[X] ...to explore strange new tombs... to seek out old life and ancient civilizations... to boldly go where no Harakai-Silef mixed race has gone before!
[X] "To pick up chicks"
[X] ...to explore strange new tombs... to seek out old life and ancient civilizations... to boldly go where no Harakai-Silef mixed race has gone before!
[X][X] ...I'll seek out new civilizations, new knowledge, new peoples, and learn all that I can from them!
Eighteen Months
"...I'll seek out new civilizations, new knowledge, new peoples, and learn all that I can from them!"
Anne finishes with a broad smile. It's a genuinely good idea, she thinks, increasingly pleased with the idea.
Every single day new expeditions sally forth from the Cities, and those who return successfully from those expeditions, are showered with renown, wealth, and respect.
Well, if one survives the adventure and returns successful.
Jalynn studies Anne's excited grin and then grins herself, teeth stark white against her burgundy skin, "That suits you. You know…" she sits up straight, drawing her legs under her, "The Spears often contract with the expeditions. We co-"
"Should go together!" says Anne, clapping her hands together excitedly, and then briefly brings a half closed hand to rest on her forehead, "By Swift Blood let that be!"
"Yes!"
The Harakai girl's grin suddenly falls halfway to disappointment, "Well. I do have to finish my apprenticeship."
"Right." Anne frowns.
"The Old Man wants to make sure I get my crossed spears personally. And he hasn't left Khot in years."
"He'd lose his colour if you left before then." Anne sighs. But in impatience, not frustration, Anne knows that she has a loose end of her own, as she's still years away from her own majority.
It would also be harder to sign on to a reputable expedition with her grandmother hindering her rather than helping. But, compared to seven years, eighteen months isn't a long time.
Anne and Jalynn plan to ship out with an expedition as soon as they can after turning 17, becoming legal adults.
Anne's family celebrates the return of her happiness and drive. They're also supportive, as even the Matriarch herself spent much of her younger years in the forgotten corners of the world unearthing mysteries, and being an explorer means that Anne will always return to the family on her return.
Anne is prepared to fully devote eighteen months to preparation for her adventure.
[ ] Attend University
Though proficient in survival and combat, Anne has only the beginnings of a formal scholarly education. Anne's mother, Resennai, suggests she become well rounded and assures Anne that she can transfer her one on one lessons with the Matriarch into entry into an accelerated courseload of her choosing.
-[ ] Magic Fundamentals
-[ ] Natural History
-[ ] Philosophy
-[ ] Divine Studies
-[ ] Histories
[ ] Archaeologists' Compact Apprenticeship
Anne can also turn to Matriarch Annasavai, who promises to "complete" Anne's unofficial apprenticeship with the Compact if she is able to devote herself to it with the same fervour that she applied to the preceding seven years. This will also formally enter Anne into the Compact.
[ ] Oarsman Association Apprenticeship
Seth believes that any self-respecting explorer should understand logistics and have a full purse besides. Though she won't have time for a full apprentice Oarsman education, Anne will assist with the outfitting and dispatch of caravans and expeditions of all kinds and be paid to do so.
[ ] Imharite Temple Education
Becoming a full Divine Sister would require at minimum a half decade of Temple education, the Divine Sisters of Anne's temple are willing to train her in medicine, theology, the Imharite liturgical tongue, and the fundamentals of ritual bloodletting necessary to conduct purification, divination and blessing ceremonies.
50 words for write ins today. Glibly, this vote is if we want to multiclass, and into what? Do we want to expand our tertiary skillset to support Anne's existing skills, or do we want to double down?
Also bear in mind that this education will be on an accelerated schedule, so writing in another guild or association will result in only a rudimentary education in the field due to the difficulty in enlisting in a guild for such a short period and picking up an entirely new discipline.
But writing in another job or training remains viable, nonetheless.
-
There is also a SECOND vote today! Our protagonist has yet to have had her appearance described. So this write in will involve letting us know what she looks like when she's a legal adult. I'm mainly looking for generalities like skin and hair colour, height, build, and so forth.
Reminder:
Silef: When someone asked me what level of catgirl Silef were I panicked and said "Miqo'te," because I play an unconscionable amount of FF14.
Harakai: Homo Sapiens Sapiens with basically any shade of skin and hair colour with glowing arcane birth marks that often form patterns.
(The combination of the two had better be unspeakably anime!)
[X] A tall, stocky woman with a rugged build of solid muscles and generous curves. She has wild, chin length black hair with two cat-like ears pierced with silver rings, ivory skin browned slightly by the sun, and rose gold eyes. A glimmering mask of fractal geometry designs frame her eyes and curl across her cheeks like ink while a single fang peeks from under her lips. Her coat is long and made from the glossy black scales of a deadly crocolisk she personally hunted and is trimmed in rich gold. Around her waist is a crimson sash symbolizing her Imharite faith along with a thick belt carrying a cavalry saber and pistol.
Knowing how to outfit and supply an expedition will be quite useful if we are going to be going on an expedition. Yep.
[X] A tall, stocky woman with a rugged build of solid muscles and generous curves. She has wild, chin length black hair with two cat-like ears pierced with silver rings, ivory skin browned slightly by the sun, and rose gold eyes. A glimmering mask of fractal geometry designs frame her eyes and curl across her cheeks like ink while a single fang peeks from under her lips. Her coat is long and made from the glossy black scales of a deadly crocolisk she personally hunted and is trimmed in rich gold. Around her waist is a crimson sash symbolizing her Imharite faith along with a thick belt carrying a cavalry saber and pistol.
For a goth catgirl trained by a steppe nomad ghost she has got to have a wild and rugged look with some clothing she made from her hunts. And she rides a huge hunting bird so having a cavalry saber and pistol makes sense. Yep.
[X][DESCRIBE] Anne's bronze-brown skin shines in the sunlight. She's taller than all her peers. Her muscles are prominent - though not as much as those who bulk up for show. Her hair and ears are normally black, but since adopting the ways of the Cohacos clan, she dyes them golden-yellow. Her eyes remain the same piercing black as ever.
...unless magically-changing your eye color exists, in which case golden eyes are also fine, so i'll make that too
[X][DESCRIBE] Anne's bronze-brown skin shines in the sunlight. She's taller than all her peers. Her muscles are prominent - though not as much as those who bulk up for show. Her hair and ears are normally black, but since adopting the ways of the Cohacos clan, she dyes them golden-yellow. She's also had the color of her left eye changed to that same aurous hue as opposed to the usual deep black.
edit: a third option
[X][DESCRIBE] Anne's bronze-brown skin shines in the sunlight. She's taller than all her peers. Her muscles are prominent - though not as much as those who bulk up for show. Her hair and ears are normally black, but since adopting the ways of the Cohacos clan, she dyes them golden-yellow. When she calls on the bonds forged with her bird companions, her eyes glow as bright gold.
[X] A tall, stocky woman with a rugged build of solid muscles and generous curves. She has wild, chin length black hair with two cat-like ears pierced with silver rings, ivory skin browned slightly by the sun, and rose gold eyes. A glimmering mask of fractal geometry designs frame her eyes and curl across her cheeks like ink while a single fang peeks from under her lips. Her coat is long and made from the glossy black scales of a deadly crocolisk she personally hunted and is trimmed in rich gold. Around her waist is a crimson sash symbolizing her Imharite faith along with a thick belt carrying a cavalry saber and pistol.
[X] A tall, stocky woman with a rugged build of solid muscles and generous curves. She has wild, chin length black hair with two cat-like ears pierced with silver rings, ivory skin browned slightly by the sun, and rose gold eyes. A glimmering mask of fractal geometry designs frame her eyes and curl across her cheeks like ink while a single fang peeks from under her lips. Her coat is long and made from the glossy black scales of a deadly crocolisk she personally hunted and is trimmed in rich gold. Around her waist is a crimson sash symbolizing her Imharite faith along with a thick belt carrying a cavalry saber and pistol.
[X][DESCRIBE] Anne's bronze-brown skin shines in the sunlight. She's taller than all her peers. Her muscles are prominent - though not as much as those who bulk up for show. Her hair and ears are normally black, but since adopting the ways of the Cohacos clan, she dyes them golden-yellow. Her eyes remain the same piercing black as ever.
[X][DESCRIBE] Anne's bronze-brown skin shines in the sunlight. She's taller than all her peers. Her muscles are prominent - though not as much as those who bulk up for show. Her hair and ears are normally black, but since adopting the ways of the Cohacos clan, she dyes them golden-yellow. She's also had the color of her left eye changed to that same aurous hue as opposed to the usual deep black.
[X][DESCRIBE] Anne's bronze-brown skin shines in the sunlight. She's taller than all her peers. Her muscles are prominent - though not as much as those who bulk up for show. Her hair and ears are normally black, but since adopting the ways of the Cohacos clan, she dyes them golden-yellow. When she calls on the bonds forged with her bird companions, her eyes glow as bright gold.
[DESCRIBE] A tall, stocky woman with a rugged build of solid muscles and generous curves. She has wild, chin length black hair with two cat-like ears pierced with silver rings, ivory skin browned slightly by the sun, and rose gold eyes. A glimmering mask of fractal geometry designs frame her eyes and curl across her cheeks like ink while a single fang peeks from under her lips. Her coat is long and made from the glossy black scales of a deadly crocolisk she personally hunted and is trimmed in rich gold. Around her waist is a crimson sash symbolizing her Imharite faith along with a thick belt carrying a cavalry saber and pistol.
Adventure 1: Journeywoman, Page 1:
"Come"
Anne-Seht of Clan Cohacos takes a single deep breath as the voice of the Clan Cohacos Matriarch echoes cleanly through the door.
Anne enters, sliding the Matriarch's office door open and carefully closing it behind her. The room is large, but it feels like a small space. It's lined with overflowing bookshelves and locked chests.
Like many Silef (Including Anne) the Matriarch's a large woman. Sitting at her desk she dominates the entire room, her age seemingly no hindrance to her, the grey that's crept into her black hair seeming naught but a rare affectation.
Standing beside her are three other individuals, a Imharite Divine Sister, her Uncle Vanathi, and a Harakai: Master Caen of the Archaeologist's Compact.
"Apprentice" Matriarch Annasavai says, hands clasped together on her desk. Gone is the pile of artefacts, books, scrolls, and other paraphernalia, replaced with a single low metal basin filled with water and carved with Imharite scripture, "It's time"
"Master Annasavai" says Anne excitedly, "I'm ready"
"Hold your hand out," says the Divine Sister, and Anne complies without hesitation, intuiting what's next.
The moment Anne's hand is out, palm upwards, the Divine Sister sweeps forward, drawing a ceremonial blade from it's sheath concealed within purple robes. Her left hand raises the blade, the right grasping Anne's extended hand.
Anne holds perfectly still and there's a flash of motion as the cleric draws it across Anne's palm, a red curtain across ivory white flesh.
Uncle Vanathi approaches with the metal basin, stepping carefully.
The priestess lifts Anne's bloody hand into the air, "In clear waters flow the purity of Her Promise." the hand is plunged into the basin, a cloud of red exploding across the water, "In red blood flows the power of Our Covenant."
Master Caen now approaches, holding the insignia of the Archaeologist's Compact, a trowel crossed with a quill, and locks eyes with Anne, "Apprentice Anne-Seht of Clan Cohacos, the Compact has judged your work with Mistress Annasavai acceptable. If you wish to be sealed to the Compact, with the rights and responsibilities that entails, speak now."
Anne grins, everyone in this room knows the time to back out would have been before she entered the room, "I accept"
The Harakai Master nods solemnly, "Repeat after me."
"Repeat after me."
Uncle hisses, eyes wide, and Anne can feel the grip on her wrist shake as the Divine Sister fights laughter. The Matriarch seems singularity unaffected by the jest, sitting implacably behind her desk.
Master Caen clears his throat, then continues "I, your name."
Anne says her name, no sense in truly antagonising the man, and begins to repeat after him
"Swear to uphold the principles of the Archaeologists' Compact."
"To let no knowledge lie buried in book and ruin."
"To assist all members of the Compact in need."
"To refrain from plundering tended graves, and never steal knowledge from the living."
"To be honest, courteous, and refrain from besmirching the name of the Compact"
"This I swear on the Lady of Rivers, may my blood run still if I violate this oath."
As Anne repeats the last sentence there is… Something, some tingling flow that Anne considers 'aquatic silver', and the Sister pulls her hand from the basin, the blood cloud fading, the cut along her palm seemingly gone with only a streak of dull heat and red on the skin remaining.
Anne's Uncle sets the basin on the desk and claps her back, "Welcome to the Compact Anne." he chuckles, "Journeywoman Anne."
"Anne"
Anne looks up at her grandmother, seeing one of the Matriarch's rare smiles. Perhaps the brightest she's ever seen on the woman.
Anne's grandmother produces a package and rests it before her, "I want you to have this." she pushes it forward, "My own Master gave me something similar when I became a Journeywoman, I wouldn't imagine letting you go on expeditions without one. It's…"
EXAMPLE:
[ ] "…Your Tools"
This gift is a leather cross belt worn over the chest that is covered with pockets and contains brushes, picks, notebooks and other useful tools. There's even space to hold weapons and ammunition. Near the waist is a leather sheath with one of the high quality steel trowels that the Compact uses as a badge of office, and even Anne can feel some sort of blessing upon it.
This is a material gift, also serving to represent Anne's Journeywomanship and the time she's spent with her grandmother. It is of great sentimental importance. Write-ins are 70 words
I've elected to divide up the quest proper into "Adventures" and "Pages" (because it doesn't feel right to call them chapters >: V)
I've also decided that Anne's description means that Silef are "big cats". Like to draw an analogy: most modern anime catgirls are small and slim, while Silef are the equivalent of a Tiger or another big cat. Larger and more powerfully built by default.
And lastly I'm currently fielding suggestions for a proper quest title, I've got a few ideas kicking around I'm my head:
-"To Boldly Sail: A fantasy Age of Discovery worldbuilding quest (Updated daily)"
-"Have Trowel, Will Travel: A Fantasy Catgirl Action Archaeolgist Worldbuilding Quest (Updated Daily)"
-Here Be Literal Dragons: A fantasy exploration worldbuilding quest (Updated Daily)
But I'm more than eager to hear any other suggestions
Edit: actually, as another thing, I'm considering going up to 1000 words per day, because I always wind up between 800 and 900 words and then have to cut 100/150 words to get down to 750, and 1000 is a nice round number. Though I might just *do* 900 words instead. But because I still like the challenge of keeping it to a limited number of words, it just might wind up being slightly more efficient to fit this into 900/1000 words.
900 might be good. I think this exercise is best if you never feel like you have to stretch yourself to make anything long enough to get you over the line.
[x] Family Tree Book Added by various members this accounts for multiple topics of your family history from its founders, to the great exodus and what they have done to establish themselves in the Isles. Some pages contain some advice, useful anecdotes, food and other things to remind one of where one's roots were.
[X] A stack of books, the first titled "A thorough introduction into the Arcane Forces"
the necessary reading material for any aspiring self-taught mage. The first book alone depicts over 20 different magic traditions and the requirements to learn them with the following books detailing the steps to begin doing so.
