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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 20:17:50 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "Seeing what it's like on your side is easier said than done." She replied with a little smirk. "Your people tend to throw rocks at me when I try watching you and I can't very well go walking into your camp. They wouldn't believe me for a second if I said all I wanted to do was observe."
Until given an order to join in the war against the Skaikru, Isa felt free to explore and learn about what might one day be her enemy in battle. Without an order to join she might step aside and let the war wage without her. The Skaikru were crafty survivors, but they were outmatched even without the Azgeda involving themselves. Even if they survived their numbers would be devastated.
"Did you really come from the sky, like they say?" Her gaze moved up to the trees again, her mind painting an image of the vast open air above the leaves. The Trikru had spoken of the relic that had slammed into the forest and the youth that had spilled forth from it. Immature and untried, they had said, much like children but the people from the sky were learning quickly and adapting. Some Trikru even held some respect for the Skaikru, but blood must have blood and respect could not prevent that.
"Some believe you're not worth fighting." When she spoke her voice was quieter than before, wary of the trees that may be listening. "Your people are adapting well, but some don't believe you'll live past winter at this rate. It's said that your people are having trouble surviving as it is."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 18:51:12 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS The little smirk he gave her almost made her wish to see a real smile from him, but she suspected those were rarer and she doubted grounders gave him much reason to smile.
"I shouldn't have to." She knew enough basic techniques to keep it from requiring the aid of a healer. It might scar a little, but she had been fighting for years. Scars were part of life and a warrior without scars was one without experience.
Although she was not willing to admit out outloud, it was kind of nice to know that he did not desire her dead or ill. It was generally one or the other with enemies but the longer she spent in his presence the less she could see him as one. It made her question what she would do if ordered to war, because if all Skaikru were like this man then her desire to fight would be lessened.
"We do. No one survives winter quite like an Azgeda," Winter came sooner to her home and left later. They were harsh and dark, but her people were well-versed in surviving such cold. It was a blessing and a curse, their winters, offering protection against enemies and strengthening her people with each passing year. But even the Azgeda suffered losses in the harsh winters.
When he released her hand she resisted the urge to ball it into a fist. The contact had lasted too long and she was not sure how it made her feel. It was not a bad sensation, but certainly something she could not afford feeling. It almost felt like a sentimental attachment and Isa tended to avoid such things even more than she avoided healers.
"Maybe if the war between you and the Trikru ends in peace my people can offer yours some assistance." She motioned towards the door. "Winters here are not as harsh as ours, but it will be your first on the ground, right? The first winter of a life is always one of the hardest."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 17:57:59 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "Fair enough," It was good to hear he had no intentions of fighting her without being provoked into it. As much as she enjoyed a good fight, which was a lot, she was not in a mood to fight today. At this rate neither of them would fight and would leave this happenstance encounter alive and relatively uninjured.
"Take it as you wish, but don't let it go to your head." Isa shrugged and spoke as deadpan as ever, but a tiny smile managed to crack past her icy demeanor. The crack did not last long though, fading as soon as he questioned her reasoning for not wishing to see a healer. She did not trust the Trikru well enough to rely on them when it came to wounds, but that was not the only reason. Even if it were, revealing the lack of trust was hardly a good strategy. "I don't like healers. Unless I have no choice I avoid them at all costs."
She stared down at his hand for a moment, digesting the information and seeing some sense in it. Symbolically, at least. Shaking hands could not be done with weapons, after all. Even though it felt a little strange she put her hand in his and gave it a little shake. His hands were warm and a bit rough, like she expected of a survivor. "We share warmth in the cold of winter. Blankets, gloves, or fire to show our goodwill and desire for the other to survive."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 17:05:17 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "I don't think they see you as savages, per se." Isa mulled over the way the Trikru spoke of the Skaikru. They spoke of acts of war, fires and deaths. It seemed as if they rued the day the Skaikru touched the ground. "Cruel and vicious, like a child, but not quite savage yet."
"I never thought you killed for sport." She commented as she rotated her shoulders, which were beginning to grow a bit stiff from having to hold her bow and arrow in this position. While the idea of putting it away crossed her mind, she did not move to do so. "From what I've witnessed and heard it was out of ignorance and retaliation that your people have killed my allies. Unfortunately blood must have blood, and even ignorance can't change that."
"I haven't decided if I'll even fight this war." Isa admitted with a small shrug of her own. "The Trikru are not my people and I have yet to deem the Skaikru a threat to the Azgeda. Unless my commander orders me to fight, there is nothing stopping me from going home if I desired to do so."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 4:51:11 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "Huh, I guess you've got a point," Isa conceded with a thoughtful shrug. Losing people sucked, but good memories were certainly something that helped many through the harshest of nights. Valdis had said something similar once, when she had first become the woman's second, but never brought it up again.
She leaned her head back and stared up at the branches above her as if it could offer some kind of answer to everything. "I have two left that I care about, but neither would mourn my passing. One because of the nature of our paths in life and the other because of love turned to hate."
"Can we be friends if I we can't promise not to kill each other one day?" She truly wanted to know, because the woman's words had stirred the embers beneath the ice that had engulfed her years ago. She had fought at her father's side in battle years ago and had lost him then. She could not imagine having to be the one to cut him down. "If we were to be friends, is it even possible to not hurt each other somewhere down the line when the wear makes moments like this impossible?
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 4:19:40 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "The Trikru are not my friends," She frowned at the very idea. They were allies, but she did not have any attachment to them beyond that. Isa never spent more time than was necessary with them nor did she join in their festivities. She saw no point in attempting to befriend them. She had already lost enough people.
"Death is death. What's the point in the small comfort of companionship when you die, only to leave the ones left behind scarred?" Isa was thinking of her mother's death and her father's, leaving her and her sister parentless. She thought of the harsh winters that took the lives of her neighbours. Even she could not hide the pain that flashed in her eyes at the memories. "The cold claims all in the end."
"I've been called psychotic before. Perhaps I'm already there... But wouldn't losing those you care for cause just as much madness, if not more?" She thought of her sister, the last connection she had to someone, turning her back on her. Her sister would not mourn her if she died and perhaps that was for the best. "And what comfort is a friend at your death, knowing they'll suffer long after your fight is over?"
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 3:47:09 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "People don't always think in times of war." She moved aside and leaned back against a tree. Her posture was relaxed, or it would look that way if she did not still have her bow drawn. "And from what I've seen and heard of the Skaikru, they tend to jump rather quickly to conclusions and start shooting if they believe one of their own is being threatened."
It was only then that Isa moved her gaze away from Annika. Her eyes scanned the woods around them and the treeline above before returning to her. They seemed to be alone. No allies were hiding nearby as far as she could tell.
"A friendship between the two of us could only cause another war, potentially." Her allies would see it as an act of betrayal and if her people sided with her, the pace between the two clans would be broken. If her people did not side with her then she would be punished as her people always punished those who betrayed their clans.
Isa replied as she tried to figure out the other woman. did she sincerely want to befriend her for some reason? Or was she merely playing a game to confuse or distract her? "You can't afford attachments in a time of war. They're a distraction and a weakness."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 3:36:55 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "No, I don't know you. You may surprise me yet." Her shoulders grew stiff with tension. This was not what she wanted. Getting into some kind of argument with a Sky Person had certainly not been on her list things she wanted to do that day, but even if they were not yelling at each other it still felt like an argument. "Your people are untried and I have yet to see reason to believe you'll survive."
"Underestimating is letting your guard down. My guard isn't down." She gave up the facade of scavenging and turned back to face him. "Am I supposed to encourage you by showing faith in the skills I've seen and those I haven't? You're my enemy by proxy. It's better to demoralise you or push you to act with emotion, pushing too far to prove something."
"As for the bandage, I meant no insult there. You did well." She reached up and touched it with her free hand. It ached but was dry and she figured the wound would open when she removed it later. "Set aside your emotions and pride. I can't give you a indication of how close, or how far the nearest Trikru camp may be. Besides, I have no intentions of seeing one of their healers."
Made restless by admitting so much she began to move. Isa approached the door and pressed her ear against it. It was think but she thought she could still hear the rustling of leaves as the fog moved through them.
"I don't like arguing with you, either." Isa was a fighter. She fought with blades or arrows, not with words. Maybe it was because he had helped here more than once or perhaps it was just the acid fog, but she did not want their argument to progress any further.
She swallowed and turned. "Truce? No more assumptions, on either side. No war or drama between us? At least for now."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 3:01:02 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS Isa released the tension of the bowstring and lowered her bow, but the arrow remain notched in place. It would only take seconds for her to raise it again and let an arrow fly, if needed. An equal response to the woman putting away her blade, yet keeping it within reach.
They may not be fighting at the moment, but neither was foolish enough to lay down their weapons completely.
"No, but you may alert your people to my presence which would be highly inconvenient." Her right eyebrow raised slightly at the mention of friendship. Although she was not very expressive, her confusion could still be read on her face. It made no sense to her that the Sky Person would attempt to befriend her.
"Friends? You're at war with my allies. Why would you even want me to be your friend?"
Between the war and the fact that Isa did not have any friends and would not know what to do with one made her think that it was impossible for them to be friends, but she did not say as much.
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 2:49:42 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "No, I don't." Her eyes narrowed slightly but that was the only outward sign of her irritation. He assumed too much about her and her thoughts and his pride would get him killed. "Your people are resilient and adaptable, but you are still strangers to these lands. Not only is war a threat, but surviving the ground is a threat as well. At least you'll die fighting and thus die well."
"Stubbornness will only get you so far." Isa turned away from him then and returned to her earlier scavenging. She needed something to do with her hands lest her irritation grow. She had decided not to fight him, but if she let her temper get the best of him then that unspoken promise would be through out the window."
She honestly did not want to fight him. Not today, at least, and maybe not even tomorrow. He was irritating but she had no desire to be the one to take his life.
"It may remain in place, but it will not last until I return home." She spoke over her shoulder rather than face him again. Had he been offended when she said the bandage would not hold? Why did it bother her? "The journey is far too long. It will need to be changed before I get to the Triku territory, let alone home. There is little a good bandage can do with a wound this deep and a trek as long as mine."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 2:28:21 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS "Enough." The smile she gave him was cold and did not reach her eyes. While the Azgeda had small numbers than the Trikru, they were fierce and vicious warriors made of sturdy stuff. There was a reason the Trikru could not defeat them in the war.
"We are allies," She answered simply enough. Explaining the Coalition of the twelve clans to the Sky Person was not on her to-do list that day. What did it matter to him? The Skaikru would die trying to defeat them. They clearly showed no true signs of being curious about learning about their neighbors. Besides, the knowledge of the wars and somewhat shaky peace between the clans might give him the wrong idea to try to break their peace.
"You've heard of them," Only heard, she guessed, since he did not say much about the Mountain Men. Chances were that she knew more about them and their weapons. "The Azgeda don't fear the Mountain Men, but the Trikru are not wrong in fearing them. If the Skaikru were wise, they would fear them as well. If the Trikru don't defeat you, then the Mountain Men will."
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 2:16:08 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS Isa's eyes never left Annika and her bow remained raised and steady even as the other woman threw her knife and caught it. It was clear that the Sky Person had practiced throwing knives and there was a possibility that she could have a deadly precision with them. Unfortunately she had tipped her hand by revealing the skill. Now Isa knew to keep an eye on the woman's hands, just in case she let the blade fly.
Not that it would do much good. Arrows were faster than knives anyways, but Isa would rather not receive an injury she would have to tend herself.
"I see that." Her demeanour remained icy and calm. The show with the blade had not intimidated her, nor had it given her reason to lower her weapon. "It's simple surveillance. Know thy enemy, or in my case, know the enemy of my allies. Knowing the faces of those you're meant to kill is necessary."
Plus she was not certain if the war was one she wanted to wage. As much as Isa enjoyed a good, bloody fight she had no desire to risk her life without a reason. Studying the Skaikru may give her better insight on why her allies strove to defeat them.
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Post by Isa on Sept 27, 2015 0:41:12 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS Isa wanted to roll her eyes at that. Throwing rocks at a stalker, even one who intended no harm, was foolish. Briefly she wondered why the Trikru even bothered warring against them. Most of the kids would be dead before a full year cycled past. Beast, disease, or starvation would widdle away their already small numbers.
"You wouldn't believe me either way," She replied as she kept her cool gaze on the other woman. The suspicion was clear and the woman had already thrown a rock. Isa would not put it past her to try to pull a foolish move, especially since she heard no sounds in the forest around them to hint at a possible rescue for her.
The idea of shooting the woman was tempting. Not to kill, just to weaken. Perhaps in the leg, Isa thought to herself as she wondered if the woman was the type who screamed when she was hurt. Would she fight or curl up? Would she survive?
The idea of testing the woman did not leave her thoughts, but the arrow remained in its place. "Alone, unarmed, and prone to throwing rocks. It would be a mercy to kill you now, girl." |
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Post by Isa on Sept 26, 2015 23:46:46 GMT
❅AI GONPLEI❅ AI SWIS Isa shifted closer to a tree as she watched the other woman kneel. It appeared as if the woman was tracking something, but if she was then she was a terrible tracker. She had been walking far too quickly, far too noisily to not alert any prey.
As soon as the woman moved, so did Isa. Ducking behind the tree, she heard the thump as a rock collided with it and the woman yell.
The woman did not have any guns or large weapons. If there were to be a fight, Isa figured it would be up close and personal - which put her at the advantage over the Sky Person since her weapons had better range.
"What are you doing throwing rocks at strangers?" She retorted rather than answer the question. She slipped her bow off her back and notched an arrow before slipping out from behind the tree. Isa lined up the shot but did not release the arrow. "Are you alone?"
Although it was not her intention to kill the woman. She would have done so already if that were the case, she was more than willing to do so if necessary. The Trikru had already made it clear to their allies casualties were permitted.
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Post by Isa on Sept 26, 2015 22:23:25 GMT
❅Isa of the Azgeda❅ Azgeda Warrior, follower of Queen Nia, second to Valdis
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❅Active Interaction❅ ❅Past/Paused Interaction❅
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