<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/d/da/43441b3b88076660a1481560c694196f.jpg)</div><strong>Nasimi Sanogo: The Braided Princess</strong>(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gdDqq-TPB_RQbDbM4Uu1XaxsZaKOJTOiXkgpIHxzSVo/edit)<br/><br/>Nasimi Sanogo had introduced herself with the epithet, "The Braided Princess of Yawaru."  Grace, elegance, and pride that at least bordered on vanity made it seem likely that "princess" was meant in the literal sense.  This was not a farmer's daughter who had been likened to the daughter of a great lord for her kindness and beauty.<br/><br/>There was truth in saying vanity, too.  Nasimi's native language and deep ebony skin marked her as a native of the steamy jungles of Lokosa.  In that damp heat, the way Afia let her hair exploded into ringlet curls that bounced around her shoulders was sacrificing a great deal of comfort for beauty.  Nasimi's long, thick hair fell to her calves in an elaborate braid stuck throuhg with several ornamental hair pins.  Even pulled back like that, it must have made given her a heat rash more than once in her life.<br/><br/>Yali found herself concerned about the Princess's preparedness to face such violence as was surely ahead of them.  At the sight of the murdered rustlers, she both teared up for the lives of the criminals and also grit her teeth at a heaving stomach.<br/><br/>Yali Adama felt a deep flash of sympathy.  She took the other girl quickly and hustled her outside, then guided her to bend over a bush and held back her braid.  "Let it out," Yali whispered.  "There's no shame.  I was the same way the first time I saw a man's face on the meal of an eternal."<br/><br/>It was the perfect balance of comfort and provocation.  Several unmentionable heaves later, the two girls were back and the Princess looked vastly more composed.  She was surely still a little pale but with a complexion dark even for the Yawaru it was hard to tell.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Yali_Adama_1.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/1b/Yali_Adama_2.jpg)</div><strong>Yali Adama, the Story Girl of Nara</strong>(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C3NqFYV9FIbqX4luOYR-WhRBHRgrD6jfb2BGg-9XDsU/edit)<br/><br/>Yali also had a two torches lit by the time they returned.  She rolled them a bit, giving them more light.  "I'll need both hands to fight," Yali explained, "But I will carry one.  I'll toss it to the ground ahead of me when the fighting comes.  Can one of you take this other, and try to keep it high when that happens?"<br/><br/>She glanced at Tamba, but the big man was armed with the powerful bludgeons of the Sun Staff order.  He would need both hands for that.  She looked to Nasimi.  The ebony girl had draw a dainty iron longsword--if even the most slender<em>longsword</em>could be called dainty.  Yali was relieved to note that Nasimi held the blade properly and with practiced ease.  "I, too, will need both hands to fight, shield sister."<br/><br/>Yali nodded, then turned to offer the torch to the lithe naganga.  "We need you to carry this, Afia.  If you need to cast it down to call your ashe or use your spear, don't let it concern you.  We'll manage."<br/><br/>"How can a place be so beautiful and so dark at the same time. I have no idea where we should go from here is there any trace of passage recently ? maybe blood ? something that would give us an hint ?"<br/><br/>"History is clear on the fact that the eternals fancied themselves kings," Nasimi asserted, "The leader off this place will be deeper into the earth, in a grand chamber.  To the right and the left we will find his servants.  We should go straight and lop the head off of the snake."<br/><br/>Yali smiled and inclined her head, "You are truly learned, Nasimi, but your tactics need some seasoning.  If we go straight for the leader, his servants will come at us from behind and catch us in a pincer.  That is always a danger when fighting in hallways, but we will have the best chance of trimming their numbers by going first to the left, then to the right."<br/><br/>Nasimi inclined her head as well.  "I must yield to the experience of my senior.  Thank you for your guidance."<br/><br/>Yali smiled and touched the Princess on the shoulder.  "I am honored to fight with you, Nasimi."<br/><br/>"I am honored to fight with you all.  No mercy for the walking dead, my friends.  These are not mortal men we face.  They will not cease to make meals of the innocent if we slay their leader.  We must return every one of them to the grave."<br/><br/>She turned to Tamba, "Do the gods have any guidance for us, Tamba?  When we met, you said you were gifted to hear the voices of the spirits.  Is there any sign that we face the ethereal here as well as the eternal?"<br/><br/>When Tamba had answered, Yali nodded, "All right.  We begin to the left.  Orosa and I will take the lead.  Tamba, if they come at us from behind, we will need your strength there.  Beyond this stratagem, you all know what you have to offer better than I.  Choose your opponents based on your best judgement of your own abilities.  If you step up into the melee, I will be beside you.  If you hold back, no enemy will pass me to engage you while I draw breath."<br/><br/>