#nyoka

Found this in the deepest darkest pits of my photos

Prompt by evilmouse’s mom: Introduce or explain Nyoka

“Oh my,” Threepio tutted. “What a magnificent example of the ancient Nyoka motif.”

Mara looked askance at the serpentine ring on her finger, a recent gift from her husband.

“Nyoka?”

“Certainly,” the droid confirmed. “Nyoka, the divine snake, has a storied mythology in thalassic cultures. These gemstones indicate its primary purpose, to bestow divine protection.”

Sort of romantic, Mara had to admit.

“And its secondary purpose?”

“Nyoka is supposedly a powerful fertility god, Mistress Mara. The bearers of such jewelry are to be blessed with many offspring. Are you and Master Luke—”

“Thanks, Threepio.” Mara cut him off, smiling.

This Nyoka the Jungle Girl story shows Nyoka in an extraordinary array of roles - as peacemaker, matchmaker, diplomat, bringer of justice, and damsel in distress at one point, although true to her overall toughness in this tale she doesn’t in the event need rescuing. Appalled at the extent to which two lesser African tribes, the Sitkoes and the Kukus, are being terrorised by the more powerful Teras (geddit?) tribe led by the evil chief Bopka, and forced to pay tribute to them, Nyoka suggests the two smaller tribes join forces against the Teras. She is helped in this by a Romeo and Juliet style romance between Princess Edo, daughter of the Sitkoe chief Duro, and Prince Bero, son of the Kuku chief, Ango. To complicate matters Bopka has laid claim to Edo in marriage and her father feels obliged to consent to the match to prevent Bopka from ordering his Teras warriors to wipe out his people.

Locating the two secret lovers in a jungle tryst, Nyoka persuades them of the wisdom of her plan and they agree to marry and to persuade their respective fathers to form an anti-Teras tribal alliance. Nyoka agrees to deliver a gift of “gold leaf” to Chief Duro on behalf of Bero as a sign of his intent while telling him the pair wish the alliance to proceed on the back of their nuptials. A Teras warrior learns of the scheme and intercepts Nyoka, knocking her out and replacing the gold leaf with dirt. When Nyoka comes to, she completes her mission, only for Duro to take terrible offence at this perceived insult and then to order an attack the Kukus to avenge the slight. Nyoka begs time to prove Prince Bero is in earnest and Duro gives her six hours to do so.

Nyoka penetrates the Teras village, spotting the warrior proudly sporting the leaf round his neck, gifted to him by a grateful Bopka. Nyoka succeeds in surprising the warrior in his hut and captures him, but her bound prisoner is able to raise the alarm when he frees himself from his gag and Nyoka is captured in turn by the angry Teras. Bopka devises a suitably garish fate for Nyoka, having her lashed to the underside of a canoe and paddled by one of his men until she drowns. Nyoka’s former captive, eager to avenge himself on the jungle girl for humiliating him, volunteers for the murderous task. Nyoka, having “tensed her legs” while being bound is able to free herself, kayo the sucker-for-punishment Teras warrior for a second time, as she needs the stolen gold leaf he is wearing as evidence to exonerate Bero. Tying up the unfortunate Teras man again, Nyoka takes him to the Sitkoe village only to find her deadline has expired and Chief Duro had led his warriors in an attack on the Kukus. Leaving her prisoner to be guarded by Princess Edo, Nyoka heads to the site of forthcoming battle and tells both chiefs she has the evidence of their children’s love and good faith. The two chiefs agree to hear the confession of Nyoka’s terrified captive back at the Sitkoe village, after which they agree to form the alliance.

Bopka, who has realised Nyoka has escaped death once more, decides to make good his threat and leads his men to exterminate the Sitkoes. To his horror he finds Sitkoes and Kukus united against him and in the subsequent battle, the outnumbered Teras are put to flight. Nyoka seizes Bopka before he can get away and decides to take him to the nearest town to face justice and imprisonment. She returns to attend the wedding of Edo and Bero, a scene of friendship between the two tribes now the oppressive Teras have at last been defeated. All in a day’s work for Nyoka!