Faari
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The fervent Kudu Faari travels the lands of Africa, cultivating sites where worship of the Gods is designated. Faari is a part of the lesser known group of Faithful that make it their mission to tend to shrines and guide others in worship. They seek out Fallen Godkin who actively scheme to attack the Gods or other Godkin. The group also hunts the hellish spawn that was originated from the hatred of these Fallen rogues and serve them in their evil endeavors to drain Transcendence from every source they can find.
Story
A Rabbit Astray Chapter 5
Faari meets Mika in an unexpected encounter while she is under custody of the Sehkmet tribe in one of their smaller scouting sites. Knowing that she is an Awakener, Faari makes rapport with the rabbit and offers her help. Nefirti, the lioness who brought Mika in, is greatly irritated by Faari's entry and demands she leave, but the Kudu entices the lioness's curiosity by speaking of a shrine that she suspected was at their very own stronghold. Faari also promises riches beyond that which she could imagine that would help the tribe grow even more wealthy and prosperous.
With enough nudging, the enthusiastic Kudu convinces Nefirti to take her with them as they travel back to the stronghold.
A Rabbit Astray Chapter 6
Faari accompanies the group into the Sehkmet stronghold. Nefirti has one of the guards tie up Faari alongside Jabaro. The snake around her neck is snatched by the guard and tossed outside of the stronghold walls, and her staff is taken before she is tied. Later she is freed by Nefirti only to be taken to the chief's hut and down into a corridor, where she is told to help Mika open the way into a secret shrine where they can help the lions break their curse, but Faari is confused by this. In the meantime, she pretends to be Mika's mentor, and uses one of her chunks of godmatter to put into the wall opposite of them, which has three holes for inserting them into. She inserts two more godmatter into the other two holes and the wall shifts and moves upwards to reveal the opening into the shrine!
Faari convinces Chief Yuusuf to free Mika, who he has stored in his stomach, and the two enter the darkness. Inside the dark chamber, Faari leads Mika to another altar within, which is radiating with a soft golden light. She asks Mika to focus on it and have communion with Java. Mika can soon hear Java's voice, but her words are disjointed and seemingly random. Mika then sees three familiar symbols in her mind's eye, just like when Java swallowed her. Mika chooses the symbol that appears like an eye (Oracle Eye) and attains a new power which activates almost immediately: she can see through the eyes of a creature that is scurrying at them from behind.
Mika alerts Faari and the kudu grabs the creature, the same kind Mika encountered not long after she was brought back to life. Faari quickly swallows the creature whole, saying that it is a monster that feeds on Transcendence and Faith, and are enemies of the gods. Mika cannot help herself upon seeing the kudu's round belly and offers to rub it. She does so happily while Faari explains the existence of Rouge Fallen, which are Godkin that have taken up a mortal form but have also turned against the gods. The sucker creatures serve the Rouge Fallen.
Mika soon tells Faari that she could not acquire a clear message from Java, and that her words are jumbled. This causes Faari to panic, saying that something may have happened to the snake Godkin. Zurani interrupts and asks how progress is going, and Mika claims the creature causing the curse has been swallowed by Faari. The monster is regurgitated but Zurani cannot see it. As Faari swallows it back down, Zurani unveils their plan to tie up Mika and Faari as bait for whatever creature is preying on them every monthly cycle. Mika offers Zurani a Godmatter so that she can see the monster, which is likely invisible as well. Zurani reluctantly obeys, and once the Godmatter is put into her hand, she is astonished to feel it sitting on her palm even though she can't see it.
Zurani swallows the stone and freaks out, able to see the bright glow in Mika's eyes. Zurani loses her cool and has Mika and Faari sent outside to have them tied up to a large stake in the middle of the stronghold. Mika manages to convince Nefirti to loosen their binds, saying she has no chance of rising in her ranks if the monster destroys the tribe. In the silence, the lions wait for the invisible monster to come. Mika sees Kuva staring at her in bewilderment. The cheetah seems to be filled with hope, as a trail of golden aura emanates from her body and is absorbed by the rabbit. Faari explains that this is Faith, which will flow when an Earthen achieves belief or hope in something; in this case, Kuva hopes that Mika will be able to free her.
Mika takes this time to use her new Oracle Eye power and taps into the sight of an unknown person, getting a glimpse into a horrific, otherworldly realm. Escaping the vision, Mika sees a pool of red vapor forming in front of her and then jetting towards her. Mika removes her binds and jumps over the vapor. It then goes for Faari, who is not as lucky. Half of her body sinks into the vapor and Mika tries to pull her back out, only causing her more pain. Before Faari fully descends, she alerts Mika that the source is a "parasite of Chaos" named "En-Kai." Mika is pulled into the vapor with Faari and submerges only half-way into the otherworldly realm, soaked in bright red.
Realizing she has lost Faari, she looks ahead to see a large humanoid lizard with long, flowing hair. He is holding Faari in place by shoving a black tendril through her body, which immobilizes her but doesn't seem to cause grievous harm. Mika attempts to use Java's Herald, but the snake tails are just out of reach. When the monster turns to face Mika, the rabbit is pulled out by the lions. Golden wisps of Faith flow lightly across the stronghold as Mika tells Zurani about the situation. Zurani is prepared to attack the monster with Mika. She and Mika are tied to the stake so that they can be pulled out by the others if they are in trouble.
Before the two can go into the realm, however, the hole disappears. Mika taps into the monster's sight and notices he is directly under one of them, getting ready to grab them. Mika grabs a spear and Zurani is pulled into the realm, which causes Yuusuf to panic. Mika instructs him to pull them up when the rope is tugged three times consecutively, and then the rabbit jumps in after her. Zurani is already half way into the monster's gullet, and Mika attacks the glowing core on his chest, which causes her spearhead to snap off. She then uses Java's Herald on the bulge on his stomach, which causes him to release Zurani partially. The monster retaliates by immobilizing Mika with a black tendril in a similar manner to Faari.
Mika shatters the black tendril by grabbing it, even though her muscles are very difficult to move. While she does this, En-Kai snaps one of Zurani's arms, stopping her from attacking him. Mika grabs onto Zurani's rope and tugs it, which causes all three of them to be pulled up and through the surface back into the Earthen realm. With them, Faari is also released as well as the many bones of En-Kai's victims. En-Kai himself has massive lesions forming on his body from the ever-flowing Faith in the stronghold. Cooperating with the lions, Mika releases Zurani from his jaws. From the stronghold walls, a flaming arrow careens through the air and pierces through En-Kai's neck--this arrow was shot by Jabaro!
Everyone continues to assault En-Kai until he explodes into golden ash, disappearing into the air and leaving behind a floating artifact. The lions celebrate while Zurani speaks to Mika about the object left behind by the monster. The chief lioness has reservations about it and tells Mika to keep it away. Faari suggests Mika devour the object as an experiment, as something with such a godly aura and origin could not possibly hurt her as an Awakener. Mika swallows the artifact whole and her body becomes enveloped in a brilliant light, changing to take up a new reptilian form! Faari praises Java fervently as most of the Sehkmet, bearing witness to the transformation, bow before Mika, including Chief Yuusuf.
A Rabbit Astray Chapter 7
Mika is in shock as she takes in her new form, her fur replaced with smooth scales. She sees that the lions are exalting her, as if she were a god. Even Yuusuf calls her Godi Slani (god snake). He quiets down his people, asking what Mika wishes to say. Mika asks for the cheetahs' release, and while Zurani is upset that she is throwing around demands, Yuusuf convinces her that they're of no consequence. Kuva and her siblings are let go and released from the stronghold. Nefirti is eventually called over by Zurani, and the chief asks her to put on their finest armor, as she will be accompanying Mika on her travels as an official envoy and representative of the tribe. Nefirti is embittered by this, but is reassured when Zurani explains that her mission is one of the most important ones asked of any lion. The rest of her tribe cheers her on as she shows her acknowledgement through a respectful Sehkmet gesture representing resolution.
She sticks by Mika and Faari as they think on the next course of action. Mika asks for a bath and Nefirti says that they bathe in the nearby river. As they start to head there, Mika notices a jackal tied up to a nearby pole. Nefirti explains he has been spying on the lions and that the Kevala jackals are expanding and taking more land, which the Sehkmets won't tolerate. Mika goes to speak to the jackal about their prince and how they had met previously. Mika asks why the jackal was taken in and the canine says they think he is a scout. In response to this, Nefirti argues with him, the jackal saying that he was simply out collecting valuables while Nefirti claims he was spotted in multiple Sehkmet outposts. The jackal confirms that the Kevalas are mindful of the Sehkmets' activity and hope to expand alongside them. This angers Nefirti, but she is placated by Faari, who asks Nefirti to let Mika continue speaking to him.
The conversation ends with Mika and the jackal sharing their names, the jackal named Raodo. Mika's stomach rumbles and groans loudly prompting her to acquire sustenance. She asks Nefirti to fetch her water and food, which she consumes gratefully. They proceed to travel to the river for a bath. As they walk, Mika asks Nefirti how she came to be such a powerful warrior in her tribe. Nefirti excitedly explains that it takes hard work and dedication, and shares with Mika the numerous tenets of the tribe. She also reveals that her skills in archery had put eyes on her and allowed her to climb the ranks quickly. Nefirti also says that Princess Ashanti was to become chief warrior, but Nefirti believed her to be too headstrong and eager. Now that Mika took her out of the picture, this gave her a golden opportunity.
Mika teases Nefirti, asking if she imagined she would be in her current position. Nefirti snaps back, saying she will not bow to her like she made the others in her tribe do. The lioness states she is the same rabbit she took in even if she transformed to take up her freakish reptilian form. Mika says she does not expect her to worship her.
They arrive at the river to see three hyenas already there. The lioness says they are Mankheups, another tribe from the north that the Sehkmets have a bitter rivalry with. They even had a few wars in the past. Nefirti says they have been quiet for a few seasons and suspects them of being up to no good. Mika's team plots in a nearby forest, and Nefirti hints she is eager to ambush and perhaps eat one of them, believing that they have the prowess to take them on as long as one doesn't get away. Faari, on the contrary, recommends they spread good will in Java's name, to which Nefirti retorts with disgust.
They act out their plan: Mika and Faari approach the river as Nefirti watches from a distance, ready to shoot at them with her bow and arrow if they get out of line. Before heading out, Nefirti tells Mika to share her scripture with them, lying that the hyenas love all things supernatural. Mika walks up to the river, greeting the hyenas and speaking of Java. One of the younger male hyenas stops her, taunting her by having her elaborate on her god. Mika undresses, using her ample bosom to sway the male and let her in, which works. She proceeds to bathe herself. Mika pulls Faari into the river with her, claiming to have seen something reaching out for her. They are accosted by the female hyena in the group, who is upset at how Mika exposed herself to the male hyena, also not believing her claims of being a god follower and that "scalehides" like her speak nothing but nonsense. Mika proves to the female hyena her powers by peering through her very eyes with her sight jacking abilities. As she demonstrates this, however, she changes back to her rabbit form, and the hyenas flee in terror.
Nefirti reunites with them, shocked to see Mika back to her original rabbit form. She demands to know what they did to frighten the hyenas, and Mika says she offered to show them her powers when she morphed back without warning. With the scene having gone quiet once more, Mika and Faari get dressed, with Mika announcing their next destination being the settler camp South. Nefirti suggests they rest for the night, as Faari appears to be nodding off. Mika says they can rest out in the fields, though Mika warns her of a spirit that is lurking and watching them. Nefirti does not believe her, asking sarcastically their course of action against this specter. Mika has them set up camp near the river, Nefirti hunting for food while Faari gathers resources to make a temporary shelter.
While gathering, Faari feels Mika peering into her mind, calling for help. Grabbing a big stick, she goes to locate Mika. She finds that Mika is stuck inside of a ghostly creature, being slowly absorbed. Faari frees Mika by smacking it with the stick. Mika shoots it with a Java's Herald attack, causing the greatly disfigured ghost to flee while Mika blacks out, the ghostly substance causing her to become greatly weakened. Faari takes her back to the camp, all the while finding out Nefirti used her staff to catch fish. She takes back her staff, offended the lioness would do such a thing.
The next morning, Nefirti and Faari have already eaten some fish, with plenty left over for Mika, who scarfs down the rest of them ravenously and in a single gulp! Nefirti tells her about the brief spat she and Faari had over her staff. They go to find Faari, who is not too far. The kudu gifts Mika a snake-shaped effigy for her to have communion with Java. Mika meditates with the effigy in hand, but can only hear garbled words from a voice that sounds like Java's: "Shin...Metem...Spirit...After you..."
Nefirti tries talking to Faari about what she did, feeling that she has to maintain good relations since she is stuck with them. Faari does not seem to want to open up to Nefirti, however, and Mika joins in the conversation, asking that the lioness be more considerate in the future before using others' personal belongings since they are a team. Nefirti snaps and yells at Mika, speaking of her embarrassment being in the team in the first place and that she'll be a laughing stock in her tribe because of it.
Out of the nearby forest, three hyenas emerge to confront them: a large male warrior, a male archer, and the female hyena from the river last night. The female hyena points out Mika and the male warrior calls out to Nefirti, asking if she knows Mika is a shapeshifting witch. They say that they want Mika and do not wish to fight her. Nefirti hands Mika over to them, but not before telling Mika to "keep them busy." Mika's hands are tied by the male warrior while the female says that Mika is going to tell them everything she knows about other witches and that they are seeking to exterminate others like her.
Faari tries to calm them and have them let Mika go, but the archers both approach her, deciding they'll take her back as well since she and Mika are associates. Mika then bites down on the male warrior, paralyzing him with her venom. Nefirti takes the opportunity to snatch the female archer and put her in a lock, taking hold of her bow and arrow and aiming it at the male archer. Mika swallows the warrior whole, the male archer losing his cool as he watches helplessly. Faari tries to get him to put down his bow, but he aims at her, exclaiming they are all witches. Nefirti shoots his in the neck, killing him instantly, and he too lets his arrow go, which hits Faari in the shoulder. Nefirti proceeds to swallow the female archer.
Nefirti tries to enjoy her meal, but notices Mika attempting to help Faari with her arrow wound. After gulping down the archer fully, Mika asks for Nefirti's help. Nefirti offers to give her instructions on treating Faari while she enjoys her meal, saying that she could cause an accident while the female hyena is jostling around as violently as she is. Mika agrees reluctantly and follows Nefirti's orders, but not before the male warrior wakes up in Mika's belly! Nefirti helps Mika by sitting on her back to keep the male submerged in her juices. He soon goes limp and Nefirti stands back up, finally enjoying a moment where she can taunt the rabbit. Mika continues to give aid to Faari, removing the arrow and wrapping her wound successfully.
Mika goes over to the body of the male archer, wondering what to do with him. She offers him to Faari, but the kudu refuses to eat a person. Nefirti says they have to get rid of his body as well as the hyenas' stuff, and Mika decides to swallow the corpse. Her stomach massive, Mika struggles to stand, suggesting they go to the river for a drink and to dispose of the hyenas' things there. Faari prays, trying to convince herself that Mika is truly Java's Awakener and the actions the rabbit is taking are ones ordained by Java.
A Rabbit Astray Chapter 8
Mika takes a big drink from the river, and the team throws away all the hyenas' weapons aside from the three bows, which they keep. Nefirti offers to give archery lessons in the future. The trio walks a distance from the river and rests beneath a tree, where Mika's huge stomach clenches and almost instantly digests a portion of the hyenas inside her! This causes her body to create a large amount of fat as well. Mika can sense the energy stored in this fat, and through the power of controllable Ketosis, is able to melt away most of it, granting her energy and a slimer figure. Mika realizes she can control these bodily processes at will. Nefirti is awe-struck, and asks for one of the Godmatter stones. She is given one and the lioness quickly devours it, albeit awkwardly since she cannot see it. She doesn't notice anything different aside from her now-glowing eyes.
The party heads South and Nefirti has them make a stop at the camp where Mika fought Gwando, wanting to update the lions stationed there on the current situation. Faari is faint from her arrow wound still bleeding, and Mika seeks help. Nefirti points to a nearby Onya, who is very irate upon seeing Mika. She angrily asks how Mika defeated Gwando, but Mika offers to tell her while she helps Faari. She doesn't budge at first, but Nefirti convinces her, saying she will make sure the Sehkmet chiefs know of her deeds. Onya goes to stitch up Faari's wound, but is distracted by Mika's revealing of their run-in with the hyenas. Onya again confronts her for defeating Gwando, saying she cheated by using poison. Mika subdues her before Onya fights her, using Oracle Eye to paralyze the lioness. Onya is able to move again, but only after toppling over like a statue. She crawls away without another word, and they are left to tend to Faari's wound. Nefirti tries her best to stitch it, and while she doesn't do a perfect job, the wound is mostly closed, and Faari hugs Nefirti, overjoyed by her efforts.
The party sets off to Kuva's camp. Once they arrive, they find that no one is there. Looking around for a bit, Nefirti locates a Godmatter stone, but there is also a Faith-sucking creature hidden in a covered alcove nearby. Mika grabs the creature's snout, which is whipping about, and she pulls on it, causing the creature to emerge from the alcove. It turns out to be more than twice Mika's height, towering over the rabbit. The trio does combat with the Faithsucker, finding out quickly that the sunlight hurts it, causing its skin to shrivel and sizzle. Nefirti eats the Godmatter and is able to injure the Faithsucker, cutting off part of its snout. She proceeds to chop into its waist like a tree, getting halfway through. Delivering a mighty kick, Mika causes the creature's spine to snap, leaving its upper half writhing on the ground. Nefirti gives it one more chop and fully bisects it. Mika finishes the creature by stabbing it in the eye with her shortsword. It shrivels away, disintegrating into ashes, and the team takes a well-deserved rest.
During the fight, Faari was able to grant Mika a little extra Transcendence. She tells Mika that it is faith through the dire situation that caused it to manifest. Nefirti too was able to grant her Faith by seeing the previously unseeable creature. Mika goes to congratulate Nefirti, and the lioness admits to her that it has been years since her life has been so eventful, having eaten a hyena and fighting the monstrosity. Mika warns her about Shin, saying they need to be ready the next time they see him.
They inspect the lower half of the monster, the cavity wide open to reveal a huge organ sitting inside of it. Mika devours the entire organ, and a burst of Transcendence fills her from inside. Her mind is ravaged by the massive intake, and her body transforms back into the snake-like form. Mika attempts to keep still and meditate despite the chaos swimming about in her head. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounds in her head, announcing that it sees her! She snaps out of her meditation to see Nefirti pointing her bow at Jabaro, who stands over a hill also brandishing a bow at them. Mika defuses the situation, and Kuva reveals herself from behind Jabaro along with Kibwe and the other children.
Kuva says that she was told Mika died. Mika tries to explain her predicament and how she came back from the Godplains, but Jabaro interrupts her, warning her not to spread this to other people. Kibwe comes forth to comment on Mika's new form, saying it reminds him of Java, who actually did not threaten him while the snake had him in her custody. Kibwe also reveals that he stayed at the forest village, the one where all the people had disappeared, and that's where Java took him away.
While the cheetahs try to get their bearings, preparing to travel away from the area, Kuva warns them that the settlers at the camp drove them away, not wanting anyone there that wasn't in their group. Mika, in turn, warns them about the creature that they fought not too long ago. With that, the two groups separate, and Mika's party heads to the settlers' camp. Mika uses her Oracle Eye to detect two settlers at the camp as well as a nearby snake! Mika uses the willing serpent to retrieve a notepad from one of the tents. She uses its vision to see the contents of the pad, but she cannot read it. She has the snake come back with the notepad, but it is confronted by one of the settlers, who emerges with a shovel.
Mika comes out of the forest to distract the settler, but he pulls a revolver on her. A rifleman also arrives shortly afterwards, and Mika tries to tell them that she knows Daniel and Goodman and was wanting to help them. While Mika is attempting to deescalate, along with Nefirti who tries to intimidate them, Faari is visited by the snake, who has the notebook in his mouth. Once things begin to calm down and Mika is let go by the settlers, Faari excitedly walks to them to announce that she is able to read the contents of the notepad. She reads it aloud, which confirms that Daniel went to the Kevalas. Mika is given bread and water, which she consumes gratefully.
The party heads southwards, Mika contemplating how she is once again getting tangled with the jackals, though she secretly looks forward to seeing Enuk once again.
Personality
Faari's bubbly and charismatic personality often tends to wear on others and prove itself to be contagious. She tries to stay neutral but friendly with everyone across the lands, trying to serve, teach, and assist others in time of need; after all, that is what is expected of a Faithful, and she does her duties with a radiant smile and positive attitude.
While she prides herself as a teacher, Faari also loves learning herself, which the recent emergence of Awakeners has given her an opportunity to. She looks onto Mika with great fascination.
When met with hostility or skepticism, Faari remains very patient and tries her best to reason with others, even if her language is not the most refined. Others tend to say her manner of speaking is adorable and endearing, though others label it as an annoyance.
Forte/Skills
As an Earthen endowed with extraordinary powers, Faari's alliance with the Faithful grants her the ability to see things others cannot. She can detect sites of Godmatter and rifts to their dimension. She is also able to sense the presence of the Unseen. Faari's aptitude in absorbing Transcendence lends to her skill in creating effigies, which are useful in multiple ways, including communion with higher beings out of reach.
She may be Faithful, but Faari cannot hope to have skills that an Awakener would have. She is still an Earthen and her abilities are limited. When she has to fight, she uses her staff and its sharp horn, which was extracted from her late father and serves as an heirloom of sorts.
Gallery
Alternate scenario where Faari is forced to eat and digest Mika.
Initial designs.
| The Drachaverse | The Feralverse | The Medieverse | The Pokeverse | The Tribalverse |
|---|