Post by tenjouanthy on May 26, 2008 22:59:12 GMT -5
Name:
Nima Li-Xian
Age:
34
Gender:
Female
Group:
n/a
Nation:
Earth
Bender?:
No
Physical Appearance:
Standing at 5'7, Nima is a particularly muscular woman, having done weapon smithing and forging for much of her life, she has great muscle mass rivaling that of equal men. Her level of muscle mass is well proportioned with her body, leaving her arms and legs well defined yet still slender enough that she wouldn't be mistaken as a man. Her overall body shape doesn't make her too bulky and while she isn't agile, she can move without hindering herself.
Her skin is a russet brown, marked all over with a mixture of burns and scars, her hands calloused and rough from working metals over a fire. Her face is roundish yet was also marked with scars. Her eyes are of a raw umber color, both almond shaped and the left often closed out of personal habit from a scar covering the outer lid of said eye. Her hair is a short and unkempt seal brown, kept that way out of lack of want of dealing with it aside from occasional washing.
Clothing/Armor:
Nima wears a worn, dark colored Ruqun, a type of two piece garment, for her general day to day affairs. The upper garment is a thin robe that reaches to her waist, of the loose cuff and long sleeve variety being auburn with a dark sienna lining. The skirt half covered over her waist and part of the robe, descending to just above her ankles. It was of a more vivid auburn color with a black sash binding both pieces tightly around her waist.
With being around fire nation members, Nima has taken to wearing shoes as it feels more comfortable for her now. The ones she wears are of a simple pair of wooden sandals with black cloth bindings.
Weapons:
-Liu Xing Chui/Meteor Hammer: The Meteor Hammer is an ancient Chinese weapon, consisting at its most basic level of two weights connected by a rope or chain. In this particular case, a chain constructed of a non-reflective etched steel. The two weights are forged of solid blackened iron, both taking a spherical shape and weighing in at ten pounds each. Both weights were about five inches in both width and length, with the chain being seven feet in length in order to utilize its techniques properly.
The weapon is a favored type of Nima's due to its compact nature and surprise factor. At night due to the weapon being intentionally blackened, it makes it especially hard to follow unless a light source is available.
Personality:
To say that Nima was a calm and caring person would be an outright lie. In all honesty, she's a very suspicious person by nature and isn't one to hesitate to betray you if it's in her best interest. This doesn't do well to instill much of a sense of trust in this woman.
Despite her bad points, Nima makes it a point not to betray a paying customer as it is bad for business. As long as you're paying, she'll treat you just fine as long as you're respectful to a degree. Being rude or jilting her on cash, however, will result in her causing as much chaos as she could for you just out of sake of compensation of wasting her time.
While Nima may seem fairly heartless, this is largely due to the fact that she chooses not to get close to others and thusly seals away any unneeded feelings she may have in order to run her business as she needs to.
Nima tends to speak with a very gruff and harsh manner as if she doesn't like you very much. Normally this puts off new customers, but those that know her to an extent knows that this is just how she talks generally. Not being one to be soft spoken, she's known not to hold her tongue unless she's in trouble of some form.
With the above mentioned mannerisms, Nima also acts very much like a man in her actions usually. This being derived in how she was raised since youth, it's a bit of a bad habit. This is not saying she doesn't know how to act like a lady, more of that she prefers to talk and act like 'one of the guys' instead of being ladylike.
Background:
In the village of Chén Lu, laying due north of Zhy, young Nima was born into a family of weapon smiths. Her father was one, his father was one, his father's father... you get the idea. Each generation would pass on their forging techniques to their son and carry on the legacy.
Unfortunately.. Nima came out a girl. While this was a minor setback for her father, he was still overjoyed to have a daughter. However, he soon found that later attempts to have any sons yielded no results. For some unexplained reason, his dear wife couldn't have anymore children.
A tragedy yes, but he was not one to be let down. Surely a daughter would do just as well as a son, right?
As Nima progressed from her baby years to her childhood years, her father raised and treated her like the son he always wanted. He even went as far as to ensure she had boyish clothing so no one'd know the difference. Nima's mother wasn't so accepting of her husband's plan, wanting to raise a respectable daughter, but he'd have none of that. He needed an heir to pass on his forging techniques to and that was final!
From that day on, Nima's father would often take her out to teach her everything he knew. In his eyes, raising her as he would a son was the best possible way to carry on the tradition of his father before him. From the way she was dressed to the way she was instructed to speak and talk, he groomed her to be more and more boyish as time passed. Carrying on the tradition of his fathers was the most important thing in the world to him, even more so than his pride or his family. He would not let it end with him just because his child was a girl instead of a boy.
Nima never saw anything wrong with the way she was being raised. As far as she knew, she was merely one of the guys. She ran out and played with the boys, roughed it up with the boys in play and even tended to best them on a fairly regular basis. Her father taught her how to swing a hammer the moment she was old enough to begin learning. Much like her friends, they all were learning a trade from their fathers that'd surely be of use later in life.
Inbetween these interludes, Nima's mother desperately tried to raise her daughter to be a proper young lady instead of the wild tomboy she was steadily becoming. Still, she managed to teach her daughter inbetween her constant sessions with her husband. Once more, for Nima this simply was the way it was and who was she to argue. She merely chalked it up to having strange parents in comparison to the other children.
This did drive a bit of a wedge between Nima and her mother. On one hand, there was her father telling her what was right and wrong and that she was being raised correctly. On the other was her mother, teaching her that everything her father says was completely wrong. Who was she to believe? Ever since she could remember, it was her father that showed her everything so obviously her mother must not be telling the truth.
But... her father allowed for her mother to continue so she grudgingly accepted her mother's teachings to a degree. While she was learning, she never took it to heart as anything serious due to being 'daddy's little boy' as it were.
As one may guess, this wasn't to last. As years dragged on, it became more and more clear to her male friends that she was a young girl instead of a young boy as they originally thought. However, for Nima she didn't expect them to treat her any different.
But they did.
Knowing she was in actuality a girl, her friends stopped playing with her since they felt being around a girl would make them seem weak. And of course, the girls wouldn't have her since she was too boyish. Did this get her down? No, of course not!
Well, maybe a little.
Instead of letting their hurtful words get to her, Nima engrossed herself in her father's trade even further. She wanted to be better than them all, stronger than them all. She wanted them to see that she was who she was and no one would change that. She was a boy and that's all there was to it. If not in body, certainly in spirit.
During such time, her mother still tried to turn Nima around to accept that she was truly a girl and to act as one. However, all it did was drive the wedge between them even further as Nima began placing all that pain and anger against her mother as if it were her fault all of this were happening in the first place. In her eyes, Nima believed her mother is the one who told them all that she was a girl and that she shouldn't be talked to because of it. For that, Nima began to harbor a hatred of her mother with the thought that it's her fault that she lost her friends.
As the years passed from her teens to adult age, Nima had finally succeeded her father's work and became a weapon smith like her father. Much like her father and his father before him, her workmanship was of high quality and in great demand. Before long, her father left for Ba Sing Se to set up shop there and sell his wares there, leaving Nima behind with her mother to tend to the shop as he believed it was in good hands now.
Nima didn't mind this change of pace. She was often kept busy with orders for repair or forging, but she made enough money for her mother and herself to get by. The young boys from her youth had now grown into young men that were now interested in women. Of course.. she wasn't part of such courting. After all, being a weapon smith required strength and thusly she was somewhat unappealing when it came to feminine appearances. She too was at the age where she was interested in men as well, but who would have her?
With nowhere to turn, Nima merely engrossed herself in her work even further, barely leaving her father's shop unless nessicary. She deadened those emotions she felt and concentrated on her job alone, trying her best not to be hateful of those that had a different life than she. After all.. this was what she chose for herself, right?
Change would come in the most unexpected and unwanted manner as one day some Fire Nation soldiers raided the village she lived in. Of course they were all aware of the danger of a Fire Nation attack.. but no one really thought they'd come out and actually attack them in their location. In a mere hour, everything around Nima was set ablaze and many of those she envied or hated were witnessed burning before her or having already died.
Where was she, you ask?
She and her mother were forced to watch because the Captain of the soldiers fancied her and her mother due to having heard of her father's skill in creating weapons of war. They had initially raided the village, wanting to take him for their own usage and found them instead. They were pulled aside and had to watch as this horror befell their village. The reason they were spared was quite simple; they were to be the Captain's personal slaves to do as he wished. But.. he would only choose one and the other would die. They were but a simple game for these men and likely they'd both die. Most likely a last cruel act before they left.
Instead of taking the selfless road that one would imagine, Nima decided to take a different, more selfish path for herself and offered her services to the Captain by claiming she'd make a sword ten times better than the one he wielded in a single day in exchange for her life.
The captain laughed at her willingness to give up her own mother in exchange for her life and agreed to her terms. If, however, she'd end the woman's life herself.
Yet another cruel twist of fate for Nima, as she set to work within her mostly burned down workshop to start her work. Silently she had to contemplate the fate she dealt herself and if she'd truly be able to be that ruthless.
The hours flew by as she worked, seeming to be forging and reforging the blade as if she weren't satisfied with it. Anyone could see that she was shaken, stalling for time while trying to think. There'd be none of that as the captain decided aloud that if he felt she was stalling, their lives were automatically forfeit.
Forced to finish her job, Nima brought forth quite possibly her best work to date; a magnificent dao forged from her best remaining metals. The weapon itself was sharpened to perfection and even she had to feel as if she had outdone herself for once. She moved to hand over the blade, but was stopped short and reminded of the other part of the deal. The captain wanted her to strike her mother down with the very sword she forged!
But how? There was no way! This was her mother, the woman who cared for and loved her since she was born. She just couldn't kill her in cold blood even if she had betrayed her earlier just to live. But.. if she didn't, she too would die the moment she refused. Nima felt sick at the very notion of slaying the woman before her, yet slowly raised her arm high with Dao in hand.
In her mind was a maelstrom of emotion was welling up within her. Through her life, her mother was always the cause of her grief. She was always the one that was trying to make her something she wasn't. Why should she live? Why should she feel sorry for wanting to strike her down? Yet still, that sick sensation still made her want to hesitate. But if she did, her life likely would be forfeit too! The swarming thoughts made her want to just scream and run away, but there was only one choice left to her.
Her mother never said a word. She had already wept her tears over what her daughter became because of her husband. She already made peace with the notion that she would die this day. Staring up at her daughter, she could see the pain, frustration and terror in her wild eyes as she struggled with what she'd do. She didn't blame Nima. No, she couldn't place the blame on her child no matter what.
Her only wish was that she could've raised her to be a respectful woman like she wished.
With a a scream intermixed with freely flowing tears, Nima swung the sword down hard to end this chapter of her life.
The sound of metal striking metal filled the air as the Captain of the fire nation soldiers deflected the strike from Nima's Dao with his Jian. Needless to say, both women were very bewildered and stunned at this turn of events. Introducing himself as Siyu, he praises Nima for having the fortitude to make such a difficult decision and offers her the position he initially was going to force on her father.
Nima was speechless over this as Siyu went on to explain why exactly he did all this. In her mind, she was merely running the thoughts of what she was about to do over and over again. After all.. she swung without any need of threatening or provocation. She truly was going to kill her mother had he not stopped her.
Her mother was still frozen in place, staring up at her as tears streamed from her eyes. What was she thinking now? What did it feel like to see your only child not even refuse to strike you down? To see that weapon swinging down to end your life?
Siyu explained that he took in worthy earth nation people and instead of killing them off, he put them to work for his nation in order that they'd be in favorable standing once the fire nation inevitably won. Nima's mother finally found her voice and refused his offer as if he were the scum of the earth, but Nima herself said nothing at first. As before, she thought of how her mother always seemed to be in the wrong and decided that she'd make her own choices from now on and accepted the offer.
Gathering up her tools and belongings, Nima left with Siyu and the fire nation soldiers, leaving her mother in the ruins of their village. Her mother could only weep at the loss of her only child. Nima was lost to her now and her husband's oh so careful planning was the cause of it all. He made her like she was and now she even turned her back to her own nation. Still... She couldn't help but love her despite how much she might be hated. Maybe one day her daughter would come to her senses.
Several years passed since then, Nima now having lived as a weapons merchant for most of that time. She made her living selling weapons to both the fire nation and the earth nation, earning her the nickname of the Black Merchant. During this time she also entertained a romance of sorts with a certain Fire Nation Captain that culminated into their even having a child together.
Nima felt their time together was well spent as not only did she learn to forge many a weapon that normally was native to the fire nation, but also she learned a great deal from her lover as well. He taught her the ways of combat, training her to fight and defend herself, as well as instilling a sense of confidence and pride within her as if molding her into a fire nation soldier.
However, their relationship was not meant to be. The captain was returning to the Fire nation and they both knew that she wouldn't be very welcome if she followed. An agreement was reached between them and they went their separate ways with Nima allowing him to take her son back to the Fire Nation with him. It was for the best as over these many years, she had as many enemies as she did customers. Having a young boy at her side would merely make for a more appetizing target.
Up to present, Nima has lived and traveled alone, ensuring never to stay in one spot for too long lest she give her enemies an opening to strike her unaware. Her lover never returned, leaving her embittered and cold to any further romantic advances as well as being generally disliked or hated by most earth nation people as they consider her a traitor to her own people. She merely considers it a worthy business venture.
Even beyond all that she did over the years, her mind still won't allow her to escape one moment in time; the moment her sword swung downwards. She often asked herself if she ever was in that position again, would she still do it. Such answers always elude her; after all, one never knows until they're face with such a tough choice.
Sample RP:
CLANG!
CLANG!
Each pound of the hammer against the hot metal sent a vibration through her body. To her it was the most calming sound in the world, even moreso than lapping waves. Her eyes were partially closed as if in a trance, her right arm flexing as it rose and fell to deliver a powerful strike with the hammer.
Only a year had passed since the day she left her old life behind. Three years since she heard the sound of her mother weeping in her ears. Taking a deep inhale, Nima slowed her blows and opened her eyes slowly. "What is it, Siyu?" She asked calmly, slightly turning her head towards the door behind her.
Siyu Xuán-Wu was in charge of their small fire nation settlement. Mostly consisting of soldiers, there were a few earth nation deserters as well within. Often she'd find him stopping by her workshop in order to see her. It made her feel a bit strange to be around him, as he was her leader and nothing more... but he also gave her more attention than he should.
With a heavy sigh, she threw the blade she was forging into a bucket of water and turned to face him. "You know that breaks my concentration." Nima spoke crossly, placing both hands on her hips as she stared at him.
"Sorry sorry... just thought I'd see how you were doing." Siyu apologized, holding up his hands with a small smile. "So how about it? Want to practice a bit with the meteor hammer?"
Oh how I hate that smile, bet he wins over lots of ladies with it too. Nima thought to herself as she moved to put her tools away. But I'm different, I'm not liked like other girls. No matter how much he smiles or smooth talks, it's just not for me. "Sure. Why the heck not?" Nima finally replied, wiping her hands off on a nearby piece of cloth. "Not gonna get any work done 'till you leave me alone anyhow."
A soft sigh and a shrug from Siyu. "Always with the angry voice. Wouldn't it be better to talk nicely?" He teased as he turned to leave out ahead of her.
"Tch. Ain't my job to be nice." She replied as she grabbed the meteor hammer from its place on the wall. Stepping outside her workshop, Nima exhaled softly at the sensation of the cool breeze blowing over her body as she followed the captain to a small open area left for soldiers to train. "Well, let's get this over with."
"Remember, like I told you before, this weapon is a playful tool." Siyu explained as he let his own personal one drop from the sleeves from his garment. Lashing it out like a whip, he snapped the chain back with a sudden jerk before letting it wrap around his waist. "Treat it as an extension of your own body and it'll show its power."
The meteor hammer... how I loathe this stupid weapon. It never really works for me at all! She thought angrily as she mimiced the movements of Siyu, only to have it nearly smack her in the head upon jerking it back. "This is so stupid." Nima growled in annoyance, tossing the weapon to the ground in frustration.
"Nima. This weapon isn't about blunt force or sheer cutting power." Siyu spoke as he gently laid his down and walked up behind her. Nima jumped a little as she felt him place his hands on her arms. "Gentle yet forceful movements, like that of a flame. Flowing one moment and a striking blaze the next!"
His fingers intertwined with her own as he led her through the motions, showing Nima that it was indeed possible to move in the manner he intructed. Nima however, was gradually turning redder and redder in the face as he stayed in such close contact with her. She could feel his heart beating against her back, the strength flowing through his arms as he moved her in what felt like an almost graceful dance. It made her tremble and think of thoughts she never had previously.
"O-Okay! Okay! I got it already!" She stammered out, struggling to move against his motions to break away. Her embarrassment finally got the better of her and she just wanted to get away.
But instead of breaking away, Siyu held her fast. He spun her around to face her with a strange expression on his face. "What if I don't want to let you go?" He asked softly, his face drawing closer and closer to her own as he spoke. "What will you do then?"
"H-hey, you're acting weird! I'm gonna get angry if you don't let go!" Nima said as angrily as she could muster. However, truthfully she was incredibly flustered and blushing more and more by the minute.
"You're a strong girl, aren't you? Break free. I'm certain you're stronger than I am." Siyu says softly, his face close enough to brush against her own.
And struggle she did.
Straining against Siyu's gentle embrace, Nima couldn't seem to muster the strength needed in order to break free. Was it that he was truly this strong? Or was it that maybe... just maybe she didn't wish to break free. All she could manage was a weakly whispered question. "Why?"
"What can I say? I like 'em strong." Was all he replied before pressing his lips against her own.
It all was so wrong! He's fire nation, I'm earth! Why?! Why is this happening? This shouldn't be, I'm not pretty, I'm not cute or anything! Nima felt all these thoughts running through her head as the two of them shared the kiss. But most of all, one thought trumped all others. Relief. It was as if her entire body unwound that tightly coiled fear that she'd never be attractive to anyone and that someone in this world wanted her.
Nima Li-Xian
Age:
34
Gender:
Female
Group:
n/a
Nation:
Earth
Bender?:
No
Physical Appearance:
Standing at 5'7, Nima is a particularly muscular woman, having done weapon smithing and forging for much of her life, she has great muscle mass rivaling that of equal men. Her level of muscle mass is well proportioned with her body, leaving her arms and legs well defined yet still slender enough that she wouldn't be mistaken as a man. Her overall body shape doesn't make her too bulky and while she isn't agile, she can move without hindering herself.
Her skin is a russet brown, marked all over with a mixture of burns and scars, her hands calloused and rough from working metals over a fire. Her face is roundish yet was also marked with scars. Her eyes are of a raw umber color, both almond shaped and the left often closed out of personal habit from a scar covering the outer lid of said eye. Her hair is a short and unkempt seal brown, kept that way out of lack of want of dealing with it aside from occasional washing.
Clothing/Armor:
Nima wears a worn, dark colored Ruqun, a type of two piece garment, for her general day to day affairs. The upper garment is a thin robe that reaches to her waist, of the loose cuff and long sleeve variety being auburn with a dark sienna lining. The skirt half covered over her waist and part of the robe, descending to just above her ankles. It was of a more vivid auburn color with a black sash binding both pieces tightly around her waist.
With being around fire nation members, Nima has taken to wearing shoes as it feels more comfortable for her now. The ones she wears are of a simple pair of wooden sandals with black cloth bindings.
Weapons:
-Liu Xing Chui/Meteor Hammer: The Meteor Hammer is an ancient Chinese weapon, consisting at its most basic level of two weights connected by a rope or chain. In this particular case, a chain constructed of a non-reflective etched steel. The two weights are forged of solid blackened iron, both taking a spherical shape and weighing in at ten pounds each. Both weights were about five inches in both width and length, with the chain being seven feet in length in order to utilize its techniques properly.
The weapon is a favored type of Nima's due to its compact nature and surprise factor. At night due to the weapon being intentionally blackened, it makes it especially hard to follow unless a light source is available.
Personality:
To say that Nima was a calm and caring person would be an outright lie. In all honesty, she's a very suspicious person by nature and isn't one to hesitate to betray you if it's in her best interest. This doesn't do well to instill much of a sense of trust in this woman.
Despite her bad points, Nima makes it a point not to betray a paying customer as it is bad for business. As long as you're paying, she'll treat you just fine as long as you're respectful to a degree. Being rude or jilting her on cash, however, will result in her causing as much chaos as she could for you just out of sake of compensation of wasting her time.
While Nima may seem fairly heartless, this is largely due to the fact that she chooses not to get close to others and thusly seals away any unneeded feelings she may have in order to run her business as she needs to.
Nima tends to speak with a very gruff and harsh manner as if she doesn't like you very much. Normally this puts off new customers, but those that know her to an extent knows that this is just how she talks generally. Not being one to be soft spoken, she's known not to hold her tongue unless she's in trouble of some form.
With the above mentioned mannerisms, Nima also acts very much like a man in her actions usually. This being derived in how she was raised since youth, it's a bit of a bad habit. This is not saying she doesn't know how to act like a lady, more of that she prefers to talk and act like 'one of the guys' instead of being ladylike.
Background:
In the village of Chén Lu, laying due north of Zhy, young Nima was born into a family of weapon smiths. Her father was one, his father was one, his father's father... you get the idea. Each generation would pass on their forging techniques to their son and carry on the legacy.
Unfortunately.. Nima came out a girl. While this was a minor setback for her father, he was still overjoyed to have a daughter. However, he soon found that later attempts to have any sons yielded no results. For some unexplained reason, his dear wife couldn't have anymore children.
A tragedy yes, but he was not one to be let down. Surely a daughter would do just as well as a son, right?
As Nima progressed from her baby years to her childhood years, her father raised and treated her like the son he always wanted. He even went as far as to ensure she had boyish clothing so no one'd know the difference. Nima's mother wasn't so accepting of her husband's plan, wanting to raise a respectable daughter, but he'd have none of that. He needed an heir to pass on his forging techniques to and that was final!
From that day on, Nima's father would often take her out to teach her everything he knew. In his eyes, raising her as he would a son was the best possible way to carry on the tradition of his father before him. From the way she was dressed to the way she was instructed to speak and talk, he groomed her to be more and more boyish as time passed. Carrying on the tradition of his fathers was the most important thing in the world to him, even more so than his pride or his family. He would not let it end with him just because his child was a girl instead of a boy.
Nima never saw anything wrong with the way she was being raised. As far as she knew, she was merely one of the guys. She ran out and played with the boys, roughed it up with the boys in play and even tended to best them on a fairly regular basis. Her father taught her how to swing a hammer the moment she was old enough to begin learning. Much like her friends, they all were learning a trade from their fathers that'd surely be of use later in life.
Inbetween these interludes, Nima's mother desperately tried to raise her daughter to be a proper young lady instead of the wild tomboy she was steadily becoming. Still, she managed to teach her daughter inbetween her constant sessions with her husband. Once more, for Nima this simply was the way it was and who was she to argue. She merely chalked it up to having strange parents in comparison to the other children.
This did drive a bit of a wedge between Nima and her mother. On one hand, there was her father telling her what was right and wrong and that she was being raised correctly. On the other was her mother, teaching her that everything her father says was completely wrong. Who was she to believe? Ever since she could remember, it was her father that showed her everything so obviously her mother must not be telling the truth.
But... her father allowed for her mother to continue so she grudgingly accepted her mother's teachings to a degree. While she was learning, she never took it to heart as anything serious due to being 'daddy's little boy' as it were.
As one may guess, this wasn't to last. As years dragged on, it became more and more clear to her male friends that she was a young girl instead of a young boy as they originally thought. However, for Nima she didn't expect them to treat her any different.
But they did.
Knowing she was in actuality a girl, her friends stopped playing with her since they felt being around a girl would make them seem weak. And of course, the girls wouldn't have her since she was too boyish. Did this get her down? No, of course not!
Well, maybe a little.
Instead of letting their hurtful words get to her, Nima engrossed herself in her father's trade even further. She wanted to be better than them all, stronger than them all. She wanted them to see that she was who she was and no one would change that. She was a boy and that's all there was to it. If not in body, certainly in spirit.
During such time, her mother still tried to turn Nima around to accept that she was truly a girl and to act as one. However, all it did was drive the wedge between them even further as Nima began placing all that pain and anger against her mother as if it were her fault all of this were happening in the first place. In her eyes, Nima believed her mother is the one who told them all that she was a girl and that she shouldn't be talked to because of it. For that, Nima began to harbor a hatred of her mother with the thought that it's her fault that she lost her friends.
As the years passed from her teens to adult age, Nima had finally succeeded her father's work and became a weapon smith like her father. Much like her father and his father before him, her workmanship was of high quality and in great demand. Before long, her father left for Ba Sing Se to set up shop there and sell his wares there, leaving Nima behind with her mother to tend to the shop as he believed it was in good hands now.
Nima didn't mind this change of pace. She was often kept busy with orders for repair or forging, but she made enough money for her mother and herself to get by. The young boys from her youth had now grown into young men that were now interested in women. Of course.. she wasn't part of such courting. After all, being a weapon smith required strength and thusly she was somewhat unappealing when it came to feminine appearances. She too was at the age where she was interested in men as well, but who would have her?
With nowhere to turn, Nima merely engrossed herself in her work even further, barely leaving her father's shop unless nessicary. She deadened those emotions she felt and concentrated on her job alone, trying her best not to be hateful of those that had a different life than she. After all.. this was what she chose for herself, right?
Change would come in the most unexpected and unwanted manner as one day some Fire Nation soldiers raided the village she lived in. Of course they were all aware of the danger of a Fire Nation attack.. but no one really thought they'd come out and actually attack them in their location. In a mere hour, everything around Nima was set ablaze and many of those she envied or hated were witnessed burning before her or having already died.
Where was she, you ask?
She and her mother were forced to watch because the Captain of the soldiers fancied her and her mother due to having heard of her father's skill in creating weapons of war. They had initially raided the village, wanting to take him for their own usage and found them instead. They were pulled aside and had to watch as this horror befell their village. The reason they were spared was quite simple; they were to be the Captain's personal slaves to do as he wished. But.. he would only choose one and the other would die. They were but a simple game for these men and likely they'd both die. Most likely a last cruel act before they left.
Instead of taking the selfless road that one would imagine, Nima decided to take a different, more selfish path for herself and offered her services to the Captain by claiming she'd make a sword ten times better than the one he wielded in a single day in exchange for her life.
The captain laughed at her willingness to give up her own mother in exchange for her life and agreed to her terms. If, however, she'd end the woman's life herself.
Yet another cruel twist of fate for Nima, as she set to work within her mostly burned down workshop to start her work. Silently she had to contemplate the fate she dealt herself and if she'd truly be able to be that ruthless.
The hours flew by as she worked, seeming to be forging and reforging the blade as if she weren't satisfied with it. Anyone could see that she was shaken, stalling for time while trying to think. There'd be none of that as the captain decided aloud that if he felt she was stalling, their lives were automatically forfeit.
Forced to finish her job, Nima brought forth quite possibly her best work to date; a magnificent dao forged from her best remaining metals. The weapon itself was sharpened to perfection and even she had to feel as if she had outdone herself for once. She moved to hand over the blade, but was stopped short and reminded of the other part of the deal. The captain wanted her to strike her mother down with the very sword she forged!
But how? There was no way! This was her mother, the woman who cared for and loved her since she was born. She just couldn't kill her in cold blood even if she had betrayed her earlier just to live. But.. if she didn't, she too would die the moment she refused. Nima felt sick at the very notion of slaying the woman before her, yet slowly raised her arm high with Dao in hand.
In her mind was a maelstrom of emotion was welling up within her. Through her life, her mother was always the cause of her grief. She was always the one that was trying to make her something she wasn't. Why should she live? Why should she feel sorry for wanting to strike her down? Yet still, that sick sensation still made her want to hesitate. But if she did, her life likely would be forfeit too! The swarming thoughts made her want to just scream and run away, but there was only one choice left to her.
Her mother never said a word. She had already wept her tears over what her daughter became because of her husband. She already made peace with the notion that she would die this day. Staring up at her daughter, she could see the pain, frustration and terror in her wild eyes as she struggled with what she'd do. She didn't blame Nima. No, she couldn't place the blame on her child no matter what.
Her only wish was that she could've raised her to be a respectful woman like she wished.
With a a scream intermixed with freely flowing tears, Nima swung the sword down hard to end this chapter of her life.
The sound of metal striking metal filled the air as the Captain of the fire nation soldiers deflected the strike from Nima's Dao with his Jian. Needless to say, both women were very bewildered and stunned at this turn of events. Introducing himself as Siyu, he praises Nima for having the fortitude to make such a difficult decision and offers her the position he initially was going to force on her father.
Nima was speechless over this as Siyu went on to explain why exactly he did all this. In her mind, she was merely running the thoughts of what she was about to do over and over again. After all.. she swung without any need of threatening or provocation. She truly was going to kill her mother had he not stopped her.
Her mother was still frozen in place, staring up at her as tears streamed from her eyes. What was she thinking now? What did it feel like to see your only child not even refuse to strike you down? To see that weapon swinging down to end your life?
Siyu explained that he took in worthy earth nation people and instead of killing them off, he put them to work for his nation in order that they'd be in favorable standing once the fire nation inevitably won. Nima's mother finally found her voice and refused his offer as if he were the scum of the earth, but Nima herself said nothing at first. As before, she thought of how her mother always seemed to be in the wrong and decided that she'd make her own choices from now on and accepted the offer.
Gathering up her tools and belongings, Nima left with Siyu and the fire nation soldiers, leaving her mother in the ruins of their village. Her mother could only weep at the loss of her only child. Nima was lost to her now and her husband's oh so careful planning was the cause of it all. He made her like she was and now she even turned her back to her own nation. Still... She couldn't help but love her despite how much she might be hated. Maybe one day her daughter would come to her senses.
Several years passed since then, Nima now having lived as a weapons merchant for most of that time. She made her living selling weapons to both the fire nation and the earth nation, earning her the nickname of the Black Merchant. During this time she also entertained a romance of sorts with a certain Fire Nation Captain that culminated into their even having a child together.
Nima felt their time together was well spent as not only did she learn to forge many a weapon that normally was native to the fire nation, but also she learned a great deal from her lover as well. He taught her the ways of combat, training her to fight and defend herself, as well as instilling a sense of confidence and pride within her as if molding her into a fire nation soldier.
However, their relationship was not meant to be. The captain was returning to the Fire nation and they both knew that she wouldn't be very welcome if she followed. An agreement was reached between them and they went their separate ways with Nima allowing him to take her son back to the Fire Nation with him. It was for the best as over these many years, she had as many enemies as she did customers. Having a young boy at her side would merely make for a more appetizing target.
Up to present, Nima has lived and traveled alone, ensuring never to stay in one spot for too long lest she give her enemies an opening to strike her unaware. Her lover never returned, leaving her embittered and cold to any further romantic advances as well as being generally disliked or hated by most earth nation people as they consider her a traitor to her own people. She merely considers it a worthy business venture.
Even beyond all that she did over the years, her mind still won't allow her to escape one moment in time; the moment her sword swung downwards. She often asked herself if she ever was in that position again, would she still do it. Such answers always elude her; after all, one never knows until they're face with such a tough choice.
Sample RP:
CLANG!
CLANG!
Each pound of the hammer against the hot metal sent a vibration through her body. To her it was the most calming sound in the world, even moreso than lapping waves. Her eyes were partially closed as if in a trance, her right arm flexing as it rose and fell to deliver a powerful strike with the hammer.
Only a year had passed since the day she left her old life behind. Three years since she heard the sound of her mother weeping in her ears. Taking a deep inhale, Nima slowed her blows and opened her eyes slowly. "What is it, Siyu?" She asked calmly, slightly turning her head towards the door behind her.
Siyu Xuán-Wu was in charge of their small fire nation settlement. Mostly consisting of soldiers, there were a few earth nation deserters as well within. Often she'd find him stopping by her workshop in order to see her. It made her feel a bit strange to be around him, as he was her leader and nothing more... but he also gave her more attention than he should.
With a heavy sigh, she threw the blade she was forging into a bucket of water and turned to face him. "You know that breaks my concentration." Nima spoke crossly, placing both hands on her hips as she stared at him.
"Sorry sorry... just thought I'd see how you were doing." Siyu apologized, holding up his hands with a small smile. "So how about it? Want to practice a bit with the meteor hammer?"
Oh how I hate that smile, bet he wins over lots of ladies with it too. Nima thought to herself as she moved to put her tools away. But I'm different, I'm not liked like other girls. No matter how much he smiles or smooth talks, it's just not for me. "Sure. Why the heck not?" Nima finally replied, wiping her hands off on a nearby piece of cloth. "Not gonna get any work done 'till you leave me alone anyhow."
A soft sigh and a shrug from Siyu. "Always with the angry voice. Wouldn't it be better to talk nicely?" He teased as he turned to leave out ahead of her.
"Tch. Ain't my job to be nice." She replied as she grabbed the meteor hammer from its place on the wall. Stepping outside her workshop, Nima exhaled softly at the sensation of the cool breeze blowing over her body as she followed the captain to a small open area left for soldiers to train. "Well, let's get this over with."
"Remember, like I told you before, this weapon is a playful tool." Siyu explained as he let his own personal one drop from the sleeves from his garment. Lashing it out like a whip, he snapped the chain back with a sudden jerk before letting it wrap around his waist. "Treat it as an extension of your own body and it'll show its power."
The meteor hammer... how I loathe this stupid weapon. It never really works for me at all! She thought angrily as she mimiced the movements of Siyu, only to have it nearly smack her in the head upon jerking it back. "This is so stupid." Nima growled in annoyance, tossing the weapon to the ground in frustration.
"Nima. This weapon isn't about blunt force or sheer cutting power." Siyu spoke as he gently laid his down and walked up behind her. Nima jumped a little as she felt him place his hands on her arms. "Gentle yet forceful movements, like that of a flame. Flowing one moment and a striking blaze the next!"
His fingers intertwined with her own as he led her through the motions, showing Nima that it was indeed possible to move in the manner he intructed. Nima however, was gradually turning redder and redder in the face as he stayed in such close contact with her. She could feel his heart beating against her back, the strength flowing through his arms as he moved her in what felt like an almost graceful dance. It made her tremble and think of thoughts she never had previously.
"O-Okay! Okay! I got it already!" She stammered out, struggling to move against his motions to break away. Her embarrassment finally got the better of her and she just wanted to get away.
But instead of breaking away, Siyu held her fast. He spun her around to face her with a strange expression on his face. "What if I don't want to let you go?" He asked softly, his face drawing closer and closer to her own as he spoke. "What will you do then?"
"H-hey, you're acting weird! I'm gonna get angry if you don't let go!" Nima said as angrily as she could muster. However, truthfully she was incredibly flustered and blushing more and more by the minute.
"You're a strong girl, aren't you? Break free. I'm certain you're stronger than I am." Siyu says softly, his face close enough to brush against her own.
And struggle she did.
Straining against Siyu's gentle embrace, Nima couldn't seem to muster the strength needed in order to break free. Was it that he was truly this strong? Or was it that maybe... just maybe she didn't wish to break free. All she could manage was a weakly whispered question. "Why?"
"What can I say? I like 'em strong." Was all he replied before pressing his lips against her own.
It all was so wrong! He's fire nation, I'm earth! Why?! Why is this happening? This shouldn't be, I'm not pretty, I'm not cute or anything! Nima felt all these thoughts running through her head as the two of them shared the kiss. But most of all, one thought trumped all others. Relief. It was as if her entire body unwound that tightly coiled fear that she'd never be attractive to anyone and that someone in this world wanted her.