Shaman Dance: Malis Pagent entry No. 5

This is for the Senshi Pagent that I have been in the running for. Sadly, work kept me away from finishing this on time though I managed to answer all the questions during my lunch breaks at work. The background is a concept art piece of Stranglethorn Vale which I adore. I was playing around with it for my desktop background and ended up liking it enough to keep it as part of my entry.

Edit: So I somehow gave Malis 6 fingers on one hand >_>

Senshi Pagent: [link]
Round one: [link]
Round two: [link]
Round three: [link]
Round four: [link]

This was supposed to be the swimsuit edition but I just couldn't see Malis wearing anything but... well, nothing! So this was our compromise. It is a variation of her ceremonial outfit. In her culture, Trolls paint themselves with tattoos and markings, each meaning different things such as status or family ties. As her family is the Vitterfolk, it means 'wind troll' and thus her tattoos are reminiscent of the wind blowing through the forests. Malis is also heavily painted as she is part of a long line of high ranking shaman. She wears little for this reason, to show off all her tattoos, however, certain adornments are also important. Her necklace is made of bone beads, each carefully patterned with colours of the elements. Every year she completes her training she adds another strand to the necklace, some elders have necklaces that cover their entire front! Her other adornment is her belt which hangs the items she uses to commune with the spirits, bones from her familiar, a pouch of ashes from the village fire, feathers from an eagle and other strands of beads and decorations to make it unique to her. Each shaman creates their belt themselves, one of their tasks before their naming ceremony to prove they can be productive members of their tribe.

And OMG! I -love- her pudge *grins*


Questions! -
- I would like to hear more about why and when Malis and Rynn finally split ways.
Malis considers solomnly for a long while before she answers. "Well Rynn be not knowin' about mah powers fer a long while. She be wonderin' where things be happenin' an' ah not be tellin' her 'cause t' spirits be tellin' mahself not ta." She shakes her head once, "Ah didn't wanna be seemin' ungrateful t' ta spirits but Rynn always be tellin' mahself about everythin' she be findin' but then ah be keepin' this away from her an' well, she not be happeh that ah be keepin' t'ings away from her. Not that ah be blamin' her, ah be sad if she be keepin' secrets, even if t' spirits be tellin' her too." The troll wrinkled her nose before continuing. "So ah be tellin' her about t' crystal an' what t' spirits be tellin' mahself. She was confused at first but then accepted it though ah be knowin' it bothered her a little. Rynn not be big on self thinkin' she not be realizin' how special she be within her soul an' one day ah be hopin' she be seein' herself like ah be seein' her. Ah know she be thinkin' t' spirits chose mahself over her 'cause she be thinkin' ah be stronger than her but even ah not be knowin' why t' spirits be choosin' mahself over everyone else but ah be grateful they be thinkin' mahself worthy an' hopefully they be right an' ah be doin' t' spirits honor." Malis realized she had deviated from the question and added, "Not that it be t' reason why she be leavin'... It be t' last battle we be havin' ta'gether. See, Rynn be mah partner an' we always be fightin' ta'gether against t' monsters an' such. But wit' t' powers that t' spirits be givin' mahself, ah be fightin' special monsters from t' spirit realms an' Rynn not be wit' a crystal like mine an' so she not be able t' fight them as well as ah be able t' fight. She be comin' t' mahself after t' last fight, t' monster be a two headed creature that be made out o' water." The troll shuddered at the memory as she was not to fond of the wet substance. "Rynn be havin' trouble defendin' herself as her powers be more suited towards t' fire-based spells. Ah be havin' some trouble wit' t' beast 'cause ah not be likin' t' water but she not be able t' do much either. It be pure luck that we managed t' defeat it but we be in a sorreh state when we succeed. She be decidin' that she be needin' t' grow stronger before she be helpin' mahself. She not be wantin' t' get mahself in trouble if she cannot be takin' care o' herself." Malis shrugged, "Ah can be understandin' where she be comin' from an' ah be wishin' her all t' best luck. Ah be knowin' that when she be ready t' be adventurin' wit' mahself then she be comin' back an' ah be happy t' be seein' her again."

- As a sailor you seem to have started almost a new life. What do you enjoy the most about your new roll and life as a sailor scout and what has come with it?
"Meetin' peoples! Ah love t' be meetin' new peoples an' helpin' them out an' findin' about their cultures." She waggled a finger into the air. "Did ya know there be a village in t' mountains that be awake at night an' sleep during t' day 'cause they be fearin' that if t' sun shines upon their backs then they be turnin' t' stone? Ah dunno if ah can be thinkin' that but imagin' if they be correct an' someone decided t' be stayin' out earleh?" Malis raised an eyebrow, "Ah mean, ah be seein' so many t'ings an' it has been so edi-kitteh-onal an' much wit' t' learnin' an' such. There be many t'ings that be interestin' an' yet some still be t' same. People still be celibratin' their name-day, even if they be callin' it different t'ings like birth-days an' such. Oh! an' everyone be so happy an' hos-pidable an' sharin' their food an' t' ways they be cookin' them an' such. Ah be lovin' t' food, so many different ways t' be makin' yummeh things t' eat." The troll grinned happily, as food was one of her favorite subjects. "It be very much different from mah old life when ah be trainin' t' me a shaman. Though ah be likin' t' learn about mah ancestors an' how they be important an' how t' talk wit' t' spirits an' such it also be quite a learnin' t'ing t' wander around t' world an' learn about how others be talkin' t' ta spirits."

- What do you miss the most from your old life?
"Goin' home." The troll answered promptly. "Ah mean, ah be likin' t' travel, but ah do miss t' change t' just go back an' see mah family. It be hard t' abandon a villiage when they been needin' help just so ya can be seein' ya daughter an' granddaughter..." Malis grins, "She'd be read t' be learnin' how t' walk by now. Mah daughter, her name be Tai'jin, be quite happehly settlin' down wit' a nice strong troll wit' big tusks. Ah be happeh she be findin' someone who be a good farder an' be a fierce warrior." She had a look of a proud parent as she spoke of her family. "Though family be important an' if ah be havin' t' chance t' be goin' back home, it be nice t' know that ah be able t' help others an' protect their little babbies an' ah be knowin' that mah daughter be strong enough t' be protectin' her little one. 'cause ya know t' little birdies need t' be flyin' from t' nest on their own one day an' prove themselves ta t' spirits."

- What was your toughest battle as a senshi?
Malis wrinkled her nose as she thought. "There be one monster ah never be defetin'. When ah be travelin' around, just in t' first days o' findin' mah crystal an' learnin' o' the powers t' spirits be givin' mahself, ah be findin' a village that be terrorized by a big dragon!" She help out her arms to the side to help validate her, the excitement in her eyes. "Now ah be one t' be studyin' dragons an' ah be sure that this be an easy task as ah be usin' mah special powers from t' spirits. Rynn be helpin' mahself out then but we be splittin' up t' cover t' territory that t' dragon be hidin' in. Ah be lucky t' be findin' it's den and even found t' reason why it be so ferocious. T' dragon be a girly an' had a whooole nest o' eggs!" The troll chuckles, "Now ah be t' first one t' know how havin' ya babies threatened be t' worst thin' in t' world. Ah be knowin' ah be havin't t' scare t' dragon away enough that she be decidin' t' move her eggs deeper int' ta mountains. This way t' village not be so close an' she not be eatin' their sheep." Malis licked her lips at the through of mutton, distracted and pausing her story. "Ah, sorreh, where ah be? Oh! So Rynn be findin' this good place t' pull t' dragon to an' so we be settin' up a path. Ah decided t' switch to mah senshi form an' start callin' out t' dragon an' makin' sure it be followin' mahself so we can be either movin' t' eggs or gettin' her t' move them. First ah be tryin' t' call her out but that not be workin' so I marched mahself int' her den an' confronted her face t' snout." The troll snorted once, "Ya know, it be one thin' t' study from afar an' quite another t' be lookin' at a dragon eye t' eye. She be takin' one look an' thwack! Her tail be smackin' mahself in t' face an' ah be flyin' across t' room!" She pointed to her broken tusk. "Ah never be findin' mah tooth after that or ah might be givin' it ta Rynn. Anyways ah be callin' upon t' spirits an' summonin' mah lightnin' an' that be when ah be findin' out that t' dragons are not like t' demons an' spirits that ah supposed t' be fightin' as a senshi. So t' dragon be takin' one look and she be puffin' up an' gettin' bigger an' ah be seein' that she be ready t' blow fire at mahself! Ah be duckin' out of t' way an' rollin' through t' stones tryin' t' keep them between mahself an' t' angry mammeh. Ah did manage t' get her movin' wit' mah axe an' thank t' spirits ah be prepared wit' mah other totems an' trinkets. Ah be learnin' not t' be takin' on a dragon again!" The troll grinned toothfully, "It be Rynn who be savin' t' day that time. She be usin' illusion t' make t' area be seemin' more deadly an' t' path be seemin' more nicer. We be findin' t' perfect place fer her nest an' after we finally be calmin' her down an' apologizin' an' such, we be explainin' t' her that she be better t' be movin' her nest." Malis shook her head, "That be t' day ah be learnin' that sometimes it be better t' talk an' find out what be goin' on before ah decide t' charge in... ah be black an' purple after t' beatin' she be givin' mahself an' ah always be havin' mah missin' tusk t' be remindin' mahself o' that."

- Do your animals ever help you out? Can you give an example?
"Oh yush! Pyre be very big help many times. She be always helpin' mahself by sendin' messages an' such when ah be needin' her to. Bones be mah puppeh and he's helped me in t' past also. Sometimes it be hard t' travel wit' t' companions but ah always be makin' sure they be safe an' protected when they be travelin' wit' mahself. Though of all o' them ah be grateful fer Feathers. He be t' bokbok who be carryin' mahself around." The troll grinned and pointed over her shoulder where a large feathered beast stood in calmly in the background. "Feathers be short fer 'Feather brained' 'cause he not be always all there." Malis smiled fondly. "It be mah sister who be namin' him when she be givin' him t' mahself. She knew ah be givin' him a good home. Ah be takin' care of more than many hands o' companions an' pets now! Ah be thinkin' Rynn be countin' them once but ah be forgettin' how many mahself." She counted on one hand for a moment before shaking her head. "Ah be happeh fer mah companions though. They always be helpin' out if only t' be there fer me when ah be takin' care o' them 'cause no matter what be happenin' outside in t' world, t' animals always be happeh t' see ya an' ah always be likin' that."