Appearance: As the face is typically what you really see first on an individual, let's start there. Soft features belie an iron personality and a caustic wit. Her eyes are a deep brown, which seem to fit nicely alongside her warm, caramel skin. There's a strange sternness to her eyes, as if she's older within than she is without. Some might say there's an oddly motherly air about her, though this would juxtapose her frame of mind. Perhaps it's best to say she seems more like a doctor. Long, dark hair hangs down past her shoulders, slight waves forming in the tresses father down. Underneath everything is a body of lean athleticism, kept in shape through rigorous training, a hectic lifestyle alongside her companion Adrian, and even dancing. She can usually be found in an old dress of some sort. Perhaps a blouse worn over it, maybe a cape or cloak if need be. The separate articles always seem to clash in color and wear, with just as much personality as her own. And if anyone were to look down, they'd see she wears no shoes. The soles of her feet are usually black and dirty from walking uncovered, her soles as calloused as her hands. Most of the time she wields a staff as well. A long, heavy, gnarled length of carved wood, its surface sanded smooth- though it bears some obvious signs of wear of its own. Abrasions in the finish, notches and dents. Maybe a dark stain or three. On most walkabout occasions, if not constantly, she can be seen lugging a cloth bag filled with herbs, trinkets, potions, salves and many other manner of healing items. As a final entry, ever worn on Nimba's right leg is an anklet. Forged in brass are depictions of seven Dragons' heads, her continuation of an old Abarran custom.
Personality: Most importantly, know this of Nimba Hawteeya: she is a troublemaker at heart. Not a malicious soul, she's just.. well, playful's not the right word, either. She has a sense of humor that usually ends up getting her into trouble- pair that with an endless and insatiable curiosity and you've got one hell of a mess on your hands. She's never liked shoes. She feels more alive and connected with the world when she can feel it underfoot; the cool of the earth, the soft grass and smooth rock. As a child she was prone to playing pranks, even setting fires, around the spots where her caravan would make camp. Always the one to wander off into the woods and caves, sneaking around the townships and cities to play and explore. Other children native to these places would recall the mysterious friend they'd made once upon a time. The girl who appeared from time-to-time before eventually vanishing forever. In a way, this has not changed. Nimba's a wandering soul who hates the thought of being rooted to a single place for too long, and craves new sites and experiences with a passion. Her jokes are often dry, and her expression typically a cross between wry amusement and mischievous interest. Her mother once declared of Nimba: "She's ever wanting to learn more. A bright child, unfortunately it's only so that she can use the knowledge to make a mess of things." This, of course, is not her intent, and as she aged her tendency to play pranks has dwindled considerably. Notwithstanding, she still carries with her a roguish disposition that can come in handy from time to time when called upon.
Combat Style: Nimba's true talent is as a mage. Her power lies in elemental magic, especially air and fire. She has been schooled in various other arts including: restoration, arcane, enchanting, charms and illusion. Her fighting style compliments Adrian's, offering aid in the form of healing, defense and trickery for the most part. There always seems to arise a case where she is required to use something a little more.. destructive. If forced into a physical confrontation, however, Nimba can still defend herself quite aptly, having been trained in fighting, but excelling in hand-to-hand. As "honor" is an abstract to her, this usually includes doing whatever she has to to incapacitate or even kill her opponent if the need arises.
Bio: Nimba is a Yi Aba, an itinerant ethnic pariah group dwelling in an immense diaspora-nation. Once, long ago, they held their own country: Abarra. The Abarrans were driven from their homeland by the invading Carthim of In Carta Hör, a much larger and more powerful state. Scattered and homeless, and hardly wanted anywhere they went, the people of Abarra, now named Yi Aba, roam in close-knit caravans working as traveling merchants, tinkers, entertainers and more in order to help sustain their various camps. It was in one of these caravans that Nimba Hawteeya was born. As a young girl she was overly curious, constantly getting into trouble and causing grief for her parents and the elders to sort out. There was even an instance where she started a fire in the spirit of inquiry, only to be totally surprised when it spread and ignited one of the wagons. Nimba was placed under careful watch for some time after that. At the age of fifteen she and her caravan were camped near a small township smack dab in the middle of a deep, tangled forest. The mayor had enlisted the aid of a one Adrian Ronuad des Màstoof to remove them from his border. Upon his entering the camp to speak with the elders, Nimba spied the stranger and felt immediately called to him. He was a wanderer: going where he pleased and doing whatever he wished or needed to stay afloat. Thus, she went to the elders with a proposition: agree to leave, but in return he would have to take her along with him. This was a win-win solution as far as she figured. The elders got to get rid of her, as she was sure they wanted to, and Adrian would fulfill his contract. To her surprise, it worked- and she set off with Adrian, leaving her roving home behind to see new places in lands her migrant life with the Yi Aba would never have led.
She wasn't exactly too thrilled with how things initially turned out. He just kind of stuck her in a room and told her not to cause any trouble. She wandered around the ship for a while, exploring the cargo hold and peeking at the goods they'd taken on to transport. Even got to know a lot of the crew in the meantime. At first they weren't too happy with her presence, but they warmed up quickly enough. Especially after she helped heal a man who'd fallen from the rigging and broken his leg. Things changed shortly afterward when pirates attacked a city they'd moored at. The crew fought back fiercely, and she helped what little she could, using her magic to aid the men and beat back the aggressors. It wasn't until it had cooled down that they learned Adrian had been captured by the pirates. The crew wasn't sure what to do. They had no idea where the pirates had fled, and many weren't sure if going after him would have been a wise decision. That was when Nimba stepped in. She berated the detractors for wanting to abandon their captain, and urged the loyalists to seek him out. The officers finally sided with her, and their work began. They kept up normal appearances, going from port to port, loading and unloading goods. While docked, though, they went searching. Nimba, and a few men, would go ashore and snoop. Hang out at seedier pubs, place a little gold in the right hand, keep an eye and ear trained. It paid off more than a month later when they finally discovered where Adrian had been taken. They tracked the island down, and in the dead of night moved in. The assault was quick and effective, the slavers not knowing what had hit them. Days later the island had come under control of the Nàscus, who began their own inquiry into the group that had enslaved one of their prominent citizens.
Starting then, their relationship grew. He became like another father for her. Teaching her to fight, the nuances of working a ship and the trade business. But in the adventures he stumbled into or headed directly for, he also taught her how to live. Soon, she was set up in one of the most important, respected and feared positions aboard the ship: the cook. If she'd thought even for a moment his decision had been made due to her sex, she'd have clobbered him then and there. The truth was, she knew how to make a good meal. And the crew had learned not to mess with her. Now they had even more reason not to. For ten years they traveled, seeing new ports and cities, getting into trouble that always came out with everyone a little wealthier than before. When she heard they were going after a lodestone, Nimba could hardly hide her excitement. She'd been there on the hunt for the first, despite Adrian having initially forbade her from joining in the landing party. Now they got to go after a second? It was almost too good to be true.