Post by Sea on Aug 2, 2008 12:02:42 GMT -5
~Name~
Anantzi Sisya
~What's in a name?~
Anantzi is a form of ‘Ananzi? which means spider. Having four arms, the multiple limbs do make her look slightly spidery. Her last name, Sisya, means ‘She came from the Mfuu Tree. For one with control of plants and earth, it makes for a very apropos name.
~Age~
20
~Date of Birth~
May 7, 1988
~Height~
5'6"
~Weight~
124 pounds
~Homelands~
Cape Town, South Africa.&.Harlem, NYC
~Race~
Human.Deformed
~Class~
Earth Elementalist
~Final~
|Gift of the Baobab|
The Baobab is known as the largest tree in Africa. It is not its height, but how wide it is. The tree is massive and imposing, with hundreds of branches splaying off it. When Anantzi is at her weakest, a might Baobab will grow where she stands. The tree will encase her, protecting her from harm, and healing her as well. During this time, the roots and branches of the tree take on a life of their own, and begin to attack her enemies. They can attack in several ways. The most simple is constricting them. The next is to slam down upon them, crushing them, or at least breaking bones. The final way is when they crash upon the ground, the earth around them will ripple like a wave, throwing them into the air. This can be contributed to Anantzi's control of earth. After three turns, the tree will fade away, and Anantzi will fall into a deep sleep. She will sleep until the next day, usually, and no healing will be required, as the Baobab takes care of this.
----------------------------
~Weapon information~
|Louis|
Louis is Anantzi's beloved saxophone. She has affectionately named him after her inspiration and role model, Louis Armstrong. She bought him at a pawn shop when she was nine years old. With him she bought jazz tapes, which she listened to and became enamored with. Her favorite was Louis Armstrong, thus the name of her saxophone. She uses her saxophone to control her elemental powers by playing music. The music can be intense or slow. However, every time she plays Louis, she does not use magic. She uses him as a means of relaxation. She doesn't have to play music to attack with him either. She has found that it hurts terribly to be hit over the head with a saxophone, so Louis can be used very effectively to bludgeon an enemy into submission.
|Enchantments|
Anantzi's grandmother is very adept at magic, and lives in the African savannah with her people. When Anantzi came to live with them, her dear Louis had a severe dent from a run-in with a hungry predator. Her grandmother repaired it with magic, and enchanted it so that Anantzi could hit anything she wanted as many times as necessary without endangering her saxophone. It seems that her grandmother also enchanted it so that only Anantzi can play it. If anyone else plays it, Louis emits a terrifyingly wretched sound.
~Armor Information~
|Tribal Prints|
Anantzi's armor consists of several layers of earth-toned, African-style, tribal print cloths and dresses. They are dyed with tones of brown, green and yellow, and hang loosely on her frame. The layering of them is always the same, almost a ritual for Anantzi. She first puts on a long, ruddy brown dress, with rows of darker brown stripes, that just barely touches the ground. She then wraps a dark green skirt around her waist, which falls to knee length. She then ties a dark brown wrap around her waist to keep the skirt in place. Over this, she dons on a green coat, which loosely hangs over the other clothes. The four sleeves are wide, and come to her elbows. The sleeves are tan, with a black and white trim. Her ritual done, she goes on to do what ever is on her to do list.
|Enchantments|
The clothes have several, low-level charms. One keeps the prints from becoming weather-worn, and keeps the color bright. The second is that they are enchanted to allow her to move as freely as though she were wearing tight clothes, despite how loose they are. The last one will occasionally prevent a small projectile from piercing them, such as a small dagger.
~Accessory Information~
|Cowrie Shell Choker|
Anantzi's choker is simple yet attractive. Made of a single strap of dark brown leather, it ties in the back with three strings on each side. Around the length of it are white cowrie shells. She wears it everyday, only taking it off to sleep or to take a shower. It was given to her by her grandmother, who received it from her grandmother, who received it from her grandmother, and the list goes on.
|Enchantments|
The only known enchantment on the choker is one that keeps it from fading with the time of tide. It stays looking new, no matter how much one wears it. Anantzi swears it helps her with coordination, but perhaps that's just the power of the mind.
|Music Book|
Anantzi's music book can always be found with her. She constantly writes in it, writing songs that tell the story of her life, one at a time. She writes short notes by each song, about why she wrote it, or what was going on. It has a green cloth cover, and is incredibly thick. Many pages are full, but many are still blank. Many pages stick out slightly, along with the occasionally bauble placed in it, such as tickets and fliers. She's had it since she was five.
|Enchantments|
The only enchantment on it is the one that makes it waterproof and fireproof. Anantzi's grandmother applied these.
~Physical Description~
Anyone who happens upon Anantzi will most likely only see one thing at first. Her four arms. It is perhaps because the first instinct of many is to see what is different about others. Anantzi, however, is not bothered by this. All the same, let us begin with what you wouldn't first look at.
Anantzi's face is round, with large lips and a pleasant, calm smile. When she speaks, her voice holds a rich, South African accent. Her eyes are deep brown, and always seem to have a friendly look to them. Her skin is very dark, the color of dark chocolate. Her face is framed by black dreadlocks, which hang to just below her shoulders. They same to turn in slightly at the bottom, and are almost always left hanging free.
Her body build is lithe and slim, but simple as well. She lacks the curvaceous build some are gifted with. Her first pair of arms come from her shoulders, and the second emerge about five or four more inches down. Her arms are slender, and each hand is gifted with five long fingers, the mark of a musician. These fingers are usually found upon a musical instrument of some sort. Oddly enough, she is ambidextrous.
Her body is well-muscled, but in an inconspicuous fashion. She is wonderfully flexible as well, and enjoys doing yoga in the early morning. Her wiry, supple body can be attributed to her years on the Savannah. The Savannah is the ultimate fitness trainer, providing only healthy food to eat and constant exercise. She enjoyed the rigorous lifestyle, finding it much calmer than city life.
The Savannah is not without its dangers, though. Anantzi's dark skin bears marks of it. On her back, she has a grouping of four long scars. These came from a lion, which snuck up on her when her back was turned. It slashed her across the back. Anantzi managed to fend it off. Thankfully, it was a rogue male lion, so there were no other lions with it. Had she been attacked by a lioness, chances are Anantzi would not have survived. On her left arms, there is a large area of discoloration. This is a burn that Anantzi sustained when a fire swept over the land. It could have been worse, though. Anantzi escaped the fire, and, in an unburned area, located Aloe arborescens, a plant that can be used to treat burns.
Anantzi very often will wear her tribal prints, but occasionally wears something slightly more modern. It is a one-shoulder shirt made of tribal-printed cloth. There is a hole on either side for her extra set of arms. If, dear reader, you do not know what a one-shoulder is, then picture Jane from Tarzan. Does anyone remember her jungle dress? Not the one she first wears, but the other one. It has only one strap, sort of like a sling. That's the shoulder style. With this shirt, she wears plain jeans. Anantzi almost never wears shoes, and as a result the pads of her feet are very tough. On cold days she wears a pair of hiking boots. It is rumored she also owns a pair of tan sandals. Her reason for almost always wearing her traditional tribal prints? Have you ever tried to find clothes for someone with four arms?
~Personality~
Practical, calm, level-headed, mature. All are words that describe Anantzi. Since the beginning, she's been a rock of stability, no matter how many times she was uprooted. At school, she never understood why her female counterparts became fretful and insecure. She gained a reputation for her security, and had many friends despite her appearance. She was the friend who would listen, no matter what, and always be there, and who could come up with simplistic, yet ingenious solutions. She treated every friend equally, from the popular girl weeping over troubles with a boy, to the frazzle-haired girl with thick glasses and braces who thought she'd never have a friend. She proved incredibly sociable.
Anantzi is a Taurus by sign, Taurus by nature. Patience is the key to Anantzi. Her patience seems to know no bounds. But when pushed to far, she becomes volcanic in her rage. She unleashes fury one would never expect of her, and much less want to see. The fact that she is usually so level-headed and happy only adds to the terror one might feel. One can barely recognize the raving monster. One might even encounter a bonk from Louis.
Her usual calm and collected self, however, is nurtured with yoga and meditation. Her meditation consists of sitting outside, alone, and thinking amongst the trees. She will sit for hours, thinking about why, and how. She will ask the big questions, the little questions, none are overlooked. Though incredibly practical, when caught in philosophy, she is known to be caught in flights of fancy, while still being able to step back and look at the big picture.
As many philosophers are, Anantzi is intellectual. She has an expansive knowledge of plants and animals, as well as music and folklore. Her mind seems to constantly soak up information, remembering small details and big things alike. She excelled in school for this reason, completing her studies ahead of time, and skipping several grades. She earned all her high school credits ahead of time, and graduated when she was barely sixteen. This can be attributed to her drive to be able to go live with her grandmother.
Anantzi was mature and responsible, even as a child. She would get her chores done quickly so she could go play music, but would still do a good job of them. She worked hard at school to go to live with her grandmother in Africa. She decided she wanted to go, and talked her parents into letting her after she graduated if she kept her grades up. When she went to live in the tribe in Africa, she received certain jobs she had to do, and she did them well.
Anantzi has always been humble, and slow to recognize her gifts. A gift, perhaps her greatest gift of all, is her musical ability. She began to play the piano when she was five. Soon, she mastered the basics and went on to being able to play duets by herself, with the help of all four hands. She received Louis and her music tapes at age nine, and soon began her love affair with jazz. She would listen to it constantly, while studying, after school, in the morning, all weekend. She played incredibly well, too. She, however, barely ever paid attention to the immense praise she received from her parents.
Anantzi is a creature of habit. She has certain routines she goes through each day. But she still manages to be adaptable. During her childhood, she moved several times. The first was when she was three, and she moved from Capetown to Harlem. Then, when she was thirteen, she moved back to Capetown. When she was sixteen, she went to live on the Savannah with her grandmother. She adapted well to life with the tribe, and most of the tribe accepted her. Still, she seemed to feel pushed apart from the rest of the tribe, but it was herself that was doing so. After a year, she went to live alone on the Savannah, and soon adapted to that life as well.
|Loves|
++Jazz
++Louis, Her Saxophone
++Louis Armstrong
++Nature, Both Animals and Plants
++Africa
++Her pet Painted Dog, Picasso
++Her Grandmother
++Playing the Saxophone
++Life on the Savannah
|Likes|
+Music
+Playing the Piano
+Writing in her Music Book
+Her Family
+Yoga
+Thinking
+Security
+Her Friends
+Reaching her Goals
+Routines
+Dancing
+Having some time alone
+Taking Walks
+Biltong
+Traditional South African Cuisine
|Dislikes|
-Being disrupted while thinking
-People not appreciating music
-People thinking she's not doing enough
-Stress
|Loathes|
--Being Insecure
--Being Mad
~Background~
You walk through the sweltering heat of the Savannah. Even though it is nearing evening, the air is still hot. You have been looking to photograph and observe the Savannah creatures, but you cannot wait to return to the comfort of your tent. You plod farther, until you see a large Baobab tree with a lean-to next to it. You watch as a girl with four arms closes a book, gets up, and walks off with a painted dog in tow. She doesn't see you, and leaves the book behind. It is a fat, green book. You walk over, and open it to the first page. It's written in scrawling letters of a kindergartener. You manage to decipher the mix of backwards letters and misspelled words.
Momma gave this book to me today. She told me to write about what's going on in it. She called it a diary. Maybe I should start with telling something about me. My name is Anantzi Sisya. I am five years old. Momma and Daddy are from South Africa, but we are living in New York. Momma says it's called 'Harlem.' She says we moved her when I was three, but I don't remember. She says I was born in South Africa like them, and that was where grandma was. She says it's across the ocean. I asked her if we could drive there to see grandma. She told me it was across the water. I asked her if I could swim there. She told me there was too much water to swim.
Well, Momma told me to write about what was happening. Today, I learned my scales on the piano. Momma says I'm doing very well. She says soon I'll be able to play songs. I'm so excited!!
You skip over more pages of chicken scratch until you notice something different. A musical score. The music is upbeat and quick. It exudes a feeling of excitement. There's a note written next to it. It written much more neatly than the first note, and very few words are misspelled.
I'm turning seven tomorrow. Momma says she's very proud of how I'm doing on the piano. I don't just play what's in the book anymore. Momma came in and asked me what I was playing. I told her I made it up. She told me I should write down music in this book. She said it can be my music book. This is my first song in this book. I hope it's good.
Once again, you skip ahead. You stop at a random page. The music looks a little different than the other musical scores on the pages before it, which look classical. This seems faster and different. You read the note next to it. It is written very neatly, with no misspellings.
I turned nine yesterday. I would have written yesterday, but I was busy. Daddy took me to the pawn shop yesterday. I found a funny looking instrument. It's called a saxophone. Daddy let me get it, and he got me some music tapes. He says they're called jazz. I listened to them over and over again! Jazz is so much fun. I tried to make my music a little jazzy today. I hope it worked. Soon, I'll be able to play my saxophone. I can't wait!
You skim through more pages. They are progressively becoming more like jazz. You stop at a piece that looks very good. It has a definite sense of rhythm. The note is well written.
I joined the STOMP class today. You have to be eleven, and I'm finally there. STOMP is a kind of dance, and it's really fun. It includes a lot of clapping, and of course, stomping. It's supposed to be African. I'm glad I get to do something from Africa. It makes me feel closer to my real home.
Dad says I'm getting really good at playing the saxophone. He says that Louis Armstrong would be proud. Would he really?
You skip ahead more pages. When you stop, you notice that the score sounds very adventurous and outgoing, as well as excited. The note is written messily, presumably from excitement.
Dad says we're moving back to Capetown! He says I can finish school there. I'm really excited! I get to go back to Africa! All my friends say they're going to miss me. I think I'm going to miss them, too. But Dad says I'm sure to make new friends in South Africa. I can't wait!
You flip through the pages. When you stop, the music is slightly contradictory. Some of it is slow and kind of like the blues, but other parts of it are bright and excited.
Finals. Ugh. I've been studying so much I've barely gotten to write. I'm studying a lot because Dad says if I keep my grades up, I can go to live with Grandma on the Savannah! I've been working really hard, and if I get high scores on these exams, I'm done! Done, and I turned sixteen only a few months ago! Mom and Dad can't believe it. Neither can I. I'm glad I got to play Louis today. I was starting to worry I'd forget.
You skip ahead a few more pages, but not as many as before. The music is still jazzy, but it holds an undertone of the tribal songs.
I can't believe I've only been here for a month. Everyone is really friendly. I haven't been able to write much, because I've been really busy. They thought my clothes were weird, so they gave me new clothes today. I really like them. They're all tribal prints. They think Louis is weird, too, but they like him now, because I used him to beat off a lion. Grandma fixed him up, though, and now she says he won't dent anymore. I kind of miss Mom and Dad, but there are so many jobs, it's kind of hard to have time for it.
You skip ahead more pages. The music sounds similar to the blues. It sounds sad.
Grandma says I've adapted really well. I don't think I have. I don't feel like I belong here. I know that most of my heritage is here. It just doesn't seem right. I kind of feel like I'm leeching off the tribe. I talked to Grandma, and she says that I'm not. I told her I just don't feel right. I want to try to make it on my own in the Savannah. Grandma was reluctant at first, but I talked her into it. Tonight is my first night on my own. The tribe was sad to see me go. One of the little girls tried to make me stop. I feel kind of bad. But I feel like I have to do this. The fire is starting to die. I need to get more wood, and go to sleep.
You can almost feel the weight of her sadness, but you continue to flip through the pages. You find a score that is fast, yet it seems scared. The page has black marks on it.
Terrifying. There was a bushfire last night. I'm not sure how I survived. It was so hot. My arms got burnt, but I found Aloe. Not Aloe Vera, but another with a really long name. All the other animals were running with me. I was scared that I'd get trampled. I feel lucky to have survived.
You turn the page, instead of flipping through many like you have before. The music seems hopeful, but worried.
I found another survivor of the fire! But he's not human. It's a Painted Dog pup. He was lying on the ground and calling. I'm glad I found him before the hyenas or lions did. I guess he got separated. He has some bad burns, though. I'm going to stay up tonight, to make sure he's okay. I'll name him if he lives through the night.
Wrapped up in the tale, you turn only one page. The music is bursting with happiness.
He made it! He's doing so much better! He's eating and drinking now. That Aloe is working like magic. My arms don't hurt anymore, either. I've decided to name the pup Picasso. He's quite friendly. No sign of his family. Maybe he'll stay with me. It would be nice to have some company.
You skim over more pages. You pause farther ahead. The music is joyful and expectant.
I've been out here for over a year. I feel like I've adjusted. Picasso is full-grown now. He hasn't shown any signs of wanting to leave me. He doesn't seem to mind it when I play Louis anymore. It's not as hard to get enough food anymore. We eat very well now. I remember when I used to go hungry. I haven't gone hungry in a while.
I finished making my home today. The old one used to fall down. It's very nice. It's kind of a lean-to against my Baobab, and I have a sort of ladder to climb into the branches, so I can get away if a rhino comes by. I'm glad I came out here. I've learned a lot. I feel I have so much more to learn, though. I'm going to stay out here for a while. Time to sleep.
PS: The grass around where I'm living seems healthier. Probably a figment of my imagination.
More pages go by. You stop at a composition that seems full of amazement, exultant.
Six months ago, I wrote about the grass seeming different around my camp. It wasn't coincidence. I was sitting outside my lean-to today, because it was noon, and all the hot air was trapped inside. The ground was very hard, because the grass doesn't grow in the shade of the Baobab. I was wishing I had powers like my Grandma, so I could make the grass grow. Out of boredom, I concentrated on the ground, and tried very hard. Grass started to grow! It made me very tired. Maybe I inherited my Grandma's magic. Maybe the Baobab has something to do with it. I'll investigate tomorrow. Today, I am much to tired.
You turn a single page, in anticipation of learning about the Baobab. The musical score with it is also exultant, but even more so, full of crescendos.
Amazing! Simply amazing! This morning, when I woke up, the first thing I did was prepare to investigate the Baobab tree. I looked it over, but it didn't look any different from the others. It didn't feel any different, either. Then I decided to try what I did with the grass. I placed all my hands on the bark, and closed my eyes. I concentrated very hard, and I felt a tingling sensation. I opened my eyes, and some sort of green light was flowing into my hands, and up my arms. It started to get brighter, and then there was a bright flash. I think I passed out, but when I woke up, I felt rested and energetic. Using my magic comes much easier now.
You flip through more pages, before you find that some of the pages are blank. You turn back until you find a page that is written on. It seems to be the most recent entry. The music is full of excitement.
I've been twenty for a few months now. Today, I found a letter near my mat when I woke up. It was a letter inviting me to attend a place called 'Twilight Moon Academy.' They say it is a school for the magically gifted. I never thought that there was such a school. I've decided to go, so that I can learn more about this magic I've inherited from my Grandmother, and so I can learn more about the strange events with the Baobab. I'm leaving tomorrow, and I've already packed. I'm going off to get my last dinner on the Savannah. I can't wait.
You hear the sound of happy barking, and see the girl returning with a young impala over her shoulder. You hurriedly close the book. The sun has set, and you make your way off into the distance, full of wonder, and anticipation of a comfortable tent and a nice dinner.
~Pet~
|Picasso|
Picasso is about three years old, and Anantzi's pet painted dog. His markings are beautiful, but not unusual. He is protective of Anantzi, but can be very affectionate. He can be very vocal when he is excited, but for the most part is respectfully quiet.
Anantzi Sisya
~What's in a name?~
Anantzi is a form of ‘Ananzi? which means spider. Having four arms, the multiple limbs do make her look slightly spidery. Her last name, Sisya, means ‘She came from the Mfuu Tree. For one with control of plants and earth, it makes for a very apropos name.
~Age~
20
~Date of Birth~
May 7, 1988
~Height~
5'6"
~Weight~
124 pounds
~Homelands~
Cape Town, South Africa.&.Harlem, NYC
~Race~
Human.Deformed
~Class~
Earth Elementalist
~Final~
|Gift of the Baobab|
The Baobab is known as the largest tree in Africa. It is not its height, but how wide it is. The tree is massive and imposing, with hundreds of branches splaying off it. When Anantzi is at her weakest, a might Baobab will grow where she stands. The tree will encase her, protecting her from harm, and healing her as well. During this time, the roots and branches of the tree take on a life of their own, and begin to attack her enemies. They can attack in several ways. The most simple is constricting them. The next is to slam down upon them, crushing them, or at least breaking bones. The final way is when they crash upon the ground, the earth around them will ripple like a wave, throwing them into the air. This can be contributed to Anantzi's control of earth. After three turns, the tree will fade away, and Anantzi will fall into a deep sleep. She will sleep until the next day, usually, and no healing will be required, as the Baobab takes care of this.
----------------------------
~Weapon information~
|Louis|
Louis is Anantzi's beloved saxophone. She has affectionately named him after her inspiration and role model, Louis Armstrong. She bought him at a pawn shop when she was nine years old. With him she bought jazz tapes, which she listened to and became enamored with. Her favorite was Louis Armstrong, thus the name of her saxophone. She uses her saxophone to control her elemental powers by playing music. The music can be intense or slow. However, every time she plays Louis, she does not use magic. She uses him as a means of relaxation. She doesn't have to play music to attack with him either. She has found that it hurts terribly to be hit over the head with a saxophone, so Louis can be used very effectively to bludgeon an enemy into submission.
|Enchantments|
Anantzi's grandmother is very adept at magic, and lives in the African savannah with her people. When Anantzi came to live with them, her dear Louis had a severe dent from a run-in with a hungry predator. Her grandmother repaired it with magic, and enchanted it so that Anantzi could hit anything she wanted as many times as necessary without endangering her saxophone. It seems that her grandmother also enchanted it so that only Anantzi can play it. If anyone else plays it, Louis emits a terrifyingly wretched sound.
~Armor Information~
|Tribal Prints|
Anantzi's armor consists of several layers of earth-toned, African-style, tribal print cloths and dresses. They are dyed with tones of brown, green and yellow, and hang loosely on her frame. The layering of them is always the same, almost a ritual for Anantzi. She first puts on a long, ruddy brown dress, with rows of darker brown stripes, that just barely touches the ground. She then wraps a dark green skirt around her waist, which falls to knee length. She then ties a dark brown wrap around her waist to keep the skirt in place. Over this, she dons on a green coat, which loosely hangs over the other clothes. The four sleeves are wide, and come to her elbows. The sleeves are tan, with a black and white trim. Her ritual done, she goes on to do what ever is on her to do list.
|Enchantments|
The clothes have several, low-level charms. One keeps the prints from becoming weather-worn, and keeps the color bright. The second is that they are enchanted to allow her to move as freely as though she were wearing tight clothes, despite how loose they are. The last one will occasionally prevent a small projectile from piercing them, such as a small dagger.
~Accessory Information~
|Cowrie Shell Choker|
Anantzi's choker is simple yet attractive. Made of a single strap of dark brown leather, it ties in the back with three strings on each side. Around the length of it are white cowrie shells. She wears it everyday, only taking it off to sleep or to take a shower. It was given to her by her grandmother, who received it from her grandmother, who received it from her grandmother, and the list goes on.
|Enchantments|
The only known enchantment on the choker is one that keeps it from fading with the time of tide. It stays looking new, no matter how much one wears it. Anantzi swears it helps her with coordination, but perhaps that's just the power of the mind.
|Music Book|
Anantzi's music book can always be found with her. She constantly writes in it, writing songs that tell the story of her life, one at a time. She writes short notes by each song, about why she wrote it, or what was going on. It has a green cloth cover, and is incredibly thick. Many pages are full, but many are still blank. Many pages stick out slightly, along with the occasionally bauble placed in it, such as tickets and fliers. She's had it since she was five.
|Enchantments|
The only enchantment on it is the one that makes it waterproof and fireproof. Anantzi's grandmother applied these.
~Physical Description~
Anyone who happens upon Anantzi will most likely only see one thing at first. Her four arms. It is perhaps because the first instinct of many is to see what is different about others. Anantzi, however, is not bothered by this. All the same, let us begin with what you wouldn't first look at.
Anantzi's face is round, with large lips and a pleasant, calm smile. When she speaks, her voice holds a rich, South African accent. Her eyes are deep brown, and always seem to have a friendly look to them. Her skin is very dark, the color of dark chocolate. Her face is framed by black dreadlocks, which hang to just below her shoulders. They same to turn in slightly at the bottom, and are almost always left hanging free.
Her body build is lithe and slim, but simple as well. She lacks the curvaceous build some are gifted with. Her first pair of arms come from her shoulders, and the second emerge about five or four more inches down. Her arms are slender, and each hand is gifted with five long fingers, the mark of a musician. These fingers are usually found upon a musical instrument of some sort. Oddly enough, she is ambidextrous.
Her body is well-muscled, but in an inconspicuous fashion. She is wonderfully flexible as well, and enjoys doing yoga in the early morning. Her wiry, supple body can be attributed to her years on the Savannah. The Savannah is the ultimate fitness trainer, providing only healthy food to eat and constant exercise. She enjoyed the rigorous lifestyle, finding it much calmer than city life.
The Savannah is not without its dangers, though. Anantzi's dark skin bears marks of it. On her back, she has a grouping of four long scars. These came from a lion, which snuck up on her when her back was turned. It slashed her across the back. Anantzi managed to fend it off. Thankfully, it was a rogue male lion, so there were no other lions with it. Had she been attacked by a lioness, chances are Anantzi would not have survived. On her left arms, there is a large area of discoloration. This is a burn that Anantzi sustained when a fire swept over the land. It could have been worse, though. Anantzi escaped the fire, and, in an unburned area, located Aloe arborescens, a plant that can be used to treat burns.
Anantzi very often will wear her tribal prints, but occasionally wears something slightly more modern. It is a one-shoulder shirt made of tribal-printed cloth. There is a hole on either side for her extra set of arms. If, dear reader, you do not know what a one-shoulder is, then picture Jane from Tarzan. Does anyone remember her jungle dress? Not the one she first wears, but the other one. It has only one strap, sort of like a sling. That's the shoulder style. With this shirt, she wears plain jeans. Anantzi almost never wears shoes, and as a result the pads of her feet are very tough. On cold days she wears a pair of hiking boots. It is rumored she also owns a pair of tan sandals. Her reason for almost always wearing her traditional tribal prints? Have you ever tried to find clothes for someone with four arms?
~Personality~
Practical, calm, level-headed, mature. All are words that describe Anantzi. Since the beginning, she's been a rock of stability, no matter how many times she was uprooted. At school, she never understood why her female counterparts became fretful and insecure. She gained a reputation for her security, and had many friends despite her appearance. She was the friend who would listen, no matter what, and always be there, and who could come up with simplistic, yet ingenious solutions. She treated every friend equally, from the popular girl weeping over troubles with a boy, to the frazzle-haired girl with thick glasses and braces who thought she'd never have a friend. She proved incredibly sociable.
Anantzi is a Taurus by sign, Taurus by nature. Patience is the key to Anantzi. Her patience seems to know no bounds. But when pushed to far, she becomes volcanic in her rage. She unleashes fury one would never expect of her, and much less want to see. The fact that she is usually so level-headed and happy only adds to the terror one might feel. One can barely recognize the raving monster. One might even encounter a bonk from Louis.
Her usual calm and collected self, however, is nurtured with yoga and meditation. Her meditation consists of sitting outside, alone, and thinking amongst the trees. She will sit for hours, thinking about why, and how. She will ask the big questions, the little questions, none are overlooked. Though incredibly practical, when caught in philosophy, she is known to be caught in flights of fancy, while still being able to step back and look at the big picture.
As many philosophers are, Anantzi is intellectual. She has an expansive knowledge of plants and animals, as well as music and folklore. Her mind seems to constantly soak up information, remembering small details and big things alike. She excelled in school for this reason, completing her studies ahead of time, and skipping several grades. She earned all her high school credits ahead of time, and graduated when she was barely sixteen. This can be attributed to her drive to be able to go live with her grandmother.
Anantzi was mature and responsible, even as a child. She would get her chores done quickly so she could go play music, but would still do a good job of them. She worked hard at school to go to live with her grandmother in Africa. She decided she wanted to go, and talked her parents into letting her after she graduated if she kept her grades up. When she went to live in the tribe in Africa, she received certain jobs she had to do, and she did them well.
Anantzi has always been humble, and slow to recognize her gifts. A gift, perhaps her greatest gift of all, is her musical ability. She began to play the piano when she was five. Soon, she mastered the basics and went on to being able to play duets by herself, with the help of all four hands. She received Louis and her music tapes at age nine, and soon began her love affair with jazz. She would listen to it constantly, while studying, after school, in the morning, all weekend. She played incredibly well, too. She, however, barely ever paid attention to the immense praise she received from her parents.
Anantzi is a creature of habit. She has certain routines she goes through each day. But she still manages to be adaptable. During her childhood, she moved several times. The first was when she was three, and she moved from Capetown to Harlem. Then, when she was thirteen, she moved back to Capetown. When she was sixteen, she went to live on the Savannah with her grandmother. She adapted well to life with the tribe, and most of the tribe accepted her. Still, she seemed to feel pushed apart from the rest of the tribe, but it was herself that was doing so. After a year, she went to live alone on the Savannah, and soon adapted to that life as well.
|Loves|
++Jazz
++Louis, Her Saxophone
++Louis Armstrong
++Nature, Both Animals and Plants
++Africa
++Her pet Painted Dog, Picasso
++Her Grandmother
++Playing the Saxophone
++Life on the Savannah
|Likes|
+Music
+Playing the Piano
+Writing in her Music Book
+Her Family
+Yoga
+Thinking
+Security
+Her Friends
+Reaching her Goals
+Routines
+Dancing
+Having some time alone
+Taking Walks
+Biltong
+Traditional South African Cuisine
|Dislikes|
-Being disrupted while thinking
-People not appreciating music
-People thinking she's not doing enough
-Stress
|Loathes|
--Being Insecure
--Being Mad
~Background~
You walk through the sweltering heat of the Savannah. Even though it is nearing evening, the air is still hot. You have been looking to photograph and observe the Savannah creatures, but you cannot wait to return to the comfort of your tent. You plod farther, until you see a large Baobab tree with a lean-to next to it. You watch as a girl with four arms closes a book, gets up, and walks off with a painted dog in tow. She doesn't see you, and leaves the book behind. It is a fat, green book. You walk over, and open it to the first page. It's written in scrawling letters of a kindergartener. You manage to decipher the mix of backwards letters and misspelled words.
Momma gave this book to me today. She told me to write about what's going on in it. She called it a diary. Maybe I should start with telling something about me. My name is Anantzi Sisya. I am five years old. Momma and Daddy are from South Africa, but we are living in New York. Momma says it's called 'Harlem.' She says we moved her when I was three, but I don't remember. She says I was born in South Africa like them, and that was where grandma was. She says it's across the ocean. I asked her if we could drive there to see grandma. She told me it was across the water. I asked her if I could swim there. She told me there was too much water to swim.
Well, Momma told me to write about what was happening. Today, I learned my scales on the piano. Momma says I'm doing very well. She says soon I'll be able to play songs. I'm so excited!!
You skip over more pages of chicken scratch until you notice something different. A musical score. The music is upbeat and quick. It exudes a feeling of excitement. There's a note written next to it. It written much more neatly than the first note, and very few words are misspelled.
I'm turning seven tomorrow. Momma says she's very proud of how I'm doing on the piano. I don't just play what's in the book anymore. Momma came in and asked me what I was playing. I told her I made it up. She told me I should write down music in this book. She said it can be my music book. This is my first song in this book. I hope it's good.
Once again, you skip ahead. You stop at a random page. The music looks a little different than the other musical scores on the pages before it, which look classical. This seems faster and different. You read the note next to it. It is written very neatly, with no misspellings.
I turned nine yesterday. I would have written yesterday, but I was busy. Daddy took me to the pawn shop yesterday. I found a funny looking instrument. It's called a saxophone. Daddy let me get it, and he got me some music tapes. He says they're called jazz. I listened to them over and over again! Jazz is so much fun. I tried to make my music a little jazzy today. I hope it worked. Soon, I'll be able to play my saxophone. I can't wait!
You skim through more pages. They are progressively becoming more like jazz. You stop at a piece that looks very good. It has a definite sense of rhythm. The note is well written.
I joined the STOMP class today. You have to be eleven, and I'm finally there. STOMP is a kind of dance, and it's really fun. It includes a lot of clapping, and of course, stomping. It's supposed to be African. I'm glad I get to do something from Africa. It makes me feel closer to my real home.
Dad says I'm getting really good at playing the saxophone. He says that Louis Armstrong would be proud. Would he really?
You skip ahead more pages. When you stop, you notice that the score sounds very adventurous and outgoing, as well as excited. The note is written messily, presumably from excitement.
Dad says we're moving back to Capetown! He says I can finish school there. I'm really excited! I get to go back to Africa! All my friends say they're going to miss me. I think I'm going to miss them, too. But Dad says I'm sure to make new friends in South Africa. I can't wait!
You flip through the pages. When you stop, the music is slightly contradictory. Some of it is slow and kind of like the blues, but other parts of it are bright and excited.
Finals. Ugh. I've been studying so much I've barely gotten to write. I'm studying a lot because Dad says if I keep my grades up, I can go to live with Grandma on the Savannah! I've been working really hard, and if I get high scores on these exams, I'm done! Done, and I turned sixteen only a few months ago! Mom and Dad can't believe it. Neither can I. I'm glad I got to play Louis today. I was starting to worry I'd forget.
You skip ahead a few more pages, but not as many as before. The music is still jazzy, but it holds an undertone of the tribal songs.
I can't believe I've only been here for a month. Everyone is really friendly. I haven't been able to write much, because I've been really busy. They thought my clothes were weird, so they gave me new clothes today. I really like them. They're all tribal prints. They think Louis is weird, too, but they like him now, because I used him to beat off a lion. Grandma fixed him up, though, and now she says he won't dent anymore. I kind of miss Mom and Dad, but there are so many jobs, it's kind of hard to have time for it.
You skip ahead more pages. The music sounds similar to the blues. It sounds sad.
Grandma says I've adapted really well. I don't think I have. I don't feel like I belong here. I know that most of my heritage is here. It just doesn't seem right. I kind of feel like I'm leeching off the tribe. I talked to Grandma, and she says that I'm not. I told her I just don't feel right. I want to try to make it on my own in the Savannah. Grandma was reluctant at first, but I talked her into it. Tonight is my first night on my own. The tribe was sad to see me go. One of the little girls tried to make me stop. I feel kind of bad. But I feel like I have to do this. The fire is starting to die. I need to get more wood, and go to sleep.
You can almost feel the weight of her sadness, but you continue to flip through the pages. You find a score that is fast, yet it seems scared. The page has black marks on it.
Terrifying. There was a bushfire last night. I'm not sure how I survived. It was so hot. My arms got burnt, but I found Aloe. Not Aloe Vera, but another with a really long name. All the other animals were running with me. I was scared that I'd get trampled. I feel lucky to have survived.
You turn the page, instead of flipping through many like you have before. The music seems hopeful, but worried.
I found another survivor of the fire! But he's not human. It's a Painted Dog pup. He was lying on the ground and calling. I'm glad I found him before the hyenas or lions did. I guess he got separated. He has some bad burns, though. I'm going to stay up tonight, to make sure he's okay. I'll name him if he lives through the night.
Wrapped up in the tale, you turn only one page. The music is bursting with happiness.
He made it! He's doing so much better! He's eating and drinking now. That Aloe is working like magic. My arms don't hurt anymore, either. I've decided to name the pup Picasso. He's quite friendly. No sign of his family. Maybe he'll stay with me. It would be nice to have some company.
You skim over more pages. You pause farther ahead. The music is joyful and expectant.
I've been out here for over a year. I feel like I've adjusted. Picasso is full-grown now. He hasn't shown any signs of wanting to leave me. He doesn't seem to mind it when I play Louis anymore. It's not as hard to get enough food anymore. We eat very well now. I remember when I used to go hungry. I haven't gone hungry in a while.
I finished making my home today. The old one used to fall down. It's very nice. It's kind of a lean-to against my Baobab, and I have a sort of ladder to climb into the branches, so I can get away if a rhino comes by. I'm glad I came out here. I've learned a lot. I feel I have so much more to learn, though. I'm going to stay out here for a while. Time to sleep.
PS: The grass around where I'm living seems healthier. Probably a figment of my imagination.
More pages go by. You stop at a composition that seems full of amazement, exultant.
Six months ago, I wrote about the grass seeming different around my camp. It wasn't coincidence. I was sitting outside my lean-to today, because it was noon, and all the hot air was trapped inside. The ground was very hard, because the grass doesn't grow in the shade of the Baobab. I was wishing I had powers like my Grandma, so I could make the grass grow. Out of boredom, I concentrated on the ground, and tried very hard. Grass started to grow! It made me very tired. Maybe I inherited my Grandma's magic. Maybe the Baobab has something to do with it. I'll investigate tomorrow. Today, I am much to tired.
You turn a single page, in anticipation of learning about the Baobab. The musical score with it is also exultant, but even more so, full of crescendos.
Amazing! Simply amazing! This morning, when I woke up, the first thing I did was prepare to investigate the Baobab tree. I looked it over, but it didn't look any different from the others. It didn't feel any different, either. Then I decided to try what I did with the grass. I placed all my hands on the bark, and closed my eyes. I concentrated very hard, and I felt a tingling sensation. I opened my eyes, and some sort of green light was flowing into my hands, and up my arms. It started to get brighter, and then there was a bright flash. I think I passed out, but when I woke up, I felt rested and energetic. Using my magic comes much easier now.
You flip through more pages, before you find that some of the pages are blank. You turn back until you find a page that is written on. It seems to be the most recent entry. The music is full of excitement.
I've been twenty for a few months now. Today, I found a letter near my mat when I woke up. It was a letter inviting me to attend a place called 'Twilight Moon Academy.' They say it is a school for the magically gifted. I never thought that there was such a school. I've decided to go, so that I can learn more about this magic I've inherited from my Grandmother, and so I can learn more about the strange events with the Baobab. I'm leaving tomorrow, and I've already packed. I'm going off to get my last dinner on the Savannah. I can't wait.
You hear the sound of happy barking, and see the girl returning with a young impala over her shoulder. You hurriedly close the book. The sun has set, and you make your way off into the distance, full of wonder, and anticipation of a comfortable tent and a nice dinner.
~Pet~
|Picasso|
Picasso is about three years old, and Anantzi's pet painted dog. His markings are beautiful, but not unusual. He is protective of Anantzi, but can be very affectionate. He can be very vocal when he is excited, but for the most part is respectfully quiet.
PINEAPPLE
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