... Someone hurt." The Flitten managed to huff out between labored breaths.
"Stay here, Kamina bring her some water... Shion, Shuna, gather the others to the Stables in case we need to make an emergency trip to the city." Taki's tone was calm but commanding as she strolled out the door into the foggy Courtyard to see what was going on.
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Oct 14, 2023 10:33:52 GMT -5
“Fuck, fuck, fuuuuuuuuuck…”
Ragged breaths curlin’ with the smoke of cold air were punctuated by the occasional even more ragged swear. The serene silence of the bamboo forest was brought to a screeching halt by the sound of irregular, pounding footsteps - something big. Though not the normal yokai that lurk within these woods. No, the intruder was far from demonic or spiritual, but she could definitely be described as monstrous. Ten feet of sheer, coiled muscle like it was carved straight from a mountain, right arm a twisted, snarled amalgam of bone and crystalline ice, and a gnarly, still-healing mottled scar marring her shoulder where something even nastier managed to take a chunk out of her. Though the fact that she was still alive means that she faced whatever took that chunk head on and won.
Yes, a monster she was - the two-legged, walking, talking variety. Dangerous ‘cus she looked hell in the eyes in every battle and stubbornly came out the victor.
And somehow, that monster had found something stronger than her in these woods.
An ancient thing, made of curled smoke and too many eyes and horns and an oni’s strength. Thing caught her by surprise, ambushing her from the shadows and grabbin’ her leg and twistin’ hard enough to break it in two. Ak’ka didn’t scream as the bone snapped apart. She didn’t scream as it stabbed her side with a tendril of shadow. She didn’t scream as she punched the fucker’s lights out and ran on her broken leg, lookin’ for a better place to take this battle. But the guy monster follow - and so Ak’ka just kept runnin’, moving with no fumes left in her body to move, just lookin’ for a place to rest and lick her wounds.
But her vision was startin’ to grow blurry at the edges, and the Bonegrinder was gettin’ weary. Ak’ka wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep movin’, and yet, she trudged on, shovin’ aside bamboo and other foliage, lookin’ for someplace safe. Shelter. The longer she walked, the more the fall mist began to pour in, makin’ it hard to see much of anything around here. Ugh. This sucked. She could feel sleep clawin’ at her eyes - but she mentally told the Sandman to fuck off, stomping through a thick cluster of trees…
And stumblin’ upon an entirely different world.
Some kinda courtyard… maybe. Looked like the garden to someone’s house? Hard to tell with how tired she was. She probably shoulda felt bad for tresspassin’ on what looked like private land, but… she needed the space to sit, and rest, and this was as good a place as any. She wouldn’t be here for long. Sendin’ a mental apology to whoever owned this place, Ak’ka took a seat, pullin’ out her makeshift cloth bandages, so old from use and reuse they were covered in old bloodstains and gore. They’d have to do for now. She got to work, wrappin’ up her bloody torso… only for her consciousness to finally shit the bed, her wrappings slipping out of her arms and her head hitting the ground where she fell, layin’ on her back in some stranger’s garden.
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Post by Shitakibo on Oct 14, 2023 13:00:32 GMT -5
The courtyard was thick with fog, but her Geomagnetic Sense picked up the stranger slumped over on a bench just inside. Taki approached cautiously, barely able to see the ground at her feet. Whoever it was, they were quite large, heavy with muscle. She reached the mountain of muscle and scars a moment later, her eyes widening at the sight of their injuries. They were less than a day old, but had been exasperated by travel, especially the broken leg... It would take several rounds of healing to stitch their body back together, something Taki wasn't keen to do here in the courtyard. She needed to act fast, so she let out a shrill whistling burst, calling Keiga and Kamina to her side.
The lightning pixie arrived first, zipping through the fog like a firefly. She could here the heavy, slithering motion of Keiga's approach, the Tidal Serpent's mass even greater than the broken warrior.
"Kamina, get Shion and prepare the large guestroom. We need boiling water, new linens and my medical supplies as soon as you can." The shaman said, to which Kamina gave a little bow before heading into the main house. Taki continued her exam, gently checking for other breaks, swelling or signs of internal injury. Keiga came sliding into view moments later, nearly plowing right into the unconscious warrior.
"Oh... um, sorry Taki, hard to see things."
"It's quite alright Keiga, but I will require your strength to get them inside."
"Of course, hastily or?"
"No, nothing that severe that my initial exam turned up. We take it slow, so we don't aggravate the bones in their leg further."
Together, the Orochi and the Serpent loaded the mysterious person onto Keiga's back. Taki followed slowly beside, keeping them balanced as the muscled coils of the serpent started inside. While mostly flat ground up to the house, the steps leading in proved tricky to navigate. Taki had to use herself as a crude harness, spreading her limbs about the warrior's bulk and just barely finding grip on Keiga's scales. They managed to get indoors, and to the largest of the spare rooms.
Shion and Kamina were busy bringing things in and out when Keiga's head popped into the hallway. Shion calmly moved aside to let them pass but Kamina ran smack into the side of their head as she was zooming out for something. Taki chuckled softly as they awkwardly apologized to each other before making room. Continuing into the room, Taki slid in beside the pair, grabbing a bench from the small desk and positioning it at the end of the bed.
With a great deal of effort, the pair worked together to move the warrior onto the bed as Kamina brought in more candles and a small lamp. Shion came in a few minutes later with a steaming pot of water, setting it next to the medical supplies and new strips of fabric for bandaging. She had her companions move back away from the bed, stripping off the warrior's light, leather breeches and taking a closer examination of her fractured leg. With careful pressure, the shaman worked out a plan for getting the bones set back in place. She instructed Keiga to hold their torso and arms down (just in case she came thrashing awake) while she set what she needed on the bench, holding the woman's leg across her lap to support both sides of the break. With everything prepared, she took a deep breath and a firm grip on the twisted limb.
Wrenching with all her might, she torqued the break back into alignment before shoving it into place. The muscles protested reflexively the whole way, making the process exhausting. After she was done, she took a pair of sturdy metal rods and wrapped a length of fabric around the top of each. Holding the leg firm in two hands, she wrapped the fabric around the upper part of the break until the second rod was aligned on the opposite side. Using two more strips of sturdy fabric, she secured the splint in place at the bottom, then in the middle. Letting out a heavy sigh, she cast Minor Healing to help with the swelling and set the warrior's heel on a cushion. She was too tall for the bed, but this would at least keep her leg straight. Keiga slid off her torso carefully and the whole group breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Now all they could do was wait and hope that the damage wasn't too great...
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Oct 19, 2023 8:05:59 GMT -5
Asleep, Ak’ka dreamed.
She dreamed of snow-capped mountains, a blizzard’s fury, and an avalanche that swallowed her whole. She dreamed of the pelt and fangs of a bear, teeth sinkin’ into her shoulder, devourin’ her until there was nothing left but the rage and the battlesong, and something deeper… hunger seepin’ into her blood, a desire to consume everything in her path, too. The black twisted and morphed until it turned lily-white as the snows in the World’s Crown.
And she saw herself in the middle of the blanket of white - not her current self, but chief Ak’ka of Mortak. The immovable mountain. The peerless Orc leader, who’d slaughtered hundreds and wounded even more. Both arms fully intact, skin still a healthy green color, and… her entire tribe behind her. The hymn of battlesong rang in their cries, rallying in unison, Ak’ka at the helm, fists blazing.
There was a pang in her heart as Ak’ka saw warriors she recognized. Good people. Ur, in the back, double-greataxes blazing, back to back with his wife, a stern bitch they called the Medic. The Medic, cus she went behind her husband and ripped off the injured limbs he’d chopped at, and spat, “there. Stop bitching. Yer healed”. And behind them, Moorik, the one-eyed asshole who fought with nothin’ but a long length of chain with a flaming canister of oil at the end. And so many more, all names she remembered, would for the rest of her life until the day she finally dropped walkin’ and let herself rest forever. Her comrades in arms. Her family. And they were winnin’.
Ak’ka had no mouth to laugh, but if she could she’d be cryin’ out as her past self smashed into the jaw of another enemy Orc in a blue pelt, grabbin’ him by the braids, and rippin’ them outta his skull. “GOT THE LEADER!” Her past self screamed in orcish, and her family rallied behind her, pushin’ the advantage. Ak’ka couldn’t remember what battle this was, but she knew the song and dance in her blood. Wouldn’t be long before they fell to her Indomitable will.
The enemy clan started shoutin’ at one another, and victory rang in the air. Even the Ak’ka of the present felt her nonexistent lips curlin’ into a smile. But somethin’ wasn’t right. They were scattered, but there was still a spark of fury and determination in their eyes. Not defeat. One of them pulled a hollowed goat-horn from their belt, blowing into it with the last of their breath. The sound rang in the air, much to Ak’ka’s confusion. Somethin’ wasn’t right. And before her eyes, in the center of the battlefield, the snow started to swirl, the very air growin’ colder. And as it began to form a robed figure in the center, face obscured by a midnight blue hood, the current Ak’ka’s blood ran cold.
It was this battle.
The wizard opened his smiling mouth to speak. Over the roar of the wind, present Ak’ka couldn’t hear what was being said, but she remembered the words to her very core.
‘Which one of you is Ak’ka of Mortak? Surrender peacefully, and no one will get hurt.’
She wanted to scream as she watched her past self step up, blazing in defiance. “I am she. You wanna fight? Face me alone, coward, and quit hidin’ behind yer threats!”
And there was challenge in her eyes, cus there always was. Ak’ka’d never met a battle she couldn’t win, knew that grit and determination alone could solve any problem. She had no idea what was about to happen. The Last Battle, the Worst Battle. Her fists against spells she’d never seen before, her family all watching this one-on-one, chanting her name. It looked like she was gonna win. She always did. And all current Ak’ka could do was scream and scream and scream, with no mouth, to RUN YOU STUPID GIRL, RUN!
But past Ak’ka didn’t care, couldn’t hear. She only cared about the song pumpin’ in her heart and the blood on her knuckles and the sting of her injuries. Wouldn’t stop until the mage was prone at her feet, wouldn’t stop ‘till he was a bloody pulp. And he lay there, Ak’ka towering over him. And he laughed.
“The fuck are you laughing about, asshole? You’ve lost. You can’t kill me.” Past Ak’ka snarled, cracking her knuckles.
But the wizard only laughed and laughed, eyes crackling with arcane magic, and only then did it occur to Ak’ka that he might’ve been doing more than just fighting her with all those fancy spells. “Oh, I’m not here to kill you, mountain. I’m here to ruin you.”
And that was the moment everything fell apart.
Current Ak’ka writhed and thrashed, desperate, as if she could rip through time itself and change what had already happened. The mountain above rumbled, a single snowfall changing everything. Past Ak’ka turned to stare at her family, realization dawning in her eyes that they’d been tricked.
And there was only one decision for her to make.
“GO! GET OUT OF HERE! RUN!” She bellowed, voice cracking, and Ak’ka felt the ache in her throat like it was only yesterday she felt that desperation. Her clan scattered, making for the hills, Ak’ka shoving them on, anything she could do to get them out of here. Until only she remained, staring down the avalanche. She could not divert a natural disaster from its course, but Ak’ka was damn about to try. Anything to protect her family. And with the mountain’s last roar, summoning all the strength in her fist, she punched the earth with enough rage and love and terror to split the ground beneath her - to crack the mountain itself. Enough to create a deep fissure that would stop the avalanche in its tracks, shattering her entire arm to powder in the process. And Ak’ka grinned, mouth stained with blood, satisfied that her last act had been to at least give her people a good enough head start to get home. To safety.
And that was the last thought she had before the snow became a roar, and she was buried in an endless sea of white, white, white, ‘til her body became so cold she couldn’t feel it no more, and her mind filled with a dull hum…
And Ak’ka of Clan Mortak died.
Ak’ka’s blood pounded in her ears, a roar, a hurt so ancient that it felt like it would never be cured. That hurt was what fueled her now, became her rage. But right now, with no body, no agency in this sea of nothing, the hurt only hurt. And present Ak’ka could only watch, unable to do nothin’ while time passed, and the snow settled, and her body decayed. And she remembered. Laughter of her clan, her old man’s smile and his gentle lessons. His death, years before her own, and the grim satisfaction that at least if she were gonna die she’d meet him at the end.
And she remembered gentle fingers threaded in her hair, and a voice like bells, whispering in her ear. “Never forget you are beautiful, my song. There is a beast within you, pure and wild and untamable. And maybe you will let the beast rule you one day, but even your anger… it is wonderful. And that beast in you… it is your mother’s gift to you. To protect you. With it, you will never be alone.”
And a gentle kiss was pressed to the crown of her head, her hair braided and her ma’s lullaby in the air, a battlesong of her own -
And Ak’ka woke up.
Starin’ at an unfamiliar roof, Ak’ka’s entire body ached, groaning from the protest of her last battle, but she was in some sorta bed, unfamiliar as it was. Everything hurt, but in that way only ghosts of wounds did. She’d been healed.
Ak’ka took a shuddering breath and tried to pull herself into a sitting position. Her face stung from tears that had fallen in her sleep and frozen on her cheeks.
But she was alive, ‘cus the beast had protected her.
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Post by Shitakibo on Oct 19, 2023 15:19:14 GMT -5
With a pat across the Tidal Serpent's head, Taki and her smaller companions left the room and the stranger to their dreams. Keiga seemed keen on staying by her side, and the shaman would not be one to get in the way. Much as it was happenstance that Keiga had come into their life, she wouldn't prevent the Serpent from bonding with another he felt more comfortable with. Shion and Kamina both headed to their respective rooms to nap, having run about the house for the last half hour or so non-stop carrying things. She had planned to reward them beforehand, but it didn't matter too much.
Taki sat down in the small lounge room on a large cushion and pulled out an ornate box made of bamboo. Inside was a carved pipe and some dried, aged buds of Ginma's Fuzzy Horse Grass. Something the shaman had come across in her travels, she learned to cultivate the plant remarkably well here in her garden. A few anonymous friends worked along side the shaman to keep the best strains in good health and diversity, so Taki often had some of the most potent herb to pack in her pipe. She broke off a few choice pieces from a stem, packed her bowl and touched a woven hemp wick to the flame of a candle. Passing the flame over the vibrant green flower with indigo 'hairs', it darkened as the shaman inhaled. Lifting her finger from a small hole in the side, the concentrated vapors filled her lungs. She held her breath, packing as much air in as she could before letting it out slowly through her nose with a whimsical smile.
She continued this ritual until the last of the flower was naught but ash, then emptied it into a tiny flowerpot with an orchid growing inside. Afterwards, she took to the kitchen, pulling out several ingredients, a recipe book and a plethora of baking utensils. After putting together a fire for the oven to get the bed of coals started, she began mixing up a base of cake like dough. In a large mixing bowl, she stirred the ingredients into one another before separating it into several smaller batches. To each of these she added a container of toppings she'd preserved from earlier seasons, alongside fresh ones. After giving each mix one last stirring to ensure an even consistency, she poured the thin mix into a metal sheet that had been coated with beeswax, which had cups for the dough to rest in and back from. Once each batch was poured and evened out, the group were slid into the large oven on it's top rack, in two rows of three. Taki adjusted the airflow of the oven and stirred the coals as needed, baking the confection until it's tops were large and an even golden color. She pulled them out, stacking them on a wooden rack to cool down. The smell of baked sweets, as well as the various toppings filled the house. Taki covered the rack with a piece of linen with blue embroidery and stitching made to size. Those who passed through the kitchen would see it and know these were not ready to eat and anyone doing so would be in trouble.
She went to check on the mysterious warrior woman while the muffins cooled. Keiga watched her with the protectiveness of an older sibling, and Taki did her best to calm him. He sensed something about her, some kinship she didn't quite understand. She walked over and checked the woman's vitals, noting they were stronger and less erratic than they'd been before. She headed back into the kitchen after writing her observations down and removed the cloth from the cooling rack. While still warm, the muffins were now cool enough to finish with a glaze of Flitten Honey, courtesy of Rina and her hive.
As they finished cooling in the open air, Taki used a carved bamboo 'fork' to carefully pop each muffin from it's cup, gently setting them back down until served. Taking out some carved serving plates with a raised center that had a slightly larger cup, she placed a muffin in each one before taking four to her companions. Rina and Kamina shared a muffin gleefully, while Shion nibbled at hers sleepily. She brought one to Keiga, who ate in one gulp with an approving nod. The last she took out to Yukina, who was stirring in the fading evening light and descended upon the muffin with famished vigor. Shuna stared incredulously for a moment at Taki before the shaman scooped her up, carried her back inside and sat down with the Jungle Cat in her lap. She held Shuna's plate in one hand, spoiling the fuzzy lump while she ate her own.
After eating, she took a metal bucket and scooped the coals from the oven. Carrying them out to a smoker, she spread the coals and set fresh charcoal on top. Afterwards, she took some wood chips from a bamboo tube where they'd been soaking with water and set them into a small box above the fire. The heat, and airflow, turned a metal fan inside part of the chimney, which turned a spit set into an iron hoop with three swinging baskets via cogs. When she'd first gotten the smoker, it wasn't well maintained and was missing several pieces. She worked with several smiths in different fields to get the replacements, putting it back together so that it would turn smoothly. She set slabs of meat on to smoke, filling the feed ramp and ensuring there was plenty of wood for the full smoking.
Heading back inside to rest and check on the patient, Taki cast a few Lights fixtures in the corners of the room. Keiga seemed worried, using the end of his tail to hold her legs still.
"What happened?"
"She started thrashing about, not hard at first... like a bad dream... but it kept getting worse."
"Until she had to be held down... I understand. Thank you."
"Of course, Miss."
Taki pressed her fingers to the woman's wrist, feeling her pulse hammer against the skin. She set the back of one hand against her forehead, there was no fever... and then the warrior lay still, almost peacefully so. Her pulse calmed but still pounded steadily against her fingers. She waved Keiga off and set the warrior's arm down, taking up a chair for a minute. Whatever had happened seemed to pass, and it wasn't long after when she awoke. Trying to push herself up, Taki stood up and did all she could to stop her.
"Hold on Miss, don't get up too fast or you're going to make your leg worse. My name is Shitakibo and this is my home. Your injuries were pretty bad, but the leg is the worst off. You'll need a few days at least for it to set before we can finish treating it. Please just relax, I'll get you some water and something to eat if you'd like."
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Oct 21, 2023 8:41:18 GMT -5
Wakin’ up brought an entirely different kinda pain than the mental. That was fine. The burn and tear from new wounds, Ak’ka could handle. Much easier to shrug away the ache of a broken bone or a new scar than the ancient hurts that only reared their ugly head when she closed her eyes. The past was in the past. Ak’ka was in the present. She shouldn’t be bothered by the old.
And yet.
Ak’ka stared down at her palm, curling thick fingers into a fist. She remembered punchin’ that mountain like it was yesterday, the hymn of her old buddy rage and hatred and love. Damn, she’d been strong then. Capable of feats only thought possible by the gods, able to tear entire cities of those who threatened her apart with these bare hands. Since wakin’ up, she’d been… weaker. More tired.
It was harder to muster the same passion sometimes without a family behind her back.
The sound of shufflin’ brought her out of her thoughts. Ak’ka’s cheeks were still stained with frozen crystal tears, her hair a mess around her and her clothes caked with blood and grime, only some of it her own, but being bedridden didn’t mean weak. She’d show whoever thought to kidnap her exactly what the Bonegrinder was capable of -
A gentle hand and a hurried voice made her pause. And think. Attackers didn’t usually make such a big deal of bandaging wounds - they just let injuries fester and rot and hoped that the prisoner might succumb to those wounds so the problem just took care of itself. But someone had clearly taken the time to help her. There was gauze around her torso and her foot had been put in a splint. But why? And by who?
Ak’ka grunted, forcin’ her muscles to relax. She turned towards the person holding her back and saw an unfamiliar woman. Snake-like features. What were they called around here? Orochi, she thought, though Ak’ka wasn’t as familiar with southern island terms for shit. She’d met a few orochi in her travels though; folk usually lumped strange travelers they didn’t understand together. This one was talkin’ real calm and smooth, like she didn’t want to anger the raging Bull she’d let into her home. Ak’ka couldn’t blame her.
Ak’ka leaned back, but didn’t lay back down at the woman’s request. “Right. Uh…” What did she say her name was? Somethin’ long, a lot of syllables that an orc’s tongue had trouble pronouncing. “Doc. Thanks for the save, I guess.” She muttered gruffly; even though she was confused how she ended up here or why she’d been saved in the first place. Most people would see a ten-foot brute of an orc passed out on the ground and assume something worse was on the horizon and run for the hills. Ak’ka was fairly sure she’d managed to shake the thing chasing her, but she really had no idea.
She licked her lips at the mention of food and water. Unfortunately, being as big as her meant she had a pretty damn hearty appetite. Made hospitality moments like this awkward ‘cus she really needed a lot.
“Uh, yeah. Water and food would be great. I’ll pay ya back for it, and the patch job -“ She started patting herself down for her coin purse, “-And, uh, answers, maybe, if ya don’t mind fillin’ the gaps in my memory. What happened?”
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Post by Shitakibo on Oct 25, 2023 4:59:20 GMT -5
"Taki... Taki is what most call me, and you're quite welcome. As to what happened, you collapsed in the courtyard. From where, I could only ask... but the big snake and I managed to bring you inside and patch up your wounds. After that, well, I've gone about my day after making some treats for the others and putting dinner on while you rested. Keiga's been here watching over you, and I've checked in at regular intervals between tasks. I'll be back in just a moment with food." Taki gave a short bow before stepping out again.
Taki returned about an hour later, after having finished dinner and feeding her other companions. She brought in a cart with a steaming tray of smoked fish and grilled vegetables, on a bed of what looked to be some sort of grey and gooey noodles. She rolled it next to Keiga, who began making short work of the wriggling noodles (Eels) dripping with grilled juices. She set a large tray up next to the bed for the warrior, then brought in another pair of smaller trays. On each was a large muffin with summer berries and honey glaze, a heap of smoked meats and grilled vegetables, and a bowl of steamed rice. With these was a large bamboo cup of fresh, hot green tea sweetened with honey and a small dish of a thin brown sauce that smelled of orange, ginger and garlic. Lastly, there were small pinched pastries that had been steamed (Dumplings) arranged around the sauce.
"I wasn't sure what you did or didn't like, so feel free to pick and choose. There's plenty more of anything here if you like, and other drinks as well. Please enjoy and try to recover your strength. I wish I could brute force heal your wounds, but that would not set the bone correctly... so enjoy a small break from the battle before you, and a hearty meal, and I'll see if I can figure out a better sleeping situation for you... somehow." Taki finished explaining, then sat down with a pair of chopsticks and started eating. On the warrior's tray was a similar pair of utensils, along with a fork, spoon and knife for etiquette's sake.
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Oct 27, 2023 11:50:55 GMT -5
“Taki.” Ak’ka repeated, tryin’ out the nickname. That was much easier for her to pronounce. With a start she realized this stranger had saved her, gone through the effort of patchin’ her wounds and was so damn polite about it, and Ak’ka hadn’t even given her own damn name. “Ak’ka. Folks would normally leave a big, injured gal alone so I really ‘preciate it.” She rubbed at her nose, unable to look Miss Taki in the eye while she spoke. The orochi was super polite and seemed pretty learned, exactly the kinda woman Ak’ka didn’t usually do well with. But Taki didn’t seem to care much. Her or the big reptile that Ak’ka finally noticed was there.
She wasn’t a woman that feared much or startled easy, so she only gave the snake a respectful nod.
“Thank you too, Keiga.” She said; Ak’ka didn’t keep many animals, but she’d been raised to respect the beasts of nature and the forces they represented. And the big guy was clearly powerful, based on the sharpness and intelligence in his eyes. “I bet it wasn’t easy.” She knew she could thrash when she had bad dreams. Neither of them had to put in that much effort when she was used to just wakin’ up and patching the wounds when she was conscious enough to, so their concern touched her. Taki didn’t make any response to her promise of payment so Ak’ka resolved to slip the coins under her pillow when she felt better enough to leave.
… However long that took.
The leg break was pretty nasty; survivable, but it was a careful balancing game when it came to breaks. If Ak’ka put too much pressure on it, the injury could be permanent, and she’d already earned one gnarly wound this month. The scar on her shoulder ached with the reminder.
Taki disappeared, leaving Ak’ka and Keiga alone in the room. Ak’ka mindlessly reached over and ran her hand over the creature’s scales, lost in thought. A while later, Taki returned with some of the best smelling food she’d encountered in a damn long time.
“Really? All this for me? Thanks.” Ak’ka’s green-gray face was dusted a dark gray, surprised at the spread. She’d expected some spare rations at most. But this was a spread of so many foods she’d never even seen or heard of. “Seriously. I’ll pay you back.”
The warrior laughed, lightly slapping her knee at the kind gesture. “Don’t even worry about that. Ya damn near about did most of the work for me - all that’s left is for my body to heal. I’m a tough gal. I bounce back quick.”
She shrugged.
“I was chasin’ a bounty that was said to escape into these, uh, stick woods.” She couldn’t remember the words the locals had used for the plant. “Spirit jumped me first. I got away, but I’m none too keen to jump back in there immediately. I won’t darken yer door for very long if ya don’t want me around.”
Nonchalant, Ak’ka reached for the tray that Taki had brought her, first reaching for the drink - surprised to find it was warm, not cool, though the bitterness was good and the honey soothed her throat. She didn’t bother with the utensils, clearly not used to manners, grabbin’ what looked most familiar first - meat. Had nice spiced rub on it, and it even went good with the veggies, which tasted smokey. She tried those little pastry things with the sauce, surprised to find they were sticky and savory.
Last, and most surprising, was the little rounded thing at the edge of the tray. When she bit into it, she was surprised at the sweetness - honey and berry and what she thought was some kind of buttered sweet bread… or even a cake. Ak’ka ate some sweets, but there wasn’t much she could get her hands on besides pie or frozen treats or spiced warm liquor up north. This was something new and different and for somethin’ so little, it packed a big punch.
Ak’ka’s eyes widened, holding up the pastry to Taki.
“This. What is this thing?”
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Post by Shitakibo on Oct 30, 2023 11:31:24 GMT -5
Chuckling softly, Taki smiled at the change in her gruff demeanor. Muffins were a powerful tool indeed she thought to herself. She'd have to start making them for more guests.
"Muffins, the pastry is called a Muffin. The basic recipe is quite simple, and you're able to add just about anything to the batter before baking to cater to a guest or occasion. I'll copy the recipe for you if you have any desire to make them yourself." She replied, snacking on her tray slowly. This was the first time today she'd really noticed how exhausted she was. She sipped at her tea and gradually finished her tray, long after Keiga and even Ak'ka, who seemed to have a powerful appetite.
She noticed how Keiga watched the warrior, and didn't shy away from her touch. While the serpent had been a sociable companion, it had always been a distant affair. Keiga treated most strangers as if they were customers, politely but with a modicum of detachment... but not this time. She studied her companion with a knowing smile, glad that he seemed drawn to the warrior.
After clearing the trays away, she cast some fresh Lights into the room for brightness. With calm instruction, she gave Ak'ka another quick examination and made notes.
"This part might hurt a good bit, but the swelling in your leg is down enough for another round of light healing." Taki warned, taking the woman's leg firmly in her hands and holding it in place with a deceptively powerful grip. A soft, amber glow gathered beneath the shaman's hands before delving deep into the warrior's body and tugging things back into place a little more. Taki could feel the muscles straining as bone fragments seated themselves into place. The magic stopped a few moments later, as Ak'ka's body began to swell and spasm from the rapid changes.
When that was done, she sank back into her seat and took a breather. She didn't have much to ease the pain itself sadly... it wasn't something she understood well enough to keep around, especially with all of her companions. Well... except one thing...
"I wish I had something proper to offer you for the pain, but I don't have the knowledge of such medicine. I do have something that might help a little, if you partake of the Fuzzy Horse Grass that is..." The shaman said as she gathered Keiga's cart with the trays to be washed. "Also, if you'd like more of any of the food, please let me know so I can bring for you."
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Nov 2, 2023 9:46:02 GMT -5
“Huh. A muffin…” Ak’ka stared at the baked treat with intense concentration before shoving the rest of the treat in her mouth. She wasn’t unfamiliar to sweets and baked goods, her time spent in taverns and bars after leavin’ the mountains giving her more experience with sweets. She liked pies the best. But she still didn’t know everything. Until recently her diet consisted of simple foods, mountain meats and wild game, sometimes with fried vegetables or even unrisen fried bread. And ale. Lots of ale, plenty home brewed. Weren’t much room for sugar and such up there unless someone ventured down to the village for things they couldn’t get up in their own settlements.
And muffin was a new one. Sweet, but not too sweet. Like a little mini cake.
“Mph.” Ak’ka wiped the crumbs off the side of her mouth with her hand. “Not much of a chef. Don’t got a kitchen to bake in, either.” Her attempts at cookin’ were rudimentary and anything complicated turned into a pile of slop. But she still looked thoughtful. Sure as hell wouldn’t mind knowin’ how to make ‘em to have these things on the road. “Guess I wouldn’t say no, though. I’d just have to figure out how to make ‘em on a campfire.”
Didn’t take long for her to finish her food. Taki moved a lot slower, like someone who believed she had all the time in the world to savor and enjoy her meal. But there was somethin’ else, too; fatigue in the corners of her eyes and the pinch of her mouth. She musta spent a lot of energy trying to heal Ak’ka… exactly why, the half-orc warrior wasn’t sure. She was still suspicious that this coulda been some hostage situation or summat, but to be honest, that distrust was waning. Taki had clearly used up a lotta her energy to help get Ak’ka on her feet, and clearly, a lot of animals trusted her. If she were being honest Taki reminded her of her friend Beist. Not without claws and danger, but choosing love instead.
That was why animals flocked to them and usually feared her.
Not Keiga, though. For some reason, the serpent hadn’t left her side since she’d woken up. Usually beasts feared the monster… and since she’d escaped the Citadel, they feared the Beast too. It was like their brains knew there was a predator in the Orc that would devour them just as it had devoured her - whether Keiga felt it or not, they weren’t afraid. It was different. It was nice.
Taki’s voice pulled her outta her thoughts. Ak’ka nodded, not particularly afraid. She’d been through worse pain. Tryin’ to burn the Beast’s infection out of her shoulder in the bottom of a shithole prison, and nearly dyin’ from the fever had nearly destroyed her from the inside out. She grit her tusks and stubbornly kept her grip on one of her leathers, huffing out a breath of cold, smoky air as the healing spell took effect, forcibly righting her leg. This was the part she hated most about magic healing. Wasn’t a cure-all… merely an accelerant. Sped you through the healing process and put you through the pain all at once, too. By the time it was done the ache in her leg was nothing but a dull throb.
“Don’t worry about it.” Ak’ka shrugged, stretchin’ her leg experimentally. “I don’t usually smoke ‘cus it dulls my rage. Makes battle harder when I can’t grab it. But if the host is offerin’, I won’t say no. I’m good on food though-“
The harsh sound of her stomach growlin’ immediately undermined her.
Ak’ka’s face flushed dark gray. She had a bigger appetite than most, which was why she didn’t bother stealin’ rations from others. She needed more than they could offer. But with her bag nowhere in sight and no way to hunt, she was reliant on Taki’s kindness right now.
“Maybe just a little more…” She grumbled.
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Post by Shitakibo on Nov 7, 2023 20:27:27 GMT -5
Taki left the room with the trays and cart, nodding her acknowledgment. After giving the dishes a quick rinse and setting them aside to wash properly later, she took Ak'ka's plate and put another heap of food on it. It was mostly meat, as she'd been sparing with veggies as winter was approaching. Most of her crops had been canned, or pickled through the year to preserve them for winter and she hadn't been prepared for company on this particular day. Still, she made the best of it, including another pair of muffins. She returned the tray to the warrior to slake her appetite, then stepped out of the room to gather what they needed to smoke.
With a bit of preparation, she returned a few minutes later with an odd device. A glass bowl filled partly with clean water was topped with a an intricately made metal tube. Atop this tube was a metal dish with tiny holes in the bottom and a pair of smaller tubes pointed out from either side that weren't connected to the main spout. The shaman took a container full of pre-ground buds and filled the dish before covering it with a thin metal screen. She set all of this atop the water jar, and attached a pair of hoses.
"I figured this is our best option for smoking, so you don't have to twist or bend around for a bowl and I don't have to keep reaching over you." She said, giving a brief explanation of the device, called a hookah, as she prepared a coal brick over a candle. Once it had a soft cherry glow on one side, she set the coal onto the metal screen. With the end of the attached tube in hand, she showed Ak'ka how it worked. Instructing the warrior to put a finger on the hose's end, she inhaled in a slow and controlled fashion. The bowl bubbled and filled with smoke for a few seconds before the shaman stopped and covered her hose with a finger, inviting the warrior to mimic her.
The pair smoked for the better part of an hour, Taki opening a small window to keep the dank smell to a minimum and keep the room from getting hazy. When the last of the bowl was ash, Taki sat back and finally let her body rest from the day's activities.
"Ahhhh... much better. This is the best part of being home, not having to be alert to every sound and motion... just relaxing and enjoying what was accomplished." Taki said as a serene look passed over her features. Keiga had watched it all, even getting a small contact buzz from being in the room. The big serpent, who wasn't usually around for such occasions, slid closer to the warrior and nudged her gently with his muzzle. He wanted her to hear his voice as Taki did, but he understood that it wasn't likely to be... but he tried anyway, making soft hissing sounds and low rumbles.
"You probably cannot understand my words miss, but I hope you can understand my intent. Something about your presence calls to me, bids me follow, to fight beside you... Taki has been a kind and thoughtful master, and without her I would not be here... but she also is a peaceful person, idealistic, and while dangerous... won't strike first, won't take action before action is taken... She's good at fixing messes, not stopping problems before they happen. Some part of me tells me you're her polar opposite... you solve problems before they turn into messes, protect your territory with aggressive actions, not defenses. You fight, for every moment of every day, and that is a life I desire as well..." The serpent babbled on, coiling themselves up beside the bed and resting their head beside Ak'ka. Taki listened to it all with a slight, knowing smirk. She wondered how much Ak'ka would pick up or understand but she could always translate if asked.
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Nov 14, 2023 9:15:49 GMT -5
If she were bein’ honest, Ak’ka’d seen other folks smoke but never done it herself. Ginma’s fuzzy horse grass wasn’t unpopular with warriors and old retired veterans, who smoked to ease chronic pain and soreness. Mostly she saw it in the form of rolled up paper, followed by the smell of burnt herbs. Nature’s best medicine, they’d claim. Probably why Taki’d offered Ak’ka some now. Better than any healer., they’d continue.
She ain’t ever seen a contraption like this, though. Looked almost like a glass squid with all the fancy tubes and parts. Taki quickly explained what it was for and why she’d picked it, and part of Ak’ka was touched at her consideration. “Alright. Dunno how this works so I’ll have to see how it’s done.” Her voice wasn’t… small, but it was a damn bit awkward. She wasn’t afraid to try new things, but this was for sure, uh, the first time she’d ever forcibly relaxed. She followed Taki’s instructions intently before picking up one of the hoses - ignorin’ a twinge in her muscles - and inhaled.
And soon the pain went away.
Seemed a strange recreational activity to the orc warrior, whose definition of relaxation still included pummeling the hell outta people (in life, do what you love, right?), but it seemed to relax Taki just like those old soldiers, and after all the energy she’d wasted healing Ak’ka, she deserved the downtime. The smell was pretty bad but with the window open and cool fall air gettin’ in, it wasn’t horrible - and soon, Ak’ka found herself calming down too. Wasn’t like she had anything else to do but sit there in comfy silence and listen to the wind outside.
Even Keiga seemed to chill, the serpent curlin’ closer to Ak’ka. She wasn’t sure why he’d taken such a liking to her, but part of her wondered if this was a therapy animal Taki kept for her patients. Made sense if he would be that constant and calm in that case. She leaned back in her chair and ran her hands along his scales while thinkin’ about blood and tombs of snow ‘til the thoughts slid away. Eventually, Keiga nudged her in the thigh, bringing her attention outta the haze and almost dream-like state she’d been in. “What’s up?” She murmured.
The serpent’s voice came in a low rumble - Ak’ka was only half surprised she had an idea of what was being said. Animals communicated in languages that were different from common, and she knew that there were some druids out there that could… translate those sentiments to the common language in their mind. Communication and all that. She guessed by now that Taki was of the druid folk by the company the reptilian woman kept and her connection to nature ‘round this sanctuary, but even though Ak’ka didn’t have that kinda nature magic, there was still part of her that understood the rumbling and hissing - part of her changed by the Beast. Made her more in tune with animals.
Less concrete words and more thoughts and feelings and will. But she understood the general idea of what Keiga was saying.[1]
And what he was saying left Ak’ka feeling weirdly raw and vulnerable.
“Whoa. You, uh, you sure?” Ak’ka asked, fingers halting where she’d been scratching his scales. Of everything, that hadn’t been what she’d expected. Not many animals that wanted to travel with a predator, a brute. But from the way he spoke, even though he was relaxed now, Ak’ka could feel it in the way he coiled up and pressed his head to her side - powerful muscles. He was a predator too.
It was hard for folks like them to find one another.
“If that’s yer wish, and Miss Taki here don’t mind, then you’ve got a place with me.” She promised. Didn’t know what else to say in the face of the earnesty and sincerity she got from Keiga’s declaration. Just kept her hand pressed against his flank, leaning her head back, a sigh on her lips as she forced herself to relax, tension replaced with somethin’ she couldn’t name. The realization that she wasn’t gonna be entirely alone no more, maybe. That Keiga had seen the glimpses of her mindless bestiality and found a kindred spirit instead of something to fear hit her right in her already battered chest. What the hell was one supposed to say?
Thankfully animals didn’t need words to understand. Their language was instinct, emotions. He probably knew what Ak’ka meant by the roughness in her hands and the shake as she forced them to be gentle, in the way she leaned closer to Keiga and closed her eyes.
“So ya travel then, Taki?” She muttered after a long stretch of silence when she finally found she could talk again. Her voice course and rough and heavy. Seekin’ the threads of something casual. “Guess it ain’t surprisin’ we’ve never run into each other. Different circles and all that.” 1. Necklace of Animal Speech
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Post by Shitakibo on Nov 14, 2023 23:42:14 GMT -5
Taki watched their interaction with a knowing smile, smoking from the bowl lightly as she listened in on Keiga's feelings. She'd suspected this life was a bit peaceful for the Serpent for some time, but seeing him bond with a kindred spirit, a fellow warrior, that was something she could treasure for all her days. Perhaps she'd even spin this tale to Morrigan some day, who was there when the big snake first joined the shaman. If nothing else, Ceres would be overjoyed for the visit and share in all their own adventures.
"I don't mind, and if that is your wish Keiga, then you have my blessing of course. You're always welcome to come rest here if you need a break, that goes for both of you."
"It is Taki, and I do hope this isn't a sad moment for you in any way."
"Not at all, this is something we've touched on before and there will always be an open door in my home... that works both ways. You stay as long as you like or need, and go as you please or must. That applies to all life that respects my home, as it shall continue to do so until I'm no longer here. Don't overthink it Keiga, just follow your instincts and your heart's desire."
"I will, and thank you. I'll bug Ak'ka for a visit from time to time."
"That would be nice, I'll make muffins and a big meal again. Be sure to send word you're coming so I can be home."
"Alright Miss."
She responded to the conversation both Ak'ka and Keiga held, though she knew Keiga's was directed at both of them. Watching the interactions, she felt that Keiga would be taken care of and in turn take good care of Ak'ka. Some intuitive part of the shaman told her that would only be to her benefit, to have someone to fight with, and for. She pondered how to answer the next question for a few moments, putting her thoughts together before answering.
"I do indeed travel, though it usually is not outside the Isles for regular work. Most of our little zoo has been as far as the capitol, and I've been all over Charon for a few more memorable adventures with some colorful individuals. Each place has it's beauties and dangers, from both near and far, but life happens everywhere it can and so to do people. If you've seen the recent catastrophe or heard about what caused all the raining magma and such, I was there with many other powerful figures from Charon. I've been to the Ashlands a few times, even had to bury a companion there some time ago. I used to visit the Marsh Flats regularly before my mentor retired, now it's a nice spot for gathering exotic plants and herbs." She paused, smirking with a knowing looking. "I don't usually go into too much detail, but I've been on a lot of neat adventures and done a lot of good I didn't think I'd get to. Yourself? Have you put many miles under your feet as well?" Taki asked, curious about what she might reply with, or ask about in return.
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Nov 18, 2023 21:53:56 GMT -5
Ak’ka stayed quiet while the two talked. She didn’t know either of them all that well; comin’ across Taki’s shrine was an accident. As it turned out, a fortunate one, but it meant she didn’t know the history between them, or how deep it ran. Keiga insisted her he wanted to come, and she knew the wanderlust, the hunger, the glorious Battlesong, better than anyone. But even if their parting was a nice one, didn’t mean there weren’t no sadness to go with it. Goodbyes were hard. At least they had the chance to say it to each other.
It was their moment, though, so Ak’ka smoked, running calloused hands along tough scales. Hands that weren’t meant for soft touches and a hide that wasn’t meant to be touched. It was just fine, though. Rough palms meant she wasn’t hurt by its spikes.
“‘Course we’ll pop by whenever we’re welcome.” The Isles were too hot for her most of the time, but she could make the trip when the weather started getting colder. Keiga had a home here - a stable home like this was too boring for her, and staying in one place forever was far too long. She could only imagine it was the same for Keiga. Still, it was nice for him to have a ‘home’ to look back on.
“Ah, thanks for yer hospitality.” Ak’ka leaned back, a wicked smirk on her face. Her energy was comin’ back, enough that she carried a bit of the usual nonchalance she acted with when not in battle. “I ‘ppreciate it, Doc. I wish i could say the same, but it ain’t like I’ve got a place for you to rest. The sky’s the roof over my head most nights. I prefer roughin’ it to civilization. Still, you ever run into me on the road… you got a spot at my campfire.”
As it turned out, Taki did a damn fair bit of traveling.
Ak’ka was no stranger to weird and threatening shit. Hell, when the quakes were happening up north she was caught up in one; missed the big fuckoff god battle, which she was still pretty peeved about. Shouldn’t’a surprised her that Taki was involved, though. She’d seen a lotta shit in her time on the road; where Ak’ka’s travels made her stronger, like a blunt object - a wall - it made Taki sharper, and somehow more gentle. Like that nonsense about scholars havin’ the power and the wisdom to understand not to use it or whatever. Inaction wasn’t for her but it suited Taki well enough.
When the question came back to her, Ak’ka didn’t need to think much about her answer.
“Yeah. I’m a traveling merc, so i don’t stay in one place for too long. Usually I just go wherever the danger is greatest. I told you ‘bout the job that brought me here.” The one that had landed her in this damn mess in the first place. “Folks in the business call me the Bonegrinder. Either in fear or in awe, but if yer ever in a pinch and drop that name around someone else in the business you’ll get the same results. Mention me around any company and they’ll take good care of ya.” She laughed, a deep rumble in her throat.
“No shortage of danger, especially in times like this. In the past few months I’ve been pretty much everywhere, puttin’ out fires, takin’ care of beasts, fixin’ houses and fences, whatever needs to be done and’ll get me coin. When there’s a job that people are too scared to handle, chances are a ten foot orc can take care of it. Pretty far cry from a clan leader, but I like it. When ya ain’t got a clan no more, it’s pretty easy to pack up and leave it all behind.”
She didn’t sound too beat up about it, but after the injury and the dream, she couldn’t resist scratching at old scabs a little.
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Post by Shitakibo on Nov 20, 2023 21:24:32 GMT -5
"My door's always open. Get some rest, tomorrow will be here soon enough." With that, Taki left the room and settled in for the night to rest. Sleep found the shaman quickly, and deeply as soon as she lay in bed. There was a stillness to her spirit and those who lived in the area as she drifted through the spirit realm, dreaming deeply. She welcomed the serenity, as it wasn't often found either waking or asleep.
Morning came with a gentle glow and a brisk autumn wind off the coast. Yukina, Kamina and Rina were all milling about the house as Taki stepped out of her room and began her morning routine. She'd checked in on Ak'ka when she first awoke, but left the warrior rest as long as possible. She set about making a hearty breakfast for everyone, with biscuits and sausage, diced potatoes fried in leftover bacon grease, gravy made from the sausage, and a selection of fruit. With this, she made a pot of steamed milk and added a healthy amount of cocoa powder, a touch of honey and vanilla, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Once complete, she brought the meal in on trays once again.
"Good morning, I hope you were able to rest well. There's food and a warm drink when you're up for it. Keiga, you'll have to head out to the barn for your meal. I didn't have the energy for it this morning, but I'll fix it before dinner."
With that, the shaman set about giving the warrior an examination. She noted the improvement to her condition, particularly to her complexion and features. She knew the hazards and joys of sleeping wherever your feet were when they got tired, and the toll it could take on one's mind and body. While not one to advise someone live against their wishes, she would be sure to bring up the advantage of stopping off for a hot meal and a good rest, even a warm bath from time to time... but now the focus was on getting better and moving around again.
"Would you prefer we do painful doctorly things before food or afterwards?" The shaman asked with a calm smile and a gentle tone.
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