- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Slow As Molasses
- Online Availability
- Anytime, I have no life.
- Writing Levels
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- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Nonbinary
- Transgender
- Primarily Prefer Male
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- Fantasy, romance, slice of life, anti-hero stories, "you're our only hope", fandom non-canons, soft scifi, transhumanism, magical girls, horror, suspense / mystery, detective noir, fractured fairytales
After the introductions were made, Windy Goldfingers kept her warm and cheeky smile on, even though she was exhausted by the trip. She had travelled a lot in the past days, after she had received the notice that she would be joining this band of misfits. Looking at them now, she couldn't help but wonder how all those people had come together. Humans, elves, an orc, a tiefling, a vampire, a spirit, a sort-of brutish huge man… She had come across many different races in her travels, had met strict humans from Rheinfield, elves and lizardfolk from the Free Holds, and even more creatures hiding in tiny villages and in the woods. She never, however, met any human with blue hair. The small woman observed the living legendary princess, Kouri, and in her heart she knew she was in the right place.
The gnome's bright eyes drifted from the blue-haired lass to the huge man. He was so incredibly tall, almost as tall as the orc Grothnor. Almost carried by the breeze, Windy trotted towards him, her messy orange hair falling back as she looked up at him. She was barely above his waist!
"Allo mistah, this one is Windy as you heard. My oh my, I don't believe Windy has met anothah one like you! Heard some sing about tall people like you, hiding in forests! You, mistah, have made this bard curious!" Windy chirped playfully, watchful of the man's reaction to her words.
While Rahim watched over the various people who made up the new entourage, and finished talking with whichever previously known member of Kouri's allies had caught his attention, Rahim had failed to notice the approach of the Half-Gnome woman. When she broke her silence to introduce herself, he flinched for a moment; looking down and grasping his axe with the sudden instinct to strike…before he spotted just who the Orange-haired 'assailant' was. He instantly relaxed, clutching a hand over his heart. "You scared me, small one. I did not hear your approach." He said, chuckling under his breath. When she mentioned the tall people in the forests, his smile seemed to turn a bit dourer, as his eyebrow rose slightly. "If I were you, I would avoid that forest. I am the least terrifying creature you might find in Katafýgio."
After a silent moment, he reached down with his spare hand; offering it to the woman to shake. "I am Rahim, by the way. It is a pleasure."
Seeing the huge man jump in surprise made Windy giggle loudly. Even her laugh was somewhat melodic and light. She wiped a few tears off her cheeks and reached for Rahim's hand with both of hers.
"Mistah Raaaahim! Nice name for ya, RAAAWWRR like a giant man, like a mountain of muscle and punchin'!" Windy giggles again and shakes his hand happily, her smile so wide it makes her eyes squint. "Do not worry Rahim, this one does not have plans to wandah away from Kouri the princess. Those forests are not as interestin' right now."
The gnome turns around and looks at Kouri again. Humans are so fragile, she is so young!
"Does Rahim know if the princess is strong? Humans are weak, Rahim. Legends are powahful and this one plans on living very very long, and sing for the princess's court!" The little woman turns back to the Amazonian, her face still smiling but her eyes slightly darker and serious. "Let this one play music to calm the angry hearts, ya?"
Rahim looked at the Half-Gnome with a stare that made it obvious that she was a profoundly confusing creature, in his eyes. Truth be told; he could barely keep up with the woman's energetic way of speaking. She spoke so rapidly, and about things that hardly seemed to matter. Despite all that, she was at least interesting company. He was not used to seeing anyone quite so…animated.
When Windy asked about the Princess' strength, he frowned. Truth be told, he didn't have a decent answer for her. He had seen the woman perform an incredible magical feat at the lake, and she had been proven legitimate by the ritual; which made her over one-thousand years old. And yet…
"She has survived more than most of us could hope to know, and she has done so without compromising her beliefs. There is strength in that." He said, leaning on his axe with his spare hand as he briefly glanced towards the Princess, thinking about their most recent conversation. He had seen the woman at a point of incredible fragility, and it would be easy to have pointed that out; but he could not bring himself to besmirch the name of his Clan's head.
After a sombre moment of quiet, Rahim turned to face Windy again, offering a forced smile. "Music will do many here good. I fear it is not the angry hearts who will need you most though."
"Hmm yes, Windy agrees with ya, Raaawrrhim. There is strength in the mind and in the heart!"
The gnome unceremoniously leans against the man's leg, like one would lean against a tree, and crosses her arms.
"So, mistah, tell this one about the rest of ya clan. Who's the leadah? Who's the strongest? Windy sees a lot of mages and magic wieldahs."
Rahim paused to ponder Windy's question. It was not like the clan had ever truly established any sort of rigid hierarchy. Back in his birthplace, there would be a definite leader; and a definite strongest. Here though? Too many questions left unanswered to make a truly accurate judgement. "Apart from Kouri herself, no one is truly a leader. She ultimately has the final say on decisions, but she seems to value good council more than her own opinion. In a one-on-one battle, Hanus would likely kill everyone here in a blink of an eye, with exceptions being a couple of the mages…Hanus is the tall dark-skinned one." Taking a moment, he pointed out Hanus in the crowd, standing near Kouri as he was. "Tactically, Marcus is likely the most accomplished among us, and he is no slouch in battle. I don't know much about magic, but James seems the most talented with it." Again, he takes a moment upon mentioning each name to put a face along with it. "And other than that, everyone has a varying set of skills."
After a moment of pause, Rahim then turned to the Gnome, looking down - in a literal sense - at her. "What about you? What can you do, other than play your songs?"
Windy listens carefully to Rahim's every word. Marcus, James, Hanus. She would avoid talking to those three for the time being -- she wants to know more about the side ranks, those left behind, the ones who seemed inapproachable. The three men seemed to be the best suited to lead the group along with Kouri.
"This one says thanks, mistah."
The gnome thinks for a minute or two about Rahim's question. She wanted to be honest, but wasn't ready to show him all her tricks.
"Ahh, Windy knows how to fight like a pirate! This beauty here..." She shows him her scimitar, "... was given to me be a real good friend. This one's friend is long gone now, but Windy treasures her memory." The small woman's voice went slightly off her previous accent and was definitely less chirpy. She looks up at Rahim and winks.
"Windy's songs are more than just songs, mistah Raaawrhim. They fill the heart with courage and carries them along."
As to prove her statement, Windy's fingers caress the strings of her lyre. She doesn't use magic with her words, as she is already rather tired.
"Leaves under his feet, Burning the forest in his stride, Flames choke the pride, Before he reaches the crown."
Windy gives a playful bow, and sticks her tongue out cheekily. "Maybe anothah day, mistah will see what Windy means."
Rahim's eyebrow rose slightly as she mentioned her apparent skill with a cutlass. The weapon did not seem like the sort that would do well against armoured opponents...Like Rheinfelders. Her mention of her songs was another curiosity, and Rahim soon found himself wondering just what it was that the small Gnome was hiding. "...You are an interesting one, Windy. Stay close to me, and I will try and keep you alive in battle."
"Windy looks forward to this, mistah."
The gnome smiles warmly at the giant of a man, and gives him a friendly tap on the arm before hopping away. Now that she had a better idea of whom her comrades were, she definitely wanted to get to know them better.
________________________________________________________________________________
A Wind Over Time
Collab ft Windy & Kasienka (@Seba)
She was still a little woozy from what she had helped Hanus with, and she was trying to amble over to Kouri when she almost tripped over the little halflings that had just arrived. Kasienka steadied herself, then slooowly lowered herself down to her knees so she was closer to eye-level with the bard. "I don't mean to demean you, but my head is still foggy and I need a moment." She paused before smiling more warmly at Windy than she had before. "It's a pleasure to meet you, dear Windy. I am Kasienka."
The gnome chuckles as the elf almost trips over her. She had just left Rahim's side to meet up with the others, and hadn't been paying attention to where she was going in all her excitement.
"Oohh la la miss! This one is sorry for being a little one!" As the elf lowers herself to meet her eye, Windy grins and flicks the taller woman's nose. "Kaaaasienka! Pretty name for an old one like ya, Windy likes it!"
Without waiting for her answer, Windy leans in closer to her, "Miss Kaaa, ya look pretty pale, ya should eat somethin'. Wouldn't want ya to fall, fa real this time." Reaching in her backpack, Windy takes out a small red apple and hands it to Kasienka.
Kasienka blinked a few times at having her nose flicked, and looked at Windy with a faint blush on her cheekbones. She shook her head slowly, smiling tiredly at the little one, as she called herself.
"Thank you, Windy, but I do not need your food. I have my own, and if I was to run out before we leave I'm sure Kiune would feed us further." She reached into her own messenger bag, pulling out a dried flat bread. It wasn't much, but it was something. Cracking off a piece she ate it, then offered some to Windy.
"Miss Kaaa is an interestin' one, refusin' Windy's apple and yet offahin' a piece of hah (her) bread! This one thinks Miss Kaaa cares for othahs but does not want othahs to worry 'bout hah!"
Windy takes a large bite from her apple, and ignores the piece of bread offered. The gnome doesn't take her eyes off the elf as a bit of sadness creeps in. She had not met a young elf in her travels, and rumours had it they were cursed.
"Is the bloodsuckah ya lovah? This one is so curious 'bout everyone in Raaawrhim's clan!"
Kasienka chuckled softly as Windy spoke, snapping off more of her bread before putting the rest of it in her bag. She nodded to her question, moving to sit instead of continuing to kneel.
"Hanus the vampire is my partner, yes. As for ah... Raaawrhim? If you should mean Rahim, I suppose we are apart of his clan. I prefer to think of us as Princess Kouri's party for the time being. My partner has pledged himself to be her first knight."
Windy nods to Kasienka's words, her eyes finally leaving the elf's face to catch a look of Hanus. She definitely wanted to know about him, considering he had met another gnome before.
"Yes, yes. The princess Kouri. A vampire as a first knight? This is interestin'! This one wonders what a pledge from one who does not die means. That will make for a very good story!"
At least the knight will outlive the princess, Windy remarks.
She reaches out and ruffles Kasienka's hair gently, and as she finishes her apple, the bard brings her lyre closer and whispers softly as she strokes the used strings,
"Undying love for a dying race, Some say the heart knows not disgrace, Faithful to the crown and love, War does not protect doves..."
On her last note, Windy smiles and bows playfully at the elf.
Kasienka politely clapped for Windy, giggling at having a personal performance. She was flushed at the mention of undying love, but was happy as she was. The elf reached up to try and fix her hair, smiling at the gnome.
"That was absolutely lovely, dear. Thank you." She lifted her head to look past the woman towards the princess, still feeling a need to reach out to her before they departed the grove. "Where do you come from to develop such a manner of speaking?"
Windy runs a hand through her own hair, her orange mess ruffling on her shoulders. She thought for a few seconds before answering in a low voice to Kasienka.
"J'ai voyagé à plusieurs endroits, Kasienka."(I have traveled to many places) The gnome brings a finger to her lips, silently asking the elf to keep quiet.
Speaking in a normal voice, she continues: "Ahh but Miss Kaaa, this one has been on pirate ships and comes from a veeeery far away land. Elves make the best pirates, Miss Kaaa, did ya know! This one likes to play with everything." With that, Windy winks and squeezes Kasienka's shoulder before heading off towards another member of the group.
All she could do was blink a few times as Windy bounded away. This was the second time she had heard her language today and her mind was reeling. Elves as pirates? Kasienka sat dumbfounded before smiling wearily and getting to her feet. She brushed off her pants then tried to approach the Princess Kouri.
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