Tabubu (prime)
Warlord Tabubu an officer of the Obsidian Tower
She came from the jungles of Eh’lah. The pure blood of the First Born. She was groomed to lead and to ascend beyond the Arkati.
When one rises to walk the path of Power in The Way, you learn quickly that with this comes great responsibility.
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Current Tattoos
A triangle-framed open eye tattoo entwined in ivy
Calligraphy-like strokes of ink permeate the smooth, koa-toned skin, lightening the dark with the incredibly detailed image of an open eye. An ivory triangle encircles the orbital, the hue matching the whites from which a dazzling purple iris rests with a dark pupil at its heart. Ivy vines in verdant green form a dark band around the entire piece, the hue of the leaves transitioning from green to gradient crimson hues.
An inked metallic spine partially hidden by corset-style lacing
The realism of this image is striking, with every line perfectly rendered to provide depth and clarity. The entire spine is depicted in a rich metallic sheen, lying gently atop the bones of the back. Beginning near the sides, a series of thorned vines interwoven with sanguineous laces slowly materialize and come together in intricately-laced knots across the entirety of the image.
A Dhe'nar'si Caste Tattoo
The spidery lines of this image have been driven deep into the skin. At the heart of the tattoo is a black rose, its form rendered somewhat indistinct by trailing lines of ink away from each petal and crook in the stem. Encircling the rose is a line of runes, intermingled with depictions of forms in meditation, or poised for battle. A third ring encloses the entire image, this one different in application and detail, as uneven lines bleed together into an indistinguishable blend of chaos.
A wild black rose
Gazing at the rose tattoo, you notice that this is a mystic tattoo of the fifth circle, which imbues her body with Power.
Backstory: In the beginning
Tabubu was destined to be one of the elders within the Temple Caste, Bathed in Blood of the Baptism. For eight years of life, she was raised in a community with others like herself. Unlike the others, however, she was more in touch with the violent physical aspects of her studies, it was but a graceful dance. As far as her magical aspects they were considered odd and thought time would reveal if she was truly worthy or not. She was stronger than most and showed progress in different areas that fascinated the Elders, for a time anyways. This occasioned her to receive First Born of many different paths other than that of the Temple Caste to come bear witness to her progress. Each time one of these visitors left, they would praise the Elders and walked away pleased at Tabubu’s display of skill. So pleased they would often leave great rewards for her that she never would see or learn of till much later in her life. It had even been rumored; she was bred from a pairing of great power and high ranking within Sharath. So great was the concern they had born her in Eh’lah to ensure no favoritism would be an influence nor would anyone know the secret.
Time passes. Day and night comes then goes, blood flows and the sound of the world echoes upon the winds of time and all moved on.
Tabubu was led into a strict regimen. She was shown the many flows of essence including the flows of divine power. But she would question everything and thus make the teachers never feel she had the grasp needed for such accoutrements. It is believed this gave them cause of concern over her actual worthiness (or was it fear of who she might become?)
Tabubu understood the essence of magic and how they were supposed to work; but she willed them to work in the way she saw fit. This always impressed the Elders at the same time gave them pause when they came to check on her progress. What she knew was not exactly what they considered Temple material. A High Priest was assigned to her to aid her in the other aspects of her training in the Temple. After some time, however, the high priest concluded that there was no real promise for this wisp of a girl, nothing beyond breeding anyways, and teaching her that held no desire for him. He had his Shira’qa for such pleasures that kept him sated. To add insult to injury, he would usually send one of his temple guards in his place to give her any lessons he was supposed to give. But the temple guard he sent was himself unique. And instead of teaching just the Way of the Temple, he began the true lesson of that of a Warrior.
Time passes. Day and night comes then goes, blood flows and the sound of the world echoes upon the winds of time and all moved on
Then began the part of Tabubu’s life where she faced the culling. She faced trials, which were carefully metered out by the Temple Caste, to gauge her tenacity, resolve, fledgling magical abilities, and ferocity.
But the lessons regarding the Way of the Warrior weighed heavily against the Way of the Temple. She felt the divine spirituality, the need to learn and to become empowered with Knowledge. To show them that everyone can find their way, it is never too late ….
But she could not control the blood lust.
At these trials of culling, it became obvious even to the Elders that there was a problem. No longer could the fact that she had the heart of a warrior and not a priestess, be hidden. No matter how fervently she denied this, even to the day she darkened the door of the Tower, it could not be denied.
Tabubu insisted she was of pure blood of the First Born. She was groomed to lead and to ascend beyond the Arkati. To be of the Highest honor of the Temple. When one rises to walk the path of Power in this Way you learn quickly that it comes with great responsibility. But this was not to be her Way.
The Change of Time:
The grooming of a warrior is from the age of 12 and on. They’re given instruction in the care , cleaning , sharpening and maintenance of all sorts of weapons, from crossbows to halberds. They are taught the use of these weapons . . . their essence and how they flow. Then at 16 they reach the right to choose a specialist weapon.
In Tabubu’s case, she had already passed the time to be groomed like the warrior. She had to become her own weapon since she did not experience the same grooming as others when seeking their Way on this path
She possessed the virtues of a Warrior.
Starting with Courage. It is the heart of the Warrior, and it takes courage to stand for your beliefs and live according to the Way. It takes courage to do what you know is right, especially when those around you disagree with your point of view. This does not mean acting in rash and tactless ways. There is a difference between being courageous and being stupid. It is to have the courage to live by your own code of honor but do so with wisdom and discretion.
In the core she learned, the shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world, is to be what she is; A Dhe’nar, one whose virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the gaining of experience and knowledge.
For those wondering about other attributes of the Way of a Warrior, there is Truth, Honor, Discipline, Industriousness, Self-Reliance and Perseverance
It can be spoken upon for many pages regarding these attributes of a Warrior. Lessons never cease about the knowledge shared and can be a conversation that is endless. This really isn’t the time to sit here learning about every attribute of a Warrior. Further knowledge can be found in the libraries of the Obsidian Tower if required.
The Temple caste rules the entire society of Dhe’nar. They are the caste that has devoted themselves to the practice of the Way and teach knowledge on philosophical level. The Temple is the shining beacon around which their society revolves.
It was at this point that Tabubu left the lands of her home. This in itself is another story for another time and It is in the best interest to all involved, to leave the secrets that she might or might not know about the Temple, alone. It was the path of the Way not to be taken after all.
Tabubu’s journey revealed that it lies in the Way of the Warrior. Despite being groomed spiritually for the Temple Caste, she learned that she is the Warrior. Walking with the family of the Obsidian Tower has shown her the errors of youth believing in what she thought her Way was to be.
Tabubu holds the power of Will, the ability to lead, inspire, and intimidate others. A perfect fitting to the Warrior Caste. But at the same time spiritual and seeker of Knowledge in all things.
By profession she known as, Nuja’Tah,( a fighter spiritualist), but away from Dhe’nar communities It is commonly known more of as a Monk and this is where her path to the Way really began.
Nuja'Tah
Nuja’Tah; a Fighter Spiritualist
I have no parents so I made the Heavens and the world of Elanthia my parents.
I have no divine power so I make honesty my Divine Power. I have no means so I will make docility my means.
I have no elemental power so I will make spirituality the essence of my Power.
I have control of neither life nor death; I make The Tower my Life and Death.
When I have no body to use, I will make Stoicism my Body
When I have no eyes to use, I will make The Flash of Lightning my eyes.
When I have no ears to use, I will make Sensibility become my Ears. When I have no limbs to use, I will make Promptitude my Limbs. And in all things
I make the Right to Kill and the Right to Restore Life my Strategy.
I will Seize the Opportunity by the forelock and make it my Design. I make Righteous my Miracle I make Adaptability to all circumstances my Principle and I will use Emptiness and Fullness as my Tactics.
(taken from the Samurai's Creed)
Words to Live By
Su'dhaa na-gnosa. Gnosa na kris-a. Kris na su'ta
Everything is knowledge. Knowledge is power. Power is everything
Training of Tabubu