Aoni--female

[pixydust]

Aoni (see below for more updated, detailed info)

She is young--between 17-19. Her people are olive skinned and dark haired--similar to the Western Native American. Her eyes are duel colored, one dark forest-green and the other opeic blue. Because of this she is held high as a holy woman by some and feared as a witch my others. She lives alone with a little girl, named Koko, who she found abandoned in the forest.

She has learned through the years of living alone to harness the "magic" of the planet and use it to see into the future, and to heal.

One day she sees a vision of a snake rising from the great waters. The snake's mouth opens and spews black tar all over her planet. There are fires and death. All around her lay barren.

She knows this is a warning that something is to come. She will have to go into the "community" and tell the "peoples" in the great meating place--the place where all the peoples come to make laws and keep peace between the different kinds--what she saw. But of course they won't believe her.


*she may be a good person to meet up with Qali Shayr, as she is quiet and wise--light and strength all rolled into one.

[dulci]

I like this character alot! I'm wondering, though, if the future-seeing be more of a prophetic insight rather than outright clairvoyance? To heal, though, that could definately lend to great story abilities. Maybe she is faced with a choice to heal someone she hates most?

A crazy idea--but if we bring this girl into contact with Qali Shayr in any way...what if it was determined or set that one of the only ways to save the peace from the tyranny of this vision was for this young girl to assasinate Qali Shayr rather than the other way around? Maybe his blue tattoo is the same shape or color of the snake in the vision? Or maybe the scifi people's emblem is an abstract rendering of the shape seen in the vision?

[pixydust]

Or maybe the scifi people's emblem is an abstract rendering of the shape seen in the vision?

That's exactly what I was thinking. Like a cobra.

And the twist with her being the one to be set out to kill is an interesting one. Perhaps she's motivated by the idea of winning her place back into the goodness of her people.

[pixydust]

Okay more detail for Aoni (just playing around--some ideas I had of her have changed):

Description--As seen through the eyes of another:

Broden knew it was a woman instantly by the small form--no taller than his boy of thirteen summers--and by the light padding of her steps. He hadn't noticed her until she was almost up the path, and even then he had not heard her. Her form lay draped in a green, woolen cloak, despite the summer's warmth. And on her shoulder perched a small hawk. Obviously one of the Forest Ones by her dress.

He waited, curious as she walked up to him. She stopped several feet away and bowed in greeting.

Broden nodded in acceptance. "A fine morning for walking. Perhaps a drink to wash the dust from your throat." It was customary to offer travelers food and water during the traveling months, Broden only hoped to see her face. The Forest Ones were said to be ancient in their beauty.

She rested the hood back onto her shoulders and raised her head. Her eyes looked straight into his, one deep as emerald and the other opaque-blue as ice beneath the water.

His breath caught. A Fega, cursed by the gods.

He backed away and shook his head. This creature would be his families' undoing. "You must--" but she spoke, stopping him.

"I'm making my way towards the Master Road and am in need of rest for the night. The stables are what I prefer." Then she held out a pocket of herbs, hung on a string. "A talisman, to ward off evil. And I will not enter your door."

A crooked smile, tipped her mouth, and he had to hold himself in check to keep from returning it. If not for her eyes, her face would have been lovely, bronze and soft, her hair framing it in long black braids, woven through with berries and vines. More a child than a woman, but the promise of beauty lay just beneath the surface.

A Fega, such a pity. "You'll leave before sunup," he said, frowning, trying his best to look unaffected by her. Hillina would have his head for this one if she saw.

She nodded and he snatched the pouch from her, waving at the stables.

Again she pulled her hood up to shadow her face, then walked away, into the darkness of the barn.

A description of your character's personality: Stuborn and strong willed. She has fended for herself since the age of nine and depends on no one. The one thing that keeps her from becomeing a hard shell is the child she has adopted named Koko. And even with her she can be harsh. She has taught herself many things--including the magic of herbs and earth, and the "seeing" that comes from her mother's side of the family she has perfected. She believes she needs no one, and has a bit of a sharp tongue.

This character's goals and fears: Her greatest fear is being alone (even though she won't admit this to herself). Her goal is to prove herself worthy of acceptance: by use of her mind and her magic. She fears men and shows this through anger at them any time they mention her beauty. For her beauty is the one thing they see as good, and the one thing that keeps her from acceptance. I believe at one time in her past a man hurt her--maybe her father, betraying her to the cousel when her mother had hid her deformaty for so long, trying to save her. Then her mother was killed trying to save her from being shunned (not sure how--just throwing stuff out there).

The lesson this character needs to learn: First she needs to learn that she doesn't have to prove anything. Her strength of will is actually her greatest weakness. And second she will learn that the truth she thinks she's always known may not be real truth. In the end she will not be able to save herself and she will have to let go of her stuborn heart and side with one she once would have hated--swallow her pride and admit how she had been wrong.

Bring the character onstage in a way that perfectly captures him/her/it, including manner of speech (through Koko's eyes):

Koko began to break up the dry leaves, the minty smell of them soothing and sweat.

Aoni shook her head. "Not the hepsbud, Koko. It will keep the onions from being effective and double the potency of the larksin."

Koko froze and looked up. Aoni's frown made her one blue eye all the more frightening.

"Do you wish to turn Widow Plaker's hair white?" A smile peeked through the sharp corners of her mouth.

Koko shook her head. "I only liked the smell."

"Yes, well, the stronger the smell, the stronger the effect. This would have turned Widow Plaker's stomach to ash. If you like the smell you may put it in a pouch to wear around your neck. Tell people it keeps my evil at bay." Aoni let out a small laugh and waved Koko away, then leaned once more over her potion.

Koko didn't like the way Aoni spoke of herself being evil. It wasn't so, not even a little. Yes, Aoni could be harsh, but there was softness too. In the way she told Koko of the star legends and how at every turn she helped people.

"Stop staring so cow-eyed, Ko, and go pick me more volin buds."

Koko nodded and reluctantly wondered off into the trees in search of her guardian's favorite ingredient, the bud that was said to bring the eater favor and love.