Rise of the Sandali ~ Jiwe Tribe

[ToKola Bakari]

​

[member="Naomi"] | The Warband​

​

As the freighter came into the planet's atmosphere, To'Kola had an uncertain look about him. It was not so much that the man was uncertain of himself, but he was uncertain of what was to come. He'd learned long ago that he must be firm in his decisions and always stand by them. What he planned now would be the end of his world, as it was known. It would be the beginning of a new age, an age where his people would show their might, the might of the Sandali. The thought of this caused his lips to turn up into a knowing smile. He waited a few more moments before tapping a few controls on the console, leveling the freighter out and bringing it over the rolling jungles that the world had. He glanced down at those jungles, finding them to be a refreshing sight.

To'Kola exhaled, standing up from his seat and turning back to the main hold for the ship. Most of his warband were gathered in the room, some seemed to be in the same mood as To'Kola.

Ndugu was the first to speak. The large man was laid back on one of the couches, his hand running over the edge of his sword, testing it's sharpness. "Now....let me see if I understand this plan. We are going to walk into the middle of the Jiwe tribe's main city, present ourselves as your warband and.....I'm just trying to understand when we're supposed to die in this scenario." He said, rolling his hand about as he spoke. To'Kola eyed the man with a challenging arch of the brow. "You still don't trust me?" To'Kola said.

Ndugu lifted himself up from the couch, shaking his head. "With my life. If I could die a thousand times, then every death would be yours to decide. Still....I do not see what we will achieve. You are not even a chief yet, which means you have no right to challenge the Jiwe Chieftain."

To'Kola snorted. "An outdated rule for an outdated time. My strength is my right to challenge. Besides....if the elder's refuse my challenge it will only prove that I am right. I am going to take the seat of Jiwe's Chieftain and then I will reignite the old fires once again."

"I have lived too long to wait for my path. I shall pave it myself. I do not need a Horde to challenge one man. With you all by my side....I promise victory."

To'Kola looked to each of them, those who had gathered. Their eyes told the story that he could be content with. They had faith in him and it was that faith which would push him above all others. He glanced around, before turning down the ship's secondary hall. Ndugu whistled out loudly, smirking as To'Kola turned to face him. "Going to see Naomi before things get started, eh?" The man said, causing To'Kola to chuckle. "Quiet." Was all he said, before making his way to the hold where Naomi had made her own room.

 

[Naomi]

[member=ToKola Bakari]​

With her feet crossed underneath her, Naomi stared idly into the polished glass ToKola had given her to use as a makeshift mirror. Slender fingers ran over her sculpted cheeks and picked their way through the tangles in her thick braids. For a while now they had been approaching Sandala, and for a while now Naomi’s stomach had been tying itself in knots. This would be the second time she returned to Sandala a failure in her task. Of course, it went without saying that the result had been much more interesting, and eventually pleasing, but she did wonder what her tribe would think. Fortunately, it wasn’t her tribe they were destined for, but when ToKola won his battle word would spread of the six-strong warband and their intentions.

The witch sighed heavily and covered her face with both hands. When the poor attempt at blocking out her thoughts failed, she returned to fussing over her hair. Over the constant, gentle hum of the engine, Naomi could make out the rumbling tones of the other warriors down the corridor. It would be the same conversation they’d shared over the days of travel spent together, the entire point of this crazy task they’d been set. Naomi herself had scoffed at the idea at first. The idea that one man could challenge all the tribe’s chieftains, win, and unify them? It was wild, and to begin with merely the ramblings of a madman in a poison induced fever. Yet, when the fever had broken the ramblings continued.

In the end, ToKola spoke of it so much, and so passionately, Naomi found herself believing him. Truly believing him. He would win the battles against the chieftains, and he would eventually become the Warchief spoken of in legend. The deal they made on Epica had honour bound her to be by his side, but over the past few days, Naomi came to the realisation that she wanted to be. It wasn’t just the respect that he demanded, or that he inspired loyalty, or even because of his prowess as a warrior. He was hilarious, interesting, clever… Naomi actually enjoyed spending time with him. As though he’d heard her thoughts, the witch felt a familiar presence creeping closer through the freighter's corridors.

When the doors wooshed open with a telltale hiss Naomi found the smile she had intended to make was already plastered on her face. ‘Habari.’ She spoke in honeysuckle tone, opting to offer him the sweet grin through the polished glass instead of turning around. ‘Are they nervous?’ The question was moot. They were all nervous, but it was a conversation at least.

 

[ToKola Bakari]

To'Kola paused outside of Naomi's door, taking a moment before he entered the hold. Ndugu had a way of seeing through To'Kola, though he may have been making a joke it was quite obvious that To'Kola had taken a special interest in Naomi. When confronted about this, usually by Ndugu, the man usually elected to ignore the observation and turn the subject towards something else. Still, there was an attraction there that he did not care to hide, nor was it something he felt a need to put emphasis on. As long as Naomi would have his company, he would offer it.

He opened the door, allowing himself into the hold and almost immediately finding Naomi sitting at the edge of the room. She greeted him and he responded with a knowing smile.

"Of course." He said light-heartedly, his eyes meeting Naomi's reflection in the makeshift mirror. "They are about to leap into the jaws of hell, it's to be expected. Failure here means I will die and they will be disgraced." He spoke so matter of factly, yet still in his heart he knew he would never fall. He would handle this the same way he had handled Naomi's poison, by using his strength to take hold of victory in a mighty grip. He approached Naomi, his eyes looking to the subtle twists and curves of her body with a notable interest. As he closed the distance between them, he laid his hands upon her shoulders. They were effortlessly soft, much like the fine silks they had been introduced to on the planet of Ra'Katha.

"And you? You are nervous as well. I could sense it from the cockpit." He said, his voice barely above a whisper as he bent down, his breath purposely tickling the back of her neck. "Have you lost faith in me so soon?" He asked, his tone one of teasing more than anything.

The large man ran his hands, course though they were, down Naomi's shoulders until his arms came to wrap around her. "Remember the strength of these arms, remember the strength of the great mountain, and you will see your worries fade away." He told her with a particular conviction in his tone. He was nothing if not confident in his abilities, however there was something else he was finding confidence in.

"You were with me when I defeated the poison. If you remain by my side, I assure you I will defeat this challenge as well." He assured her, his tone still low and considerate.

[member="Naomi"]

 

[Naomi]

[member=ToKola Bakari]​

Naomi could only nod knowingly at his response. It made sense that they were nervous, being disgraced from one tribe was nothing, but when the word got around of how it came about the rest of the tribe were sure to follow. With the gently placed weight of his hands on her shoulders, Naomi felt some of her worries melt away, as though they were made of nothing but air. With her raven pools set upon his face the notion that she’d even bothered to fell nervous felt like a silly one. ‘Nervous?’ Her tone had lowered to fit the mood, and though she posed it as a question there was no use in trying to hide it from him. She had been nervous. Even if she had been capable of lying about it, the gentle waves of his breath washing over her skin and forcing her hair to stand on end was too distracting to achieve anything, but in the most pleasant of ways.

‘I suppose. I know we go to challenge the Jiwe tribe on this day, but my nerves are not for them. They are for my own tribe.’ As he lowered himself down to her height, a shudder travelled the length of her spine. His teasing words crafted a bright smile filled with amusement from the witch. ‘Who says I had any faith in you to begin with?’ Her bird-like voice responded in kind, there was no need to specify that she was teasing. Their first night together Naomi had spent it by his bedside, nursing the fever that broke out across his body from the poison on her blade. Though she had been loathed to admit it back then, it was a show of faith. She wouldn’t have wasted her time sat in the sweltering tent, locked in an internal argument she feared would never end if she didn’t at least have a little faith in him.

When his calloused hands crossed over her middle and drew him close, the smile on her face faded into a knowing smirk. His actions filled her with untameable energy that gave her confidence in droves for the task ahead. The witch smoothed her own hands over his, fingertips tracing over every contour in his forearm. Her thick ebony braids came to rest against his chest as her head lent back against his shoulder. ‘How can I forget when his ego reminds me every day?’ She teased softly. His confidence was one of her favourite things, and Naomi had no doubt he already knew that, but she couldn’t resist poking fun of it occasionally. As he spoke his next words she spun in her chair and his arms until the two warriors were face to face.

Her slender arms looped around his neck and drew her close until their chests pressed against each other. ‘I have no doubt you could accomplish this, with or without me, but I will remain by your side ToKola.’ Her smile widened, but she didn’t allow him much of an opportunity to admire it, instead she closed the distance between their faces. Her lips peppered his with a kiss, then two. He tasted like the meat they’d shared for breakfast and the wine that lingered on his breath, just as she had grown used to. She’d come to crave it, but for a moment, she resisted the urge to indulge in it further. ‘You could not shake me off it you tried. Tumeunganishwa.’

 

[ToKola Bakari]

When Naomi spoke of her tribe, To'Kola nodded his head slowly in understanding.

"It is your own tribe that will be the hardest for you, but I will be with you and you will be with me." He promised her, before chuckling at her words. She had a wit about her that always caused him to smile. "If you didn't have faith in me you would have left me to die...you never left." He challenged, smiling at the woman for a moment as he realized the truth of his own words.

When Naomi closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to To'Kola's he met her in kind. His hands flowed down to the small of her back, urging her into the kiss. He found her lips were sweet and warm. As he kissed her he settled into the fact that holding her to his chest was causing something in him to shift. Something the woman did not know about. To'Kola's extended life, his extended youth had come at a cost to him so many years ago. The deep cold pain that was centered in his chest. However, in this moment as Naomi pressed against him he could feel that pain grow dull, faint. After finally parting, To'Kola ran a hand through Naomi's braids, taking them in between his fingers as his lips lingered across from her own.

"When the day is over I will be the Chief of the Jiwe and I will take my rightful place....and you will be beside me." He promised her, briefly pressing his lips to hers before finally breaking the embrace he'd held her in. He offered her a faint smile before turning back out of the hold. It would be an interesting day indeed.

​

The Warband's shuttle had landed in the mountain range of the Jiwe tribe. The largest of the Sandali War Tribes, the Jiwe had taken up refuge in a number of mountains, however this particular range held the majority of them. Thousands of the Mountain Men & Women lived in the scattered settlements that made up the Jiwe's "city." However, there was one settlement significantly larger than the others. Build into a miniature gulch that was embedded into the mountains, the capitol of the Jiwe was known as Jua la damu. It was where the Jiwe chiefs retreated to, following the death of the last great Warchief.

To'Kola stood on the edge of a cliff. His sunburnt eyes gazed down at the city with an expression of discontent. "They say when the last Warchief died, the Jiwe tribe could no longer exist outside of the mountains. The other tribes saw us as a threat, so they would unite against us, in the hopes we could not restore a new Warchief to power. So, when our people came under such attack, there was only one place we could go where we would survive. Jua la damu was once a mighty battlefield, where the Jiwe held off thousands of Sandali war fighters for months...It was the closest the Jiwe ever came to being wiped out. Once the other tribes realized we would not fall, they retreated from the mountains and left us here. So the Elders erected their first settlement here in this gulch. One way in, one way out....It was meant to be our safe haven."

"It should be a place of pride....but now it is a place of cowardice." To'Kola's words grew agitated. "The Elders refuse to elect a chief....in fear that it will incite the anger of the other tribes. They have been cowed by history."

"Today we will rewrite history." To'Kola muttered before leading the way down the main path. As they descended into the gulch, it was quite obvious how the Jiwe could survive here for so long. With the proper supplies, this gulch could be defended indefinitely. It was a natural fortress with terrain that even the most skilled Jiwe climbers would struggle to negotiate. Still, for To'Kola it was nothing more than a representation of the Jiwe's spirit being imprisoned.

[member="Naomi"]

 

[Naomi]

[member=ToKola Bakari]​

Naomi had heard of the great mountains, but only in tales told around the fireside. In her youth, she had presumed them to be wildly exaggerated for the purposes of storytelling. Her mother had always been one for weaving tales of great fantasy and breath-taking beauty, but they had always just been stories. That was until Naomi laid eyes on the great mountains themselves. They stretched further than the horizon, beautiful and majestic against the backdrop of the burning Sandali sun. Nestled in the centre of it all, surrounded by the high mountain walls that protected them for longer than Naomi had been alive, the Jiwe tribe had settled.

‘So, they hide?’ As she spoke the witch broke away from the rest of the Warband to join ToKola by his side. ‘If anyone can break them free of these chains, it is you. You will draw them out, you will make them see.’ Despite her words of encouragement, Naomi did not glance up from the gulch. From up on the top of the main path the warriors down below looked like tiny little insects. Part of her wished they were. It would be a lot easier to stroll into a colony of ants and challenge their Queen than it was going to be to walk into the Jiwe tribe and challenge the elders. But Naomi had faith in ToKola. The Warband they travelled with had faith in him, and when faith was all you had it had the ability to lift you higher than practice or confidence ever could.

As they walked down the gulch one thing became obvious to Naomi. It was entirely secure. Some part of her could understand the Jiwe’s instance on making a home here. Security came hand in hand with safety, and safety is one of the pinnacles of happiness. Happy people were the backbone of a good nation. The only problem was, Sandali warriors did not deal in safety. Safety, with all its many benefits, also came compliance and monotony. Two words that did not fit any Sandali warrior she could name. It was a strange sensation watching the members of the Jiwe tribe look on with curiosity and no shortage of confusion at the travelling Warband. Naomi could imagine it had been quite some time since any stranger had dared brave going down into the gulch.

The witch tried to shake the feeling of hundreds of pairs of eyes settling on the descending Warband, and instead did her best to focus on keeping up with ToKola’s giant strides. One step for every two of hers, the only difference being the storm of dust ToKola kicked up with each heavily placed foot.

 

[ToKola Bakari]

He wasn't entirely sure how he should feel. He was returning to the Capitol of his people with the intentions of leading them into a new age. So why did he feel like he was a stranger stepping into the lion's den? In the end, it did not matter. The steps that took the Warband from the opening of the Gulch and into the city may as well not have existed. It felt like mere seconds before the group had assembled in the center of the capitol. The largest buildings in the city were centered here. In comparison to most cities in the galaxy it was nothing more than a large mass of huts and wooden structures, however there was a single building that had a certain majesty to it. The wood was soaked and preserved with scented oils, which filled the area with an overly sweet smell. The doors were especially ornate, as their hardware was crafted from sculpted bone. The main frame of the door seemed to be made from some beast or another, however the handles that opened the door were obviously made from human ribs.

Each of these buildings were built around a massive structure. At one point in time it had been a War Pyre. The flames of the Jiwe would burn whenever the city had claimed a mighty victory, or some great event was occurring. Now it was not so, it was nothing more than a wooden column. On the column were carved masks, traditional to the Sandali way they depicted a number of the Elders who had served in leading the Jiwe. "There have been over a hundred Elders....in a time when ten Chiefs would have done the job better."

To'Kola looked at the column with some marvel, however in the next moment he looked back to his Warband.

"Burn it." He ordered them. What came next was fast. The members of the Warband moved to the torches that lined the courtyard, ripping them from their posts and throwing them to the column with a loud shriek of excitement.

As the flames began to take over, To'Kola watched with the refection of the inferno in his own eyes. Those who were near the courtyard gazed with a wonder, most could not understand just what was occurring.

There was a young girl, she seemed to be no older than twelve, yet she approached To'Kola with no hesitation. "To'Kola...What's going on? Why are you burning the Elder's Post?" She asked, her small voice like a song of curiosity. The large man bent down, smiling at her while kindly patting her shoulder.

"It is a sign of a past that no longer exists. My brother once told me that if the past does not die....you must kill it yourself." The young girl seemed not to understand and To'Kola expected that, yet the sound of a door slamming open caused his gaze to turn from her.

"To'Kola Bakari!" The voice that called out was one mired with anger and a lack of understanding.

"Go now. Find your mama." When To'Kola stood from where he was, he turned to see the doors of the Great Hall thrown open. There were a number of Elders who led the Jiwe, yet the five before him were the most powerful. They were aged, however they were all warriors and masters in their own right. The man who spoke now was bald and his right eye was fogged with blindness. Yet, as he pointed a single bony finger at To'Kola there was not pretense of weakness from him.

"Unafanya nini?" He demanded, wondering just what was going on.

"Unafanya nini?!" He cried out, while To'Kola merely gazed at him with a certain distaste. Now, To'Kola could see it. The weakness that was there. He covered it well, masking it far from the surface. However, as the large Sandali warrior reached through the Force he could feel the ripples of fear and doubt. This man, this elder approached him with a certain stride, one that felt all too similar to a challenge.

To'Kola was massive, yet he was frighteningly fast. His maul came into the air, his massive arm lifting it up as if it was to touch the skies. When it slammed down into the Elder before him a spray of blood crossed over his body, painting him crimson. To'Kola watched as the man lifelessly fell to the ground.

A silence had fallen over the clearing and all those who stood with To'Kola had drawn their weapons. To'Kola paused, running a hand over his face to wipe the blood and gore from him. He gazed at his crimson stained hand and felt the Force flee from the corpse that was before him. None moved, none said anything. To'Kola bent down, his large hand wrapping around the body that was before him.

"Tunajificha na kupigana wenyewe. Adui zetu wanakua na huleta zana za vita wakati tunaficha kwenye milima yetu." He heaved, throwing the boy into the flames that roared beside him. As the stench of the body took into the flames, To'Kola looked to the remaining elders. "I will not allow it! I will not allow this cycle to continue! The Jiwe are warriors. We are born and bred to fight and die! Blood and honor, that is our code!" He roared.

"If you will not lead us to victory, then you are no longer fit to lead. I, To'Kola of the clan Bakari, claim the title of Chieftain of the Jiwe tribe. Who will challenge?"

For a moment all was silent, yet the Elders looked to To'Kola in mixtures of fear and awe. Yet, there was one who spoke.

She was an older woman, shorter in height than most but her features were eerily similar to To'Kola's. She approached, with a certain expression on her face as she bowed her head to the man. "I will not challenge, Chieftain." Baba. To'Kola wanted to smile, yet he could not, not yet. His Baba was the last surviving member of his clan and she had ruled wisely over their family until they dwindled down only to two. To'Kola bowed his head in return, accepting her submission. As she silently walked past him, he whispered softly.

"Thank you, Baba."

The rest of the elders looked between themselves in uncertainty. There was little wonder on just what would occur next. However, one of the men yelled out. "Traitor! Kill him!" What To'Kola and the rest of his Warband had noticed, were the Damu. They were warriors like no others, an elite Guard that existed to protect the Elders and in this moment they surrounded the Warband. They were draped in the skin of reptiles, with hoods made of some dark fabric.

And they were unmoving. They stood as stiff as statues, because as of now they were unsure. They were unsure of who was the true one to listen to. To'Kola looked to them, each of them before letting out one beastial growl. Some exchanged glances, some spoke in hushed whispers, but all would soon place a single fist upon their chest and speak in unison.

"Chieftain." To'Kola looked to these men and women, his lips curling to a smile before he turned back to his Warband, back to @Naomi. His hand brushed against her cheek. "Naomi....do this for me. Kill them." He said, before looking back to the Elders who remained. "Show them your might." He whispered, before stepping back.

 

[Naomi]

[member=ToKola Bakari]​

Jua la damu was a stark contrast to the tribes Naomi was used too. Her home was littered with tents, made from thinly stretched cotton to allow for a breeze. The only solid building in the Mkono Kivuli was a carefully crafted clay hut, supported by makeshift wooden beams and uneven stone. In comparison, Jua la damu was extravagant. The Warband finally came to a stop in the centre of the towering buildings, face to face with what Naomi could only assume was, once upon a time, the epitome of the Jiwe tribe’s celebrations. They would make their stand here and confront those who had kept this great tribe in the shadows for so many years.

When ToKola’s order to burn it echoed across the mountain range, action was taken quickly. The Warband gathered every torch in sight, brandishing them like they would their blades and bows. She skipped with them, meeting the warrior she had come to know as Imani at the base of the column. If she was going to join them on their journey, she was going to do it properly. Her slender fingers wrapped around a torch, but they remained there only minutes as towering orange flames engulfed the column and danced wildly in Naomi’s fascinated raven pools. A bold and brave move to begin with and the seriousness of it was not lost on the witch. This was, without question, a challenge.

Naomi took a few steps backwards, till she was once again side by side with ToKola, almost bumping into the young one that had approached him. Children were the best at asking curious questions. They did so bluntly and without shame in their never-ending quest for knowledge. Watching as ToKola knelt to quench her thirst Naomi couldn’t help but be reminded of herself as a child. Faced with danger, which the warband obviously presented, she did not shy away. Instead, she approached. Instead, she was curious. Still, the witch was more than grateful that ToKola sent her on her way at the sound of an ancient wooden door creaking open.

Out of it poured five people who could have matched the door in its age. A question followed. A question that made the warband chuckle. Even Naomi found herself grinning at its foolishness. If their intentions weren’t obvious by the columns of thick black smoke pouring into the air, she was sure ToKola was about to make them crystal clear. In two great strides that could have rivalled a great beast, the elder who dared present a challenge was felled in one great swoop. The shock from the tribe around them was so apparent it filled the air with a tension that threatened to break with one mistimed breath.

It was the warrior's voice that broke the atmosphere, the warrior's voice that told the tribe their time in the shadows was over, and he laid a question at their feet. Uncertainty was rife. Naomi expected no less. She could feel them all questioning the entire situation, the brutal slaughter of their elders, the validity of someone simply claiming the honoured title. Only one spoke up. A frail old woman with a face that Naomi thought she recognized, but in the brief exchange shared between her and ToKola, she couldn’t place her. Someone shouted their displeasure from the crowd, and the Warband seemed to expect it. Every one of them placed a defensive hand on their weapons, ready to draw them at the first sign of trouble, but there was none.

The Damu were known far and wide. Naomi was just as surprised as any to see them raise a fist in solidarity. A weight lifted from everyone’s chest, but the battle was not won yet. The witch was drawn from her brief and private celebration of their success by ToKola’s hand against her cheek. The sweet gesture made her smile. His words, however, did not. ‘You cannot be serious?’ She questioned, her tone just quiet enough to keep their conversation private. For a moment she simply stared at him, watching for signs that it was all a joke. It wasn’t that she doubted his decision, or doubted that she could do it, but out of all the warriors in his warband she deserved the honour least of all.

When he stepped back, that was that. He’d made up his mind. Naomi turned to face the rest of the elders, one hand still resting on the soul blade she carried on her person. Her hesitation was not out of doubt, or uncertainty, it was to give the elders a chance to change their minds. One rule rang true for all Sandali warriors near and far. Respect your elders. If she were to cut them down on this day, they still deserved the respect they had earned both as warriors and by the years they laid claim too. None spoke up, and none would back down. Though their faces were weathered, and age had pressed fine lines into them, Naomi knew the look of defiance in their eyes. They would not submit.

As the realisation dawned on the witch, her reaction was quick. Her foot stretched out and slammed into the dust and gravel covering the mountain bedrock. Debris sprayed out in arch out toward the elders, shrouding the immediate area in sand and dust. Mkono Kivuli worked best unseen, and Naomi was no different. She used this temporary distraction to move, and she was impossibly fast. Though the distance was short there was no man alive who could time how long it took her to reach the elders. The blade was freed from its place on her hip and sliced through the air neatly to meet its first foe. Flesh met metal with a satisfying pressure, leaving a clean slice across the throat of one of the elders.

The next two were taken down in much the same way. Though they were fast and put up a fight, she was faster and fought harder. In the end, it was the youth that won. By the time the dust and sand had cleared, Naomi stood with three lifeless bodies at her feet. Chest pumping up and down from exertion, dark skin decorated in darker crimson that pearled and dripped over her sculpted frame. Naomi’s free hand raised to wipe a droplet from her cheek, though it only served to spread it further across her cheek. Her gaze was cast upon ToKola and had been from the moment the debris had settled. There was no smile on her face. She simply stared.

 

[ToKola Bakari]

When Naomi questioned him, his expression never did change. It remained, strong and reassuring, absolute. While she stepped forward to dispatch the Elders, To'Kola kept his eyes fastened on her. Every movement was committed to his memory as though it would be the last sight he was able to see. As the dust flew up into the air, To'Kola closed his eyes to the world around him. For a few fleeting moments he dipped himself into the twisting nether of the Great Ocean. He could feel the Force as it washed over him and all that was around. They were all connected like the webbing of a spider. He felt every move of Naomi's body, each shift of the blade that drew blood and silenced life. He could feel the pride of those who fell with honor and strength. For him, it felt like an eternity. When he opened his eyes, the dust was only just beginning to settle.

He gazed at Naomi silently. His arms were crossed over his chest, still keeping hold of his blood-soaked maul. He held her gaze for so long, until finally he turned his eyes elsewhere. He turned them to those who surrounded him. They watched in silence and uncertainty, however To'Kola's certainty was enough for an entire nation. He strode over to the main building that the Elder's had exited out of. He passed by Naomi, his hand reaching out to press against the bone that had been crafted to the frame of the door. He turned back to the group that had assembled, looking to them with a still expression.

Those members of his warband gathered around him, standing before him as he looked to his people.

"Rally the great Horde...." He spoke out. Loud enough so that all may hear his voice. "The time has come to reignite the fire of the Jiwe!" He shouted out. Many of the men and women, those who were soaked in the blood of the old way, called out in return.

"Yibambe!" The death of the Elders was nothing more than a step. It was a step that these people understood and respected. The crowd before him began to cheer and cry out. It was the blood of the warrior, it led them to the truth and that was what he had relied on. For, if the entire city had descended down onto him, they would have surely died. His expression turned to a smirk as he made his way into the Great Hall, his warband following close behind him. They traveled deeper into the Great Hall until the group came to a large table that sat in the middle of the large hall. To'Kola gazed at it a moment before looking past it.

"Ha ha! We did it!" Tendaji's giddy voice called out. "We turned a Warband of six into a warband of sixty-thousand!" The man chuckled loudly while pulling his gourd of liquor from his waist.

"We did no such thing." To'Kola called out. The members of the warband were in the midst of celebrating before their gazes fell on their Warmaster. "But we..."

"We killed a few old men and set a piece of wood on fire." To'Kola said, his matter of fact tone wounding to Tendaji. To'Kola set the maul onto the table before looking o the group. "Within the Jiwe, the warriors are led by their own chiefs. For me to truly take hold of the Jiwe, those chiefs must fall into line. If we are not careful all we'll have done is split the Jiwe into a number of smaller tribes."

Tendaji slowly corked his liquor once more, before looking to To'Kola apologetically. Most of the warband now hung their heads at the thought.

"Enough....We have struck a mighty victory today, but we must not mistake it for what it truly is. This was the first step, there is still more to be done. Keep your wits about you, I will need all of you if we are to succeed."

The group bowed their heads to him before To'Kola pushed off of the table. "Now then...Ndugu I want you to go and speak to the Captain of the Damu. I will meet with him under the stars."

"Tendaji....Speak with Baba. She will help you arrange it." The man looked to To'Kola with a confused expression.

"Arrange what?" He asked.

"The celebration." Tendaji smiled at this, shaking his finger at To'Kola. "Now you're talking." He said, grabbing Ndugu by the shoulder and leading him out.

To'Kola looked to the others, shaking his hand at them. "The rest of you....get out. I need to think." He paused, however when [member="Naomi"] turned to leave, his hand would lash out and wrap around her wrist. He would forcefully pull her towards him before walking her to a nearby wall, slamming her back into it. He gazed at her silently for a moment before he would lean forward, hungrily pressing his lips to hers.

[member="Naomi"]

 

[Naomi]

[member=ToKola Bakari]​

Despite the victory they had managed to snag today, Naomi felt there was little to celebrate. So, as ToKola pushed the bone handle door open wide, she followed in silence. At his confident words, crafted now to the role of ruler, ToKola managed to illicit a cry from their ever-growing warband, but the witch knew it was far from over. While they had plenty of time to celebrate their win over the Jiwe tribe, Sandala was full to the brim with many, many tribes. They had only scratched the surface. Still, Naomi supposed those who were going to remain behind in Jua la damu had every reason to celebrate. Especially those who remembered the old ways and held them fondly in their hearts. This day of celebration would not be spoiled for them by the many worries the warband now shouldered.

ToKola, for one, seemed to agree with her previous thoughts. As they dove into the Great Hall, warriors following behind, he shut down the notion that they had won anything. The look of dejection on their faces was almost enough to make Naomi grin. Every single seasoned warrior gathered in the great hall had a look on their face that was like the look a child hand when their candy was stolen from them. Doing her best to hide the smirk that slowly forced its way onto her expression, Naomi turned to face ToKola as he spoke again. It seemed in the end that the warriors would get what they wanted. A celebration. Nobody celebrated as the Sandali race did. This time, Naomi allowed the grin on her face to form freely. She had never attended other tribes’ celebrations before today, and she was excited to do so. Despite them all sharing one planet, their traditions were often so different. She was more than eager to learn.

As the rest of the warband filtered out to do their given jobs, Naomi wrapped her arms around her bloodstained leather armour. ‘These people know you better than I thought they would.’ Her mind had been cast back to the young child that had approached them when they first arrived. The way she had called his name as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Naomi knew he had excluded himself from the Jiwe tribe, she just hadn’t realised how long ago it was…. Which wasn’t at all as long as she had expected it to be. ‘You were brave today…’ As she paid him the compliment, she turned to look at him, but instead of being met with the sullen expression of thought she expected, she found something else entirely.

His hand wrapped around her wrist, and before she knew it they were crushed together, barely an inch between their bodies. His next move stole her breath in two ways. One with the forceful push against the creaking wood wall, the second with the kiss that followed.

Passion. Red, hot fiery passion. Passion that could have contented against the blaze that still swallowed the column of wood just outside the great hall and Naomi reflected it perfectly. Adrenaline was still rife in her system from the brutal yet warranted slaughter of the elders. Aside from the intense kiss, it was another thing the two warriors had in common. It seemed the thought and act of battle itself was enough to stir their souls. Still, if this was his idea of thinking, Naomi was more than happy to lend a hand. Her arms wrapped around his neck, drawing him deeper into the kiss. Unlike their briefly shared moment on this ship, she would not let him escape her grasp this time.

At least not until they were satisfied.