They lived in a temple by the sea..
The waves crashed against the shore and told time like clocks. The sun beat down on fields of wheat and grass behind them, through the leaves of branched olive trees, and over the ocean like a dazzling spray. They were darkened by the sun and the labor of worship, and the sea and land treated them kindly in return.
Local Altadorian laws did nothing to disturb them, and funding from the thoughtful Council aided their work.
However, a blind eye was turned when storms and strange ships lined the horizon.
They wouldn't attack a peaceful settlement, less so a temple of the Faeries...
And thus, Altador was blind to the blood that soaked the shore.
This is not, however, the story of an attack. It is the story of survival.
The waves hit and told time like an ancient clock. And thus, time passed..
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Name : Nabrielle
Gender : Female Alias : Nabrielle, Sister, Brielle, Nabri Title : Sister of the Nereid's Chosen Marital Status : Unwed Age : Late 20's DoB : May 29th Eyes : Seasky Blue Hair : Golden, waved and braded Distinguishing Features : Areas of tan fur around mouth, small stature Personality : Sweet, inquisitive, curious, easily excitable, mellow, peace-making Place of Birth : Altador Occupation : Sister; She works in a Temple devoted to Nereid the water faerie, archiving, worshiping, studying, doing good. Residence : Aboard the Night's Cutlass, now. Fears : Storms, pirates, kidnappers, fire, smoke. Three Strengths : Calm, wise, and generally collected Three Weaknesses : Easily frightened, easily provoked, and stubborn |
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Now that you know the basics, a cool voice calls from behind a curtain. The silky gauze barely obscured a dusky pink Yurble, who smiled shyly through, Hello. I am Nabrielle.
She stands, a svelte figure, short in stature, and pulls aside the curtain.
Please join me, and allow me to explain the hasty introduction you received. I'm sorry we started with such dour spirts, she wrinkles her nose quietly, But such is the way of things. You throw out the old offerings before you put in new, after all.
She shrugs her shoulders casually and brushes back her hair,
It seems you're keen to know why you're here, she flashed a bright smile. Can't say I blame you! It's a rather curious place to be, especially since you barely know me.
She gestures to a short table, on which lie scrolls of parchment and a long pen. An ink pot sits stern and proud.
I'm recording my memoirs here. If you care to look, they are short in nature. I've a scribe to write for me, of course, and while Vuwu isn't too happy for it- As she'd prefer to be adventuring up too- my dear friend, theCaptain, has assigned her to this task anyway.
And with that, you are led to the table.
A Temple by the Sea
We start on the shores of a great nation. Altador's sands are tumbled by heavy waves, and the air is heavy with the smell of the sea and the weight of the waters.
A temple rests proud atop a cliff face, facing the long horizon where the sun arcs downwards. Olive trees and fields of wheat and flowers surround the quiet place of worship; Runes and stones of iconography dot the pathway of shells and pebbles to the temple's opening. Sturdy houses meander the distance, homes of the acolytes of Nereid, for whom the temple stands.
It is here we start our story, at the feet of a lone, pale pink Yurble, shrouded in plain togas and cloth. Her hair is back in the tradition of the Altadorian ancestors, and her palms lie flat on the stones within the building as she kneels in front of a tall statue of the Faerie Neried.
Baskets of flowers and dishes of olives, laurels, flowers, shells, dried fish, baked flour cakes and other offerings lie around the statue. Large lamps hang through the arches, illuminating the area for when the sun sets. Columns braced with flowers and stories uphold the heavy roof, with holes strategically placed to illuminate the constellations above. Water tumbles off the cliff from the small reservoir beneath the temple, and a tall basin of said water rests around the statue's feet.
Scrolls line the walls, and each one holds a story now lost to the ages.
None, however, illuminate so much as the story to be told, and no wind nor sign showed the ships, arcing across the horizon.
The Yurble lifted her head, a necklace dangling down clattered to the floor as she did so. The breeze stirred her hair, and she frowned.
The sun set across her shoulders, and she felt suddenly the weight of the world.
Nabrielle, Sister of the order of Nereid's Chosen, was young when she had been bought into the fold. She had no memories of her parent's names, only faces and occupations. They had been humble farmers, and were hoping for something more for their only child.
They were kind to have bought her to the temple. She blended in well, although a pale thing when she was indited. Her fur was a soft pink hue, and her hair a light yellow- But the sea and sun worked their wonder on her over the years.
She was first invited to work with the flowers and floors. Sweeping, pulling weeds, reciting poems and stories, preparing food for the shared meals.
Time passed and they moved to grant her the basic of Altadorian provisions; A room, a bed, an education, a voice for which to raise in thanks. They found she took on quickly, and she was moved to scrolls in no time.
Her devotion of such to the temple was great, and she rose in their ranks quickly. It was due to her status within the marble halls that she was there so late in the evening when the ships dotted the horizon.
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Nabrielle lifted her head from the floor, her necklace creating a soft clattering noise. She pursed her lips in a frown, brow furrowing. Alongside her, a teal-furred Acara lifted her own head, brown hair spilling around her from her curls, and lifted her eyebrows quizzically,
Sister Nabrielle? What is it? A smile dashed across the Acaras lips as she sat up, folding her arms mockingly, It's not your hungry stomach again, is it? That'd be the third worship you've interrupted for us! She grinned teasingly and Nabrielle laughed, shaking her head and shoving the Acara lightly, playfully.
Don't be silly, Sister Mardaed! No, I've just something troubling me. She shrugged, I doubt it's anything to be of concern, however.
They shifted quietly, looking up at the statue in silent reverence. The sconces on the wall flickered heavily and the wind shifted. Nabrielle shuddered, and Mardaed looked over gently,
Come along sister. We've things to do.
They stood together and nodded, gathering the wilted flower offerings and stepping behind the statue, nearing the cliff. The night obscured the ships off the horizon, their lanterns marking them only as shimmering stars, and they went unnoticed as the flowers fluttered down through the air on the breeze, and graced the waters.
Their work done, they watched the flowers gently, before turning to go in for the night.
We welcome you to our humble temple, visitors!
Nabrielle and the others had met the visitors at the sandy shores, toga wraps fluttering in the breeze along with the heavy, worn sails. The ships stank and floated, heavy in the water as the members boarded down.
The leader, a cold-eyed pirate Hissi turned to the group and smiled deceptively.
Hello, missss. We're glad to be here. We've been at ssssea for daysss, he spoke with a thick accent, his 's's overlapping the endings of his words. His eye was scared on one side, and his grin ranged and sharp. He bowed low to Nabrielle and the others, who tittered behind her- She glanced to the head acolyte, who pursed her lips at the younger girls before turning back to the captain, all smiles.
You are welcome here at Nereid's temple. We are of meager means, but you may have what you require. Please, take what shelter and supplies you may need.
The Hissi's tangled grimace of a grin broadened his scaly face, and his eyes darkened. Thunder rolled in this distance as he hissed, his 's's matching the unsheathing of dozens of sabers behind him;
We'll take it all.
The raiders came from all around them, smelling of unwashed bodies, disease, the putrid stench of water gone bad, and anger. They crawled from ships and caves, dragging chains and swords and all manner of warfare.
Villagers from the surrounding area of the temple fled as swords hit the sky in bright light. Nabrielle and the other Acolytes stood their ground- Lesser members were encouraged to take away the children and families who were under Nereid's care.
The sky, so bright and vivid from morning, was filled with harsh, acrid smoke quickly...
Nabrielle stood, arms out in front of the temple doors. The columns were trembling faintly from the echoes of cannon fire against the small town. Screams were in the air.
She narrowed her eyes.
The Hissi Captain, Potironroi, or Pumpkin King - For his ghastly jack-o-lantern smile and harsh reign of his ships - sneered at her derisively from his post a few feet in front of her. He spread his arms, wing-tips fanning out delicately and shook his head, cooing mockingly;
You're the only one still standing little girl. Give us your neck trinket, he nodded to the symbol around her neck- An oval with a tear engraved inside, waves lining the tear-
And we'll let you live while we raid the place.
Nabrielle's fur bristled, and her claws dug against the stone gateway.
I will never let you pass!
The Pumpkin King shrugged, and lowered his arms.
Then we will run through you.
Horror lit up her eyes and she swayed faintly. Cries were growing fainter. She could see the Altadorian scouts on the horizon, curious and wary of the slaughter.
She held her breath- Were their prayers or be answered?
Stars shone above the distant mountains as night settled over the red, flickering sky. As the constellations shone bright, the small army come to their aid turned their steeds and retreated.
Her heart fell like a stone.
Well?
She turned back to Potironroi, as he stood, sword unsheathed. Swallowing hard, she lowered her arms and turned her back to them.
She could hear his puzzlement.
Almost...Almost.. Come on, step forward, you brutes---
The steps sounded against the stone.
The scrolls were already all over the floor. There was no saving them.
The last relic to be saved was around her neck, and she looked to Nereid before she was to make her decision.
The statues calm gaze filled her with an easy peace, and a soft voice filled her head;
Go forth, Daughter. I will hold you safe.
And with the sea in her ears blocking the sound of screams and threats, blades at her back, she ran to the sea.
The cliff was high and the waves were cold, but like her heart, her body quickly turned to stone.
A shadow fell across the marbled statue of Nabrielle, deep beneath the water. The light reached her from above, dangling finger-like tendrils down to brush against the surface of the cold marble. She could not feel it- but the shadow, now, this stranger- opened her eyes.
The world swam before her in blue. She gasped- But nothing happened. No mouth was to open, no fur to feel wet- No weight to bother her, no pressure.
It was only seeing, hearing, and thought. The waters whispered around her, crashing above, currents trailing the chain around her neck, still bright gold despite all odds.
Barnacles clung to her dress, a sea snail crawing across her shoulders meandered on uncaring. A crab rested on her head, and various fish swam about.
The shadow overhead swam into shore. It was a hull! A boat. Barnacled and worn, wooden and weighted, she could almost see the name painted along the worn sides..
The Night's Cutlass.
Captain Lohera paced the decks uneasily. She bit her lip and frowned, turning to the tired looking Royal zafara to her right, who was staring blearily at a travel log.
Well, Vuwu? Is this the safe place?
Vuwu shrugged vaguely, looking up with sleepless eyes,
Should be right, Captain. It's hidden me well before, though there appears to be very little of it left since my last ...Visit.
Vuwu drew her lip in, frowning, I'd say it was ransacked some time ago. It doesn't look good.
Lohera frowned further and turned to the shore, knitting her brow.
How long had it been since you'd been here?
Vuwu smiled keenly,
A lady never tells.
Lohera rolled her eyes, But does a theif?
Vuwu bristled a tad and frowned, It has been years. I'd go as far to say twelve.
Lohera arched her brows, shaking her head, My! But you were just a young theiftling then!
Vuwu laughed starkly, You'll say nothing more of it! So. Are we headed in?
Lohera nodded solidly, I will scout forth. You should get some rest-- I fear you've been up too long.
Vuwu nodded and murmured, drawing her hood, I'll be below deck.
But Lohera hadn't heard. She had lowered herself into the water, and walked, skirts trailing behind her in the damp and salt.
Lohera frowned at the shore line. Damp skirts clung to her legs as she stood on the cliff face, the temple behind her.
Ruins. The one safe haven she knew in ruins. She ran her hand through her hair, frowning- She had feigned ignorance of the island, but the truth ran far deeper. The soil was familiar beneath her feet, and the shreds of scrolls left behind and burnt on their edges contained tales she'd been taught once, slowly.
Even in chains, she had admired the freedom here.
The sun was setting slowly, and a row boat was being lowered from the ship in the distance; They would be coming up soon. She swallowed hard, frowning and trying to gather the reserve of stone-facedness she held down in front of her crew.
As she was doing so, the sun cast across the water, and she lifted her arm to shield her eyes-
A voice whispered past above the waves, singing sweet sea-shanty lullabies in her ear--
She will bring you.
She could feel the water seeping through. The light was dimming, now, but her necklace seemed to lift from current. It glowed of a power of it's own accord.
She felt the water move past- She could feel it, now- Her heart beat in sudden excite- and her head swam.
She could feel a weight being lifted--
A voice called, bringing the smell of flowers and fire,
You must lead the forgotten,
And suddenly, she was rising through the water. There was no weight, only the glow of the symbol, the song of Nereid pulsing through her, bringing her to feel whole.
The light broke the surface before she did. Above the water, lamps were lifted in terror, half a mile away-
Above that, Lohera stared down in a mixture of awe and horror.
The water had started to bubble, and Lohera stumbled back, startled. She had heard of Nereid rising to the acolytes and the worshippers, but never to the lessers of the island. Certainly not of her kind--
The light on the water pulsed like a heartbeat. Her crew cried out and stumbled back to the boat, rowing clumsily, calling for guns and cannons to keep their saftey.
Lohera turned to call them off, and she she did, she turned-
Before her, a shimmering apparition of Nereid smiled, eyes all aglow. In her horror, Lohera stumbled back-
Nereid moved her hands forward, to catch--?
No; To release.
Lohera plunged into the cold waters, and the light moved towards her as she screamed.
She plunged into the cold, salty water--
And though she was expecting to be dragged down into the depths, blues and bubbles swarming her, she was met with gold and lifting.
She broke the surface with a gasp and turned, panting in a panic to her supporter-
Nabrielle smiled through wet hair clinging to her face, the golden glow on her necklace calming and radiating warmth through the chill of the water. The sea was still, and in the distance, Lohera's crew stalled, eyes wide-
Nabrielle spoke, in a voice soft and echoing of Nereid herself,
I will take you ashore. I am your guiding light.
There was a hesitation from Lohera--
And taking her chances, she flung her arms around Nabrielle, as they moved slowly to the sand, and a new journey began...
The Beginning.
Lohera stood on the deck of the Night's Cutlass, wind at her back, filling the sails above. Vuwu reclined in a chair, watching waves comfortably. Lohera sighed, running a hand through her hair,
Do you think we've done right, then?
Vuwu looked up, Hm?
Lohera cast her a despairing look;
By...Bringing her with us.
The two cast a look long behind them.
Wandering down the planks, mop in hand, helmet astride her head, she looked every inch the warrior. The time in the sea had darkened her fur and hair, but she seemed to radiate a glow all the same. Her necklace bounced against her chest as she spun and turned, singing a song with a language lost to time and fire. Nabrielle laughed and paused, catching Lohera's eyes, before giggling and sweeping away.
Lohera broke into a smile, shaking her head, Aye, y'know what? I think we've done right.
Waves broke against the ship, and they sailed on...
From the Author; Hello! Glad you'd stayed to read so far.
From the start of my concepts I'd always imagined having two royal yurbles, both in male and female coloring, but both females. Nabrielle's concept came first, actually- Lohera's followed.
I wanted someone lost to gain a much needed friend, and I wanted it at sea. That much I knew in the start.
When I got around to crafting characters, Lohera's came simple; Pirate, rough, angry, betrayed. Her official back story took a while to fill in, but Nabrielle's slipped in instantly. While neither character had names at first, I figured I'd ease into that later...
I wanted Nabrielle to be based off a Medusa sort of story, but far friendlier to the Neopet's audience, and with some more focus on loyalty and sacrifice. I knew that this character would be the foil for the other, now Lohera, who's story would be about loss rather than sacrifice, and brazen stubbornness over humility. I felt that having the two as contrasts would lead to interesting character conflict, and thus, it had!
So, with that, the two unnamed characters took flesh. Lohera was created and while Nabrielle's idea was put on storage, she was originally to be applied for as another Yurble. That pet however was taken off the UFA lists, and the application never got made. Therefore, Nabrielle's character went into storage.
But, thankfully, it was revived here. I thank you for the opportunity.
I'd like to continue their adventures to resolve some of the conflicts in both Lohera's and Nabrielle's backstories. I feel that Nabrielle should, at some point, confront the attacks made on her homeland and her feelings of plausible lost identity..
That, hopefully, is how the series will continue.
Art by Shel
The middle image was my first design for Nabrielle, under a different character's name. As you can see, I toned it down a bit for the application; I thought it was a little much.
The other image, being of Nabrielle brushing Lohera's hair, and the last, was drawn as a character sketch to establish the character's relationships and such. I thought they were kinda too cute to leave out entirely.
By Others
None yet!
I have some other petpages that one can visit as an example of my work:
