AHIMSA

monika dabral. 30. noble.

[monikadabral]

“It seems the Maharani has selected a rather violent first challenge,” Monika muses aloud. Personally, she preferred to avoid confrontation at any cost, including fights between others. Still, as a Parakram noble she felt somewhat obligated to attend the day’s fight, even if she would likely be adverting her eyes for the majority of the event. “Or perhaps I’m merely a little faint at heart.”

[monikadabral]

Challenge #1 - Monika’s Guesses 

Heads

Heads

Tails

Tails

Heads

Heads

Tails

[monikadabral]

indra-chitam​:

“I can hardly fault you for that!” Indra swept an arm to underscore his point. “If my travels have taught me anything, it’s that power changing hands rarely bodes well for the rest of us.” Though a grim look briefly swept across his face, it soon ebbed to give rise to the usual warmth – and an air of contemplation. As for what the Maharani was planning? He couldn’t make heads nor tails of it. “It is exciting, though, isn’t it,” he agreed. “Oh, how the earth quakes,” he quoted - never one to shy away from waxing poetic. Her teasing was received with little rebuke. He shook his head lightheartedly, coursing a hand down the patchy side of his silver-flecked beard. “Ah, These days I’m not sure I know much of anything,” Indra mused. “But- I do know I’ll be staying long enough to see this all play out.” He wouldn’t pass up such a spectacle for the world, nor such a luxurious guest treatment. “Fair weather, fair seas, fair trades,” he lilted in response to her central inquiry. “What more could one want?” As he spoke to water, one such feature came into view: the grand fountain that served as the centerpiece of the gardens.

“Perhaps it’s merely selfishness or better yet, simply the thoughts of a concerned court woman, but I do worry what new leadership might mean for my own future,” she admits, knowing that despite her recent establishment within Parakram’s court, her claim to her late husband’s titles could be easily disputed, if their new leader deemed her unbefitting of the court. 

“Please,” Monika grins in response to his musing, “I’d wager a good bit of gold that you know just as much of the world and all worldly things as any of these people wandering the halls,” comes her response, “Though I’m certainly glad to hear you’ll be staying for the competition-- it brings me great joy to know I’ll have the pleasure of your company for a little longer than usual,” she admits, offering her companion a warm smile. 

There was nothing quite like the presence of an old friend, an everlasting thread between nostalgia for the past and her unknown future. She wasn’t one to readily admit her own loneliness, but even Monika couldn’t deny the happiness and comfort that came with a dear friend and a reminder of simpler times.

“I suppose that’s really all one could ask for,” Monika chuckles as they find themselves before the fountain. Taking a seat and motioning for Indra to join her, she finds herself lulled by the motion of the water, however her moment of peace is quickly shattered by the sound of hushed whispers echoing from a distance away. Turning to her friend, she frowns, “Do you hear that, Indra?” she asks, attempting to discern the seemingly animated conversation taking place on the other side of the courtyard. 

[monikadabral]

astroventor​:

If this competition was a battle, and the palace merely the coliseum in which the fighting would take place, Vanya was none the wiser. While the others sharpened their claws and bared their fangs, Vanya was like a flightless bird: too distracted looking up to notice the potential predators around her. There was only one contender she worried about, Suraj, and she was keeping her distance. All the rest were inconsequential to her. Pride and naivety making her dismissive of the fact that she had plenty to fear. 

Vanya offered a quick side glance and small smile, “I should hope that the maharani respects boldness above all else, because I’m not sure I have much more to offer.” The woman seemed kind enough, and Vanya was glad for cordial conversation surrounding the challenge. Any other type of conversation left Vanya at a loss for words. “I have plenty of ideas. But all of them pose their own risks. Have you begun to theorize as well?” 

“Well, whether the Maharani respects it or not, it’s often been stated that ‘fortune favors the bold’, so at least it seems that you may have luck on your side,” Monika replies, before shaking her head, “I’ve begun to theorize but only in the far more general sense, as I’m afraid my stakes in this game are likely not the same as yours,” the noblewoman admits. Parakram was still, in many ways a foreign entity to Monika as she learned it’s ways and rules. As a noble, this competition would select her new sovereign and Monika could only hope it would produce someone worthy of her full fealty. 

“As for my current suspicions-- I have an inkling that it will take more than a single person alone to solve this puzzle...if court life has taught me anything, very little has ever been accomplished solely on one’s own,” Monika says, not entirely sure why she’s decided to offer the inventor her own thoughts on the entire matter, "I have a feeling this tiger is only one out of many mysteries to come and is perhaps representative of what the first challenge might bring...a glimpse into the future, if you will.”

[monikadabral]

indra-chitam​:

when: a quiet stroll away from the commotion status: closed ( @monikadabral​ ) “How long has it been, eh?” The Trader remarked rhetorically through an airy laugh – the answer was one he’d not dwell on, long. Nor one he tended to care for in the first place; the calendar that presided over his days was one that blended them, warped them into one contiguous line. In spite of that, it was always nice to see an old friend. The tides, though changing, held pattern. Predictability. People were an entirely different terrain. Each return to Parakram’s harbors seemed to be an exercise in letting go - whether of the faces no longer frequenting the markets or the memories of them he’d built up in his head. In some way or another, on every return they were different. Monika had a few silver hairs he didn’t recall, of course– no challenge to his own multitudes, but something he’d made sure to tease her about earlier in their reunion, just the same. Now, they rounded another bend in the paths that snaked through the gardens.  “Has court life been treating you well, my friend?”

The scent of jasmine in the air paired with the gentle breeze and good company seemed to starkly contrast the intense chaos trapped within the palace’s walls. It was a much needed escape and Monika, for one, was simply excited for the opportunity to catch up with a dear friend. 

“It’s been mostly well,” Monika smiles softly, “But just when I thought I had finally found my place in court, it seems as though everything has changed, what with the announcement of the competition and inevitable change of leadership. It’s a bit frightening and exciting all at once...”

Glancing at Indra, she can’t help but chuckle, for here she was talking to a man who seemed to handle the ever-changing waves of life with such ease. Where she had only ever been chasing solid footing for most of her life, Indra always seemed to thrive in the unpredictability. “I suppose that’s life isn’t it...never becoming too comfortable in one place or time...” she mused, “I certainly imagine you know all about that, Indra,” she teases gently.

“How have your travels been? I do hope you’re considering staying in Parakram for the duration the competition...”

[monikadabral]

astroventor​:

OPEN TO ALL

Despite the fact that Vanya had lived at the palace for six years during her time creating the orrery, it still felt grand and unwelcoming to her. Through no fault of the guards or the other palace residents, Vanya never quite felt like she belonged.  She was thankful, at least, to have the thoughts of the statue to distract her. She already had plenty of theories of how to acquire it, but the trick was finding the time to test them without anyone else watching over her shoulder. 

For now, she was content to pace by her favorite pond and think. She hoped that most of the tasks would be like this: thinking based. It was her strongest asset after all: her mind. Staring over the murky green water, she watched a shadow approach from behind and pause when it got near. Stopping mid-stride, Vanya did not turn, instead she just raised her head and spoke, “Do you think it will be considered unfavorable if I destroy the scroll in my pursuit to read it?” 

Despite her initial regret for her own complacency, the night’s events had Monika increasingly grateful that she had chosen to remain a spectator-- the price of power had frightened her, for in many ways, she was still a stranger to this world, to this palace. Her claws and teeth were only just forming, not nearly sharp enough to match the perfectly-honed weapons of those around her and perhaps, they never would be. The pond, however, seemed to be the perfect reprieve for Monika to gather her thoughts, however she quickly realized her idea to escape the chaos of the dining hall was not entirely her’s alone. 

“I suppose it would certainly be a bold choice, if not an entertaining one,” Monika muses with a low chuckle, following Vanya’s eye line to the murky water. She knew little of the woman she stood beside, only that she had been the creator of the palace’s great orrery. It had been quite the talk of the palace courtiers when she had first arrived and Monika could only imagine what knowledge it must take to create such an invention. She, too, knew of stars-- mostly for navigation, should she ever get lost at sea, but as her eyes move from the dark, depths of the water to the clear night sky, she could not help but wonder what her own future may hold.

“I imagine it’s fair assume that the ideal scenario involves no destruction,” Monika tries, a small smile forming on her lips, “Have you any thoughts on slightly less destructive methods?”