K'nahli

After so many failed Garuda Extreme runs with randoms I can't help but think that a good tank is more necessary. I imagine a healer would be easier to educate if they kept failing plus the party can run off of a lone healer for at least a while afterwards, whereas off-tanks cannot sustain both roles in most trials.

Every suggestion where a lala is involved is disturbing! Even Lala x Lala is harmful to my brain. I think we should all just agree that Lala's are like sylphs and are born from cabbages/pods or something >w

I lean more towards more "normal" characters or those who are within the realms of realistic capability. I can easily imagine myself turned off by being involved in a scene where everyone is doing the part while being limited by the fact they are human and then someone comes along and clears out a bunch of foes as if it were easy for them. That said, I have nothing against strong characters... I just don't like when that is a defining characteristic or when actions scenes could become stale because everything is played down as being "not that big a deal" just because they are presnt. I imagine it would also reflect badly on the weaker(i.e normal) characters as being negligible almost. I also prefer when some people show some respect to, at the very least, the main factors of the lore and don't make up their own rules just to suit their own preferences; that is mostly a thing I would apply to large communities such as this one here. I also like characters who can gain my interest without having to shove a bunch of exciting things in my face, so personality, delivery and backstory are simply massive for me. *rushed post* !

An innocent look of curiosity was drawn upon the hyur's face as the girl explained herself. He eyed her carefully as his thoughts wandered upon the truth that lay beyond her vague answer. ("Something important?") He echoed to himself inquisitively with genuine wonder as to what that could have possibly been, or perhaps meant. His eyes quickly scanned about the surrounding area, rolling over the green, dew-laden shrubbery and between the narrow, dividing trees that sheltered them, though he found nothing of interest - as he could have well predicted. Curiosity teased him as he considered inquiring further, though perhaps it was better not to distract themselves further as the others were hard at work, he thought. The hyur's sapphire eyes glided back to meet with Clover's gaze once more, choosing to merely smile reassuringly toward her in an effort to dismiss the girl's unmistakeable sense of guilt for indulging in her sudden impulse, innocent as he felt assured it had been. "We should get back before the others begin to worry" he replied simply, waiting only for a nod of understanding from Clover before turning on his heels and leading the way forward with Clover following only two steps behind him. ----------- The horde of Ixal screeched loudly as they charged downhill toward the dazzled passengers. Though the distance may have granted the illusion that the travelers had some time to react, the reality of the situation proved to be a fickle ally. The significant stature of even the lesser Ixal meant that they, in addition to their long and powerful legs, were able to propel themselves forward and downhill with surprising speed. The massive claws that decorated their thickly-scaled feet dug deeply into the ground with ease, anchoring them firmly and offering them unparalleled balance and agility over the disadvantageous and uneven terrain. The group quickly subdivided as the Ixal selected their individual targets and bore down upon them with great determination, using their numbers in correlation with their surprise offensive to obstruct any and all opportunities that their opponents had available to resort to, be it retreat or rebellion. It was then and without warning that a large, feathered arrow sliced through the brisk, morning air and crashed into the caravan's wooden frame with a loud 'thunk'; landing no more than six ilms before the lalafel whom had been hurrying to reach his equipment. The sudden commotion startled the pair of young chocobo greatly as they stirred and pulled frantically against their ropes in a futile attempt to flee, chirping nervously all the while. A harsh and taunting cry echoed throughout the forest air as a notably more powerful Ixal threw his head upwards and bellowed a blood-curdling shriek in raw excitement. He held his massive bow skyward, glorifying his prized weapon by allowing it to bathe it in the morning's dreary light. The oncoming storm made this seizure all the more perfect to the faithful servant; the perfect tribute to Garuda - Lady of the Vortex. Arrogantly, the creature lowered it's gaze upon the travelers once more, his weapon falling to return passively by his side before he slowly strode tauntingly toward them as his fellow brothers quickly dominated the scene and made their way to isolate and subdue their quarry before they had an opportunity to offer any meaningful resistance - or at least was their intent. Beady, deep-set pearls, tawny in colour, peered out from beneath the creatures large skull of which eagerly advertised it's frighteningly-large, protruding, blackened horns. The towering Ixal's fearless gaze pierced through the comparatively, tiny form of the caravan driver whom returned the creature's glare with widened eyes that spoke volumes of the man's sheer terror. The hyur anxiously pressed his back firmly against the caravan's solid frame as though hoping he could somehow pass through it and fade away from sight. The archer, on the other hand, relished in this golden moment. His jaws parted slowly with a threatening snarl as he bore his sharp and crooked fangs menacingly, finding nothing short of sadistic pleasure in tormenting the fearful driver whom remained frozen with terror. The man's eyes repeatedly darted from side to side, his anxiety surmounting to greater levels all the while as nothing but further Ixal that would only impede any attempt he made to escape greeted his blurred vision. It was in that short moment that the Ixal archer launched himself forward, slamming its clawed hand defiantly into the woodwork next to the man's head - demanding the frightened male's attention forward - and drawing his demonic head very close, mere ilms from a face that was painted pale from dread. The back of the driver's head struck the caravan sharply as he recoiled from the beast that had appeared so suddenly before him. The man's lips quivered lightly with fear, his jaw venturing to open in some weak attempt to seek words that would help relieve him from this situation; words that, in his heart, he knew did not exist. "What is it that you fear?" the Ixal hissed cockily after taking a moment to relish in the man's unmistakeable body language. The fine wood beneath the creature's claws scratched and creaked heftily under the weight he placed upon it, ringing a very alarming and ceaseless reminder to the male as to how close he lingered to potential death. The driver lifted his chin and parted his lips a little further in an attempt to answer the domineering presence that hunched low over him, only to be denied once again by the strangling fear that closed off his throat relentlessly. "Haaaaaa?" the beast spat again as both slobber and drool foully pooled within it's large jaws and oozed repulsively out from between it's scum-coated fangs. The man twisted his head away slightly as he tried to evade the putrid stench that was blasted toward him with each heated breath without antagonizing the vile creature before him. It was truly sickening - smelling almost as though he beast's entire mouth had been canvased with a thick layer of compounded, rotting meat that had resided there for more than a few moons. Still, he could find no words to offer the creature; none. The ixal grunted firmly before he finally withdrew from the man's proximity and returned to a standing posture, his eyes, however, still fixated viciously upon him. "Garuda has no use for such cowardice..... flee now before I feed you to the wolves" his distorted voice barked unforgivingly, gifting the man with no less than a rotten glare of contempt before turning his back on him to briefly inspect the other prisoners. The man hesitated momentarily in complete disbelief. Such an opportunity was inconceivable, an indirect offer of mercy from the savage tribe of beastkin. Though there was no time to over-think the matter, he couldn't allow himself to tarry long enough to let such an opportunity escape him. The man's eyes quickly darted to his immediate right as he faced uphill to where the carriage had initially been heading. A group of Ixal stood firmly between him and the freedom he had been offered. His frantic glance dodged anxiously between them, fearing intervention as each one eyed him darkly with intent. However, their presence there was not born from any intention to obstruct him and defy their superior, he had to believe that. He had to believe that much and move; quickly. The man hastily pushed himself away from the caravan and dashed past the Ixal and the travelers whom they held at blade-point. Stumbling in the process, the man clumsily passed through the group as quickly and as carefully as possibly, his eyes every vigilant - almost expecting to be struck as he by the beasts as he approached, or to have them deliberately stand before him.... but to his complete surprise; they did no such thing. The male exhaled suddenly in both disbelief and relief...for though they made no effort to provide clear passage for him, neither did they make any effort to stop him. The man took no chances with the blessing he had been bestowed with and hastily sped uphill with all that he had, leaving everything and everyone behind him - hardly even slowing himself as he leapt over what remained of the barricade. The large, black-horned Ixal peered uphill toward their leader whom calmly descended, alone, having excused himself from the actual seizure and merely observing the process with a similar confidence to that of his second. Their sharp glares met briefly as they both came to a mutual agreement. The black-horned Ixal exhaled slowly yet sharply before spinning to return his eyes upon the hyur's distant, fleeting form. An unusual calmness in both his attitude and the smoothness of his movement silently testified to prodigious, archery skills. He raised his bow. ----------- The strange sound that suddenly announced itself from afar stole the male's attention. He drew to a gradual halt as he tried to analyze the noise, initially uncertain of what it could possibly be, though simultaneously worried about the natural sense of aggression that it seemed to be carrying with it. When the answer announced itself not a second later, as the Ixal's drew within sight above the incline that stood between them, the male could feel the blood draining from his face with bitter realisation. His reaction was immediate and instinctive, too fast for even a single thought to fully formulate within the young hyur's mind before he roughly grasped Clover's hand and pulled her forcefully behind the nearest tree that provided sufficient cover for the two of them to remain out of immediate sight. His hand shifted upwards toward her abdominem, holding her tightly against his form while his remaining hand had quickly closed itself over her mouth to prevent her for making any sudden sounds. Quickly, he then moved his head to peer out from behind the tree and inspect the scene that was occurring almost mockingly before him. He watched as a crowd of Ixal surrounded his traveling acquaintances and drew their weapons on them threateningly. The male's muscles tightened and released involuntarily, his hands trembling as his conscience waged it's own war against instinct. Abandoning civilians to such a fate was not in his nature, inconceivable... but risking Clover's well-being - only to add fuel to the fire and fail in his attempt - challenged that nature sternly. There were far too many for him to deal with alone... even with most of the Ixal remaining out of view, this much was certain to the hyur, but even still..... The hyur grunted angrily as he caved to rationality. He brought his head forward again, briefly relieving himself from viewing the ongoing scene that vehemently fueled his bitter frustration. "Clover" he spoke suddenly. His voice came quietly with a solid and emotionless tone. "They number too many for us to have any hope of fighting off. They cannot know we are here" he continued while relieving some of the pressure that his hand held across her mouth. Some odd but indecipherable chatter could be heard a moment later. The thick and harsh voice was difficult to interpret over the skittish chocobo cries and the taunting squawks of the other beasts that leered over the travelers, though it was just audible enough to determine that it was an Ixal who was talking. Andre turned to glance around the edge of the tree again, his brow furrowed in focus as he attempted to discern what was being said, all to no avail. ".....!" A gasp escaped the man's lips as he saw someone fleeing the scene in the direction of Gridania. Andre's eyes followed the person closely, taking only a moment to realise that it was the caravan's driver. The hyur's eyes grew wide with worry, fearing the man would be hastily pursued, though a lingering sense of urgency cheered on the man's attempt; if even just one person could make it out alive, then..... His thought was cut short. Andre watched in horror as the man was suddenly thrown to the ground and sent tumbling, limply across the forest's path. The sheer force of the massive arrow that had sliced through his back caused his body to lurch forward through the air with a sickening crunch as the arrow savagely tore through the man's fragile body, the now, crimson-tipped steel emerging, in part, out from the other side through the ribcage it had so viciously punched through. Andre shot his head forward once again, his face a canvas - saturated with a thousand emotions in that instant. His grip on Clover tightened unintentionally as rage and lament tortured his mind without relent. How strange it seemed to resent choosing safety and refuge over danger and captivity.

The sight of her battered father froze the girl as she stood in disbelief but a couple of yalms away. The man seemed mostly, if not entirely, oblivious to her presence as he pushed his way out of the tent and proceeded to messily dressing the grievous wound that was tattooed painfully along the length of his arm. He was truly in a worse state than she could have possibly anticipated; the most fearful part for K'nahli being that even he, the proud nuhn whom would normally stick his nose up at his own pain and weakness, looked to be slowly succumbing to the agony of it all - or worse still, the wounds themselves. "F-Father, what..." she tried to question him suddenly, but words failed the girl as her mind remained completely fixated on the sight that barely stood before her. She blinked numerous times as some hopeless attempt at clearing her mind, her widened gaze momentarily sifting through the sands beneath her feet as though each grain represented one of her countless thoughts that swirled within her mind in that moment. So lost within her own thoughts was she at that moment that she failed to notice her younger sister, K'mih, also emerging from the tent and hurrying off elsewhere, away from her father and older sister; her mixed expression and clear anxiety revealing to any who may have seen her that the girl silently harboured some unknown objective. "...Let me help you to K'zhumi.." K'nahli came to speak again at last with a noticeable shake in her voice as her eyes zoned back toward her father determinedly. K'nahli then, without so much as waiting for any approval, darted straight toward her father. Her small shoulder quickly burrowed into his side, her arm then reaching around his back to hook her grip across his hip on the opposite side as she attempted to help sustain the weary miqo'te's heavy weight. It wasn't much, but she hoped that allowing him to rest some of his weight upon her would, at the very least, bring him some mild feeling of comfort. Having quickly affirmed her grip on her father, K'nahli subtly threw her eyes up towards his briefly, hoping to catch some glimpse of willingness on his part and not have to fear rejection born from his own pride. Regardless of what she found lying within, she made an attempt to proceed on with him before anything could be disputed.

OOC Note: Andre followed closely behind Clover as she led the way to the pile of debris that obstructed the caravan's path. Upon arriving before the blockade, the hyur analyzed it with a subtle eagerness, a perhaps noticeable but lightened expression of puzzlement forming over his features. Something about it appeared... unusual. The way the branches had been stacked did not lend very much to believe that it had been a natural occurrence; it was messily placed of course, but not so much that it would have been unreasonable to wonder if it had indeed been man-made. The male's eyes followed along the the length of the pile to the left of the road, to where it greeted the base of the grassy slope from which it has presumably fallen or been blown down. Oddly still, there were no obvious signs of movement. The thick layer of grass that carpeted the slope wasn't significantly tall, no more than a few ilms in height, though regardless... it still should have been fairly easy to detect any disturbances that would have been expected to come about from such large branches and rocks tumbling downhill. The hyur glided his eyes along the slope while humming a bemused tone as the scene left him somewhat bewildered. His azure eyes quickly looked back and forth around his surroundings as though seeking an answer from elsewhere, though it didn't take long before the lack of which caused him to lose interest and return to squat before the mound of branches. He reached his arm in a small arc before him to form a claw which then gripped the other's wrist to gently slide the length of the woolen sleeve covering his forearm further up until it reached his elbow; moving then to repeat the process on his opposing arm. With his shirt at least partly safe from being sullied by the muddier branches, he moved closer and reached both of his exposed arms far in to the dampened pile of branches, collecting the largest bundle that he was capable of carrying before withdrawing and returning back to his feet. Casually, he then turned, naturally expecting to see Clover - whom had been beside him but moments ago - walking back toward him in search of another branch or two; instead, however, he saw Clover not walking, but running... fleeing it had almost appeared in fact, her direction taking her off of the main road and downhill amidst the trees. Andre's brow quickly furrowed as the unexpected sight both puzzled and worried him greatly. While it wasn't unlike the girl to go running off after something that caught her interest, it didn't seem quite like something that Clover would do in this particular scenario, particularly when she had been so eager to assist with the task at hand. To say the least, it wasn't something that he had quite expected, let alone one that he could rationally justify to himself. "...Clover?" his voice chased after her weakly, too quiet for it to so much as be overheard by anyone nearby. His eyes quickly retreated back over his shoulders, looking about himself and examining anyone who may have been nearby before speaking again. "I'm sorry, I'll be back in a moment!" he called out to the others so as to not cause them any alarm, if possible, before he pushed himself into a jog and hastily cast away all of the branches that he had been carrying as he reached the end of the road. The immediate section of the lower slope that dropped away from the path's right flank was significantly steeper than the rest of the land and made it difficult to traverse downward, especially with a quickened pace. Numerous hollows, carved naturally from the structure of the land and the weather it had suffered, were littered beneath the long and tangled blades of grass that concealed the uneven topsoil that lay between the narrow trees; all of whose existence seemed to serve no other purpose than to conspire with the exposed tree roots in order to hinder Andre's movement in an attempt to cause him to stumble headfirst into the soft ground. Luckily, however, he managed to avoid a scenario similar to the one at the river months previous... this time, at least. "Clover! Slow down a moment..!" he called to the oblivious girl with a voice just low enough for the others not to hear as his distance from her slowly but surely closed down. ----- "Now! We should charge now!" a guttural voice anxiously croaked free from out of a concealed beast's leathery gullet. "For what reason need we tarry? Let us away!" another throaty voice echoed the former's wishes before stealing a step forward with eager suggestion. The thin layer of fallen leaves failed to protect much of the fragile soil that was repeatedly torn and tossed by the sharp talons which decorated his restless feet. He was halted however, as a thin, yet muscular arm was cast out before his path by another in total defiance. "You will wait for my order" the deeper voice directed clearly, delivered with a harsh tone that was not made to be argued against. Hidden within the darkness, not far above from where the caravan had come to a stop, the Ixals shuffled restlessly - their weapons gripped firmly under their gnarled fingers as they awaited the words that would grant them freedom from the thick patch of woodland that concealed them from the view of the unsuspecting travelers below. Their numbers were significant, accumulating to more than what the men and women below could ever hope to fend off even were they all apt fighters, as was the beastmens' intention. Intimidation tactics - used to ensure a quick and clean process. The leader, evident by his superior armour and greater stature loitered just behind the border of where the penetrating, morning light clashed against the woodland's resilient pool of shadow. His thick, coriaceous skin was a dark and morbid shade of grey that blended fairly against the flaky tree bark in whose shade he patiently resided. The caravan's driver was the victim of the creature's persisting watch, his beady, green eyes flickering analytically with every subtle movement the hyur man made - waiting for him to tie down the chocobos and to turn away from the hill from where the beasts would soon charge. It didn't take long before a deep breath, that resembled the hiss of serpent, escaped the creature's grotesque beak, having now been finally greeted with the sight he had been waiting for. The man whom his gaze has vigilantly stalked had, at last, secured the chocobos to a nearby tree and had moved on to assist with the removal of the debris; a diversion of their own making. There was no quick escape for any of them now; nor would the spooked birds cause confusion should they wish to charge off alone. The leader growled lowly with decision as his misty, deep-set eyes met with those of his impatient second. "Show death to any who would challenge Garuda's might" The beast's eyes lit up with delight upon hearing his commander's words, his gaze not taking long to return eagerly forward. It was time now. For the shortest moment, an odd and deathly silence fell upon the forest. Each one of the Ixal that stood quietly in formation became perfectly still with anticipation as they awaited the final order from their leader. They watched with both excitement and intent as the towering, horned monstrosity before them turned to look on down the slope once more and introduced the distinctive sound of metal grating off of metal to resonate loudly throughout the air - their leader's weapon now drawn and hanging low by his side in readiment. "Seize them."

Nice topic (^^) I'll try to contribute asap.

OOC Note: Andre's eyes returned to the curious lalafel briefly as he turned and offered him a slight and appreciative nod. As his gaze lingered on him for a moment, the man's eyepatch, as well as the scar that dragged out beneath his right eye, stole Andre's attention briefly. On some level, the lalafel's wounds intrigued the young hyur - as improper as they felt when considering the man's outwardly, polite nature -, bringing him to wonder what kind of past and present affiliation he had with their shared home city. "If it is no trouble then it would be greatly appreciated" he replied warmly without allowing too much of a delay. His glance hopped over to both Clover and the miqo'te, conjurer-in-training respectively as they, too, quickly responded and expressed their desire to help with the benign situation. As with the others, he offered them a nod in understanding, smiling friendlily in the process. "Many thanks, you lot" the driver hummed in with a slightly happier tone as he made his way back to the chocobos to tend to them for a moment and settle the excited birds down. Andre took a few steps forward as he made his way out of the caravan, stepping down on to the ground carefully when he reached the end of the carriage. His tired muscles, still somewhat sapped of energy, gave little recognition to the consideration he offered them and complained loudly regardless. The hyur grunted with discomfort as he stepped a little further away from the caravan to take a few moments to pause and roll his shoulders and stretch his limbs. He wasn't particularly used to these long carriage rides and sleeping for so long in an uncomfortable position took a toll on his body, negligible as it truly was. Having been preoccupied with alleviating his mild aches, the male miqo'te, S'imba if he head overheard correctly, managed to escape the hyur's attention as he was chased into the woodland by his own paranoia; the faint sounds of snapping twigs and rustling of leaves merely being dismissed by the hyur as harmless animals shuffling, unseen through the brush. Still rolling his shoulders, the hyur's head gently tipped sideward as he glanced over toward his female acquaintance whom stood but a couple of yalms away. "Shall we go?" Andre posed the question to her humbly though with a subtle eagerness to hurry on with the task.

Andre offered the girl an appreciative smile as she seemed to read into his discomfort with the topic and moved away from the subject. Humble. That was surely how Clover viewed him; though that was but a convenient answer to his personal feelings on such matters. His blue eyes wandered down toward the floor for a moment in consideration before he then allowed himself to lean back into his seat. The cool, morning breeze glanced over his face as he did so, teasing his eyes to a close and bestowing a returning sense of comfort within the male. "It was... truly" he replied. Interaction among the caravan's participants seemed to quickly grow as a young and curious miqo'te struggled to retain his own excitement for making it as far as Gridania. Unveiling his sapphire irises, Andre diverted his gaze outside of the caravan once more as he, in part, feigned an interest in the world that lay outside. He couldn't help but listen in on the conversation that was occurring among the other passengers - for certain aspects felt a little too familiar for his own sense of comfort. His smile slowly faded now, bringing about a more neutral expression as he looked on past Clover, turning his head conveniently enough as he dared listen in, curiously, as though the innocent chatter had any real relevance to him. "Woah....woah!!" a male voice called suddenly yet soothingly from near the front of the caravan as the carriage drew to an eventual stop. Snapping out of his idle state, Andre turned his attention toward the front of the caravan, the source of the voice however, remaining out of sight for the moment. Without needing to study their surroundings too carefully, he could already tell that they were still a distance off from Gridania - so why stop here? Some faint mutterings could be heard from ahead as the driver quietly cursed his own luck before plopping down from his seat and landing in the leaf-littered path with a soft crunch. Leaning back further in his seat so that he may get a better view, Andre peered out toward the male as he strode begrudgingly toward them with his face turned down toward the ground as though attempting to hide his disgruntled expression. "Is everything alright?" Andre asked with uncertainty, his gaze briefly swapping to the man and then to the front of the caravan once more in an attempt to discern the issue. "E-yeah... sorry folks, but it seems that a bit of debris has scattered down across the path" the man explained while scratching the back of his head irritatedly. Andre followed the man's gesture as he nodded toward the hill that lay adjacent to the path, suggesting that the debris had sourced from there. "If ye don' mind then I'd appreciate if ye'd give me a hand clearing it." Andre blinked as he gave himself a moment for the driver's words to sink in, his mind still partially distracted by all of the talks of Ul'dah. Blinking again, the young male stood up from his seat and turned forward, stealing a quick glance about the caravan and smiling lightly at his fellow passengers in encouragement before turning back to the driver and offering him a firm nod in reply.

The fresh scent of blood overwhelmed the blue-haired girl's curiosity as it drew continuously closer, emanating from somewhere behind her and eventually compelling the girl to divert her attention away from the arrows she had been tying once more. The thick scent lingered stubbornly in the air, though something about it seemed a little odd. Not only did she not find herself reminded of her own hunger - as was normally the side effect of a successful hunt -, but she also managed to detect a few other odours that were almost totally hidden beneath that of the blood; odours that offered enough distraction to briefly stop the girl from realising what was truly confusing her - that she was actually smelling miqo'te blood. The mysterious odours smelled and even tasted vaguely familiar to the young huntress, though their faint essence remained just a little too obscure for her to identify with certainty. She turned her gaze toward the nearest and therefore strongest source of the scent. Her shapely eyes immediately widened with surprise as they stolidly locked on the battered form of her father whom moved briskly across the sands towards the elders' tent. Her body seemed to stiffen in that moment as an uncomfortable sense of worry stirred within her. Though it was difficult to tell much from a distance, she studied him as best she could before he disappeared into the interior of tent. The totality of his injuries was uncertain, but at the very least she could determine that his arm was badly wounded. The tools she had been holding each created a soft impression in the saffron sands as they slipped free from her loose grip; K'nahli, decidingly now, beginning to stride toward the tent with a quickened pace. She peered back over her shoulder toward K'zhumi's tent briefly, taking a moment to confirm Li's position before looking forward once more and hurrying toward the elders' tent.

The girl's words came softly, arriving in the quieter moments between the rustling, gusts of wind with a natural delicacy that blended fittingly with the humble sounds of the forest's stirring fauna. Andre blinked slowly, his eyes still not detaching themselves from the greyed blanket that lay beyond the entangled greenery above. Clover's sudden comment, that she broke her silence so unexpectedly alone, was enough to cause him to hesitate, uncertain if he had merely mistaken the voices of the other passengers for her; though when her words indeed sank in, it would be the context of which that'd especially catch the blonde hyur by surprise. Even through his thick hair, the tiny splinters that laced the sun-bleached wood on the back of his seat, on which his head had been resting, managed to cause a prickly sensation as he tilted his head slightly until he found himself looking at the girl as she, in turn, returned his gaze with a gentle smile. He paused for a second as he reflected on her words, a smile of his own eventually following before, shyly, he lowered his gaze down to the caravan floor and then took his glance forward into the direction of the other passengers, his eyes, however, looking beyond them as he searched his thoughts for a fitting reply. "You..." he tried to speak, though was stopped mid-sentence as a wider and perhaps noticeably-more, embarrassed smile formed over his features. It was not the first time that she had reminded him of that memory - a memory that somehow felt like it had been drawn from a time long past - nor did he believe that dismissing it as something insignificant would work with her. Though, to him it wasn't modesty... at least he didn't believe it to be. It was his duty as a warrior, as a person, to assist; no less than it was of the Wailers of whom had also been present. "....did more rescuing than I" he finally continued with half a laugh, still struggling to speak freely on the matter. He waited a moment before allowing his sapphire eyes return and meet with Clover's, seeking to quietly assure his sincerity and appreciation with a simple exchange of eye contact. A thought of mild relation crossed his mind as he looked at her; though embarrassed as being indirectly commended had made him, such words would never make it as far as his lips.

OOC Note: The overcast, morning sky cast a dull and monochromatic shade of grey down upon the northern reaches of the Black Shroud this particular day. It's comparatively weaker and lifeless screen failed to subdue much of the rebelling forest's rich vibrance, though to the observer, the normally-beautiful scenery of which the land had to offer had been somewhat robbed of it's striking, emerald luster. Enormous, oaken branches croaked and groaned far overhead as a fresh breeze challenged the large canopies that sheltered the humble travelers below, rustling the many thousands of leaves which decorated their length and creating a swishing sound that mimicked that of small waves charging toward a sandy coastline. Andre's eyes slowly drew open as the sounds stole him from his shallow slumber. His afflicted vision painted a hazy replica of the majestic trees and lush shrubbery that he had become so accustomed to seeing from his many walks throughout these lands. He allowed himself a long and slow blink to clear his freshly-awoken vision before having a brief glance about his surroundings. It took only a moment for him to identify where they were as the caravan made a turn to begin it's ascent up a moderate incline. A small smile formed over his sleepy expression. There were close to home now, to Gridania. Another chilling front of air raced over the domes of greenery above, disturbing the frail leaves that rustled nervously in response, and in turn, cautioned toward the wind's growing strength. Though the chill had yet to reach far enough down through the naturally-insulated woodland to be felt by the travelers, the sound alone caused the young hyur to unconsciously reach up toward his collar and draw it protectively higher over his neck. He focused his sights forward now, his eyes briefly scanning over the others in his presence. Though his hasty retreat to sleep had deprived him of any real conversation with the other occupants, he could recognise at least one or two faces. The few that remained traveling with them at this point were mostly quiet; a thought, in fact, that led the young male to tilt his head sideward in search of his traveling companion, Clover Blake. As could have been guessed, the girl was also lost in her own thoughts, her eyes reaching up towards the breaks in the leafy branches above to where the dreary sky leered back down at her. He watched her for a short moment with idle curiosity as a softer and more modest smile slowly reappeared, briefly taking over his expression before he, too, drew his gaze upward, out past the fabric covering of the caravan and toward the unwelcoming sky above. Though it were difficult to confirm from within the forest, a storm was undoubtedly approaching.

sdfsfdsf!! I saw you earlier! I tried to get Clover's attention so that she could come look at you but by then you had already left. You were standing by some bush and looking in at the adventurer's guild - which only made me laugh since it looked like you were some weird stalker, haha. *random contribution*

Awww..... ;w; This thread needs a lot more Clover...

[align=center][/align] [align=center]It watches. [/align]

Hahahaha!

Thank you for all of your replies, everyone (^^) I really appreciate it.

*Is on an edit spree*

Not without Lala Andre please ;w; Also(since your post in here has reminded me), here is another feature of K'nahli and K'rahto. Although this one is OOC and has never happened... I just couldn't help myself =w= Take that, F'yue.

K'RAHTO: So that's how it is... [align=center] K'rahto will always have Moe K'nahli [/align]

Bahhh, F'yue always makes such great characters. Out of all the characters I've seen, he is definitely my favourite for the male miqos.

So "K'ailia"'s good pronounciation would indeed be "Kay-lee-ah" and not "Kuu-ay-lee-ah". You would have to add the "Koo" sound if the name had a consonant next to the K', though. I always went for the interpretation that the prefix was basically a "of X tribe" that worked similarly to "of X city" in medieval and ancient times. It doesn't make much sense to use it inside the tribe itself because everyone is of that tribe. But it could still be used as a formality of sorts. Following that line of logic, the K in K'airos (or whatever) isn't actually a part of the name. But then, again, each tribe could have different cultural views of how the names should be used. I don't think that means you change the pronunciation of the prefix but that you don't put flat out emphasis on it so that it feels like a name broken into two parts. For example: Y'shtola sounds like Yashtola rather than Ee-shtola. Just to clarify, it's pronounced the same way you would pronounce the name "Kyle" in real life. xP IIRC, we had a lengthy discussion about pronunciation in kitty chat some months ago, and we decided that certain short names - especially ones that start with vowel sounds - make more sense with the starting prefix affixed to it and dropping the "koo" for a shorter "ku". I picked option 1 with the poll, based around my understanding of lore. In RP, this is played out in how my character refers to the members of her tribe. When referring to her daughters, she will almost always drop the K tag as a signal of deep affection - unless she's talking to them from a more commanding/disciplining mode. Then it becomes a bit like what happens when your parents use your full name - you know you're in trouble. ;p For most other people, even other fellow family members, she'll usually maintain the K prefix. Certainly she would do so for any other Seeker miqo'te. Sorry, and thank you for correcting.

[align=center][/align] [align=center]Miqo'te smiles are so adorable.[/align]

Thank you both for your replies and the lore reference! ; That's definitely what I was hoping to hear personally. Everyone has their own preference when it comes to the way they are called upon/spoken to and I don't think that an inclusion of the prefix has to imply distance or some form of personal barrier, though it certainly can of course.

Hello everyone, This conversation came up between myself and K'mih(Clover Blake) and I just wanted to see what everyone else seemed to think on the matter. Currently she is harbouring a mentality towards Seeker names that I, myself, had back in the beginning of the creation of our tribe though I have since wandered to the other end of the spectrum personally. I'd ask that you please read the entire opening post before replying and voting. And so the question is: How do you view the concept of dropping the prefix of one's name, particularly when it comes to family/friends/loved ones? I am guessing that the normal view is that it's simply shortening the name and making it less formal which would of course imply a greater closeness than someone who would include the prefix. This was my initial belief on it too but I have long since come to believe that the prefix is not just some identifier that is thrown before every name but IS actually a part of the name itself and is just as important as the given name. Having said that, I don't disagree with anyone who chooses to drop it nor does it really bother me, though I personally believe that it is less common. In the cases of two of my tribe members who have short 1-2 syllable names I consider it especially important and an absolute integral part of their name in order for it to remain largely recognisable - these examples being: K'mih (Kumi // Coo - Mii) K'ile (Kyle) Stripping them of their prefix would make them sound very different whereas if you take the example of slightly longer names such as K'nahli and K'tahjha then merely dropping the prefix wouldn't steal much from the overall sound of the name. It's possible to consider the shorter names listed above as exceptions however, and I can understand cases where the given name that follows the prefix sounds different, but unique and interesting on it's own - though let's exclude such cases for the sake of ease. As a final reference, I'd like to mention an example of a longer name that wouldn't have quite the same sound and(perhaps this is merely preference, but..) would in fact sound a lot less pleasant; that name of course being Y'shtola (Yash-toe-la). In summary, I think dropping the prefix is fine but I do not see it as a practice done largely across the board even in the case of loved ones and merely falls down to the preferences of each individual miqo'te. I personally wouldn't make a case where two people who address K'nahli, one by "nahli" the other by "K'nahli", as one where the person who uses the shortened version is more likely to be close to her on a personal level. It simply doesn't strike me as that significant. To me, dropping the prefix can possibly suggest closeness, but contrastingly, using the prefix does not suggest distance. Again, this can vary from miqo'te to miqo'te, though I would never accept it as a 'rule'. Though my opinion means little here, what I'd like to know yours. Please include relevant information such as if you are tribal/non-tribal, if your name was designed with the intent of being used without the prefix, if you're new to miqo'te or if you have an opinion on the matter but do not actually play one yourself ^^