#dezoka

[undignifiend]

Dezoka design update. Now with armor sans chestplate and helmet. And swapped iris and sclera colors because it pleases me.

And I've made an executive decision about her lineage. Seeing as she rolls around in ash (and soot) all the time, grey is not her natural color. It's not only to hide her scent, but to help her sneak better.

(Would require a long, thorough scrub) Because here's what she looks like without her 'makeup' on:

Local Candycorn Escapes Prison

[undignifiend]

(@fallseidol)

Dezoka paced at the temple entrance just after sundown.

A surprise trip ‘home,’ and a terrifying, heartfelt confrontation from her trine had illuminated a potentially useful opportunity. Hearsay reinforced her decision to try it.

And her temper had finally cooled just enough to… perhaps NOT try to slam Cronus against a wall and wrap her hands around his pretty throat. Trusting herself too near him while his power had been drained was out of the question, but now that he seemed to be recovering…? Knowing she’d lose a fight would be one more useful leash on the caustic knot in her chest. She hoped it would hold.

“To the pits with it,” she growled, her tail lashing once in an attempt to dispel tense energy, and she strode in. “Lord Cronus, I would speak with you,” she called.

[undignifiend]

Dezoka: *is eat* Also Dezoka: you okay?

Sneek peek into her brain below the cut! :D

The village, and Danica, depend on Cronus's protection and well-being. Dezoka sort of sees him like Their Gunmar. She doesn't know why he threw up so suddenly, but the thought that she might have seriously hurt him freaks her out.

And she truly believes Danica is safe under his care - she doesn't believe Cronus treats any of the people in the village the way he just treated her. She didn't care for his mockery, but she's encouraged that he takes his people's safety seriously. Her folk didn't earn their reputations by accident, after all. In that light, she's really embarrassed that she asked for his help to begin with, and hopes no one ever learns of this incident.

The shakes will set in later, when her body will have a chance to accept that the danger has passed. She was resigned to it, thinking something good would come of it (donating remaining lifespan years and all that - at least that power wouldn't just dissipate, so it's an efficient way to go), but it wasn't what she hoped for.

[undignifiend]

Muse Questions Meme

(got it from @fallseidol - thank you!)

Dezoka edition

(Pronunciation note: “DEH - zuh - kah”. Emphasis on the first syllable.)

1 - What does your muse smell like?

Her natural scent has notes of petrichor, basil, and pepper. But since certain trolls can pick up the more subtle notes of what she really is (if they don’t believe she just spends too much time around changelings), she constantly covers her scent. Cimmerian ash is a go-to. Burning it tempers the stink a little while still staying strong enough to block her natural odor. And it helps a little when fighting or escaping wild Nyarlagroths, so it’s a plausible excuse.

2 - What do your muse’s hands feel like?

Big, warm, and rough. She has hands built for holding all her weight while climbing, and her grip is strong.

3 - What does your muse usually eat in a day?

Whatever the rations afforded to her are. She has preferences (especially mushrooms), but does not complain about anything she is given. If she comes across anything she knows she can’t stomach, she gives it to someone more grateful.

4 - Does your muse have a good singing voice?

She likes marching songs, and enjoys picking out harmonies while chanting with a group. The kinds of songs and chants she knows aren't often soothing, though. For a pretty close example, check this out. Her voice in general has a smoky quality, and sounds very similar to this.

5 - Does your muse have any bad habits or nervous ticks?

She has used gravesand to feel more like a proper troll, which she has since quit. And she enjoys drinking, but her survival depends on keeping her wits sharp and her impulses under control, so she tries to save the indulgence for when times are calm. For nervous ticks, she reflexively tries to hide unwanted emotions by smothering her expressions, so if she doesn't trust you enough to let her feelings out around you (or if she's embarrassed and doesn't want to focus on how she feels), you can tell how uncomfortable she is by her poker-face. Her hackles usually rise, too, but they tend to do that whenever she feels threatened, angry, worried, or startled. In rare cases, she will lift her chin and expose her throat in a gesture of deference that says any (but not necessarily all) of the following: “I accept my punishment / I will not fight / I regret what I did / You are right.” It’s not a gesture everyone survives making (and it’s not meant to be), so she only does it when she means it.

6 - What does your muse usually look like / wear?

She has altered her armor with pads and oil to keep it quiet. When out of her armor, she wears a patchwork loincloth and goes bare-chested. (Her chest is typically masculine-looking by human standards. She’s kind of vain about her pecs, abs, and back muscles. And her arms. She thinks she looks pretty dashing altogether.)

7 - Is your muse affectionate? How much? How so?

She primarily shows affection and appreciation through acts of service. To serve is her purpose, and it’s easy for her to think in those terms. When alert, sober, and wary, Dezoka usually does not appreciate being touched, and will largely avoid touching others outside of combat or providing assistance. But she also enjoys celebratory headbutts in the high after a victory. When she feels safe (especially if she’s sleepy and/or has been drinking), she likes to platonically hug or lean on those she trusts, but 99.99% of the time, only if she’s invited to, so it doesn’t happen often.

8 - What position does your muse sleep in?

Preferably somewhere hard to find. If it’s warm enough, she’ll prefer to sleep clinging to a rocky wall, up high, and away from lights, or within a hidden crevice. If it’s too cold for that, with a sleep pile, though she’ll want to keep near the edge where she can get up and respond quickly if called upon (and she hates being cold, but she’d rather be cold than feel trapped).

9 - Could you hear your muse in the hallway from another room?

If she wanted to be heard. She has big lungs and knows how to use them, but when she’s not fighting, chanting, or issuing orders, she mostly prefers to keep her voice down. She’s also surprisingly good at moving quietly.

Tagging: Anyone who wants to!

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Giant Woman! How tall is Dezoka?

Just shy of 9 feet tall! (8'10" precisely)