|
Post by Snow on Apr 21, 2007 19:31:43 GMT -4
As it stood, there were six Jumi gathered together. It was far too unlikely to be conincidence. It was a word the Jumi had stopped believing in long ago. They seemed quite content in each other's company. Like for once in their lives nothing could go wrong.
The baby dragon Osiris was now sleeping on Celes lap, content he had eaten such a large meal. Isis looked over the plates of food, it really seemed as though they had ordered everything on the menu. She didn't care, and neither did her pocket book. She gave a yawn.
"Maybe I ate too much!" she joked.
Rowan smiled, "Belly full, eyes closed?"
Isis gave a nod, "Mmhmm. But to worth it!" she chirped. The group had finished their meal, all they had to do was speak on their plans. It was serious business, but Isis was unsure she wanted to break the happiness with something like finding the cores of their lost brethren.
Rowan looked at Yruby, "Did you get enough to eat?"
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on Apr 21, 2007 21:55:18 GMT -4
Yruby was feeling quite happy with the company and the food. "Yes that was delicious!" It was just like Rowan to ask if she was alright. She gave him a happy smile. She remembered earlier when Rowan wasn't sure what he wanted to eat, he had thought of a meal he wanted but then when another dish was mentioned he wasn't sure anymore. "How about you?"
|
|
sybil
Rookie
everybody's free
Posts: 68
|
Post by sybil on May 1, 2007 11:53:08 GMT -4
Placing a hand over her mouth, Celes stifled a burp that threatened to compromise her serious demeanor. She cleared her throat and ran her fingers through her short, black hair before resting them on the sleeping back on Osiris, her fingers absently scratching the contented beast.
A unspoken, desperate plea for the happy mood to be maintained seemed to ring her ears, the contented look upon her companions faces and the meal warm in her belly almost convinced her to let someone else be such a sweet scenes executioner, but she doubted if anyone else would have the heart to take up the task.
"Well, Now that meal and drink have been devoured, I do say that we have some things to discuss.."
She started quietly, hoping that all would be wrapped up in one fell swoop with nothing left over so that the mood could return to its previous state as she felt it start to fall to its inevitable end
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on May 1, 2007 14:28:09 GMT -4
“Yes, we do” Ybury knew this was coming. She was curious about what the other jumis had to say and what stories they could tell yet at the same time she didn’t want the happy mood to change. She could hope that the tales were happy which wasn’t impossible but sadly not as common as the sad tales among the jumi.
|
|
|
Post by Snow on May 1, 2007 16:30:27 GMT -4
Rowan nodded to Yruby's question about getting enough to eat. "More than enough." he added. A content sigh escaped his lips as he folded his hands neatly in his lap. Before anything else could be said Celes mentioned they had things to talk about. "Lady Celes, is quite right." Rowan agreed, "While we may not have the best news, every situation has two sides."
Rowan looked around the table. That had come out a little oddly. "I mean..."
"We all have good times and bad times." Isis interuppted. "I'd rather deal with the not so pleasant now, so that we can have many more pleasant times." she gave a nod, having thought her interpretation was right on the nose.
Rowan chuckled, "More or less." His face shadowed pain, "It's just a difficult subject."
Isis closed her eyes, a silent nod of agreeance. "I wish it were something we could avoid." she voiced, "However, we all need to be aware of what the others have seen. There is, so much to go over. And we, never lack the time."
The Jumi, a race with incredible longevity. They could study and study, learn, do practically anything. They always had the time. Many older jumi had seen worlds come and go, those with brilliant peace and those stricken with the harshest wars. Now seemed to be a time of searching, something Isis had never thought her people would need to live in. Funny, some days she felt much older than she was.
Her eyes crossed the tavern as she looked upon all the faces. She had seen many people come and go. It was something she was quite used too. These were people she didn't know, those who had made no real ripple in the pond of life. In her thoughts, her teal eyes seemed to glimmer. What she was trying to wrap her mind on was something serious.
The seriousness caused her to groan inwardly. But she tried to remain calm and composed, if only to be half as elegant and noble as she thought Remial and Yruby were. Rowan watched silently for a moment.
"Perhaps, Yurby and I should start?" Rowan queried. "If only to get the stone rolling." As far as Rowan thought, it would be nice to share their pains with others of their kind. So that maybe, they could share the few joys they had as well. while the pains seemed too outnumber the joys, today topped them all.
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on May 1, 2007 19:30:30 GMT -4
“Should we talk about our pasts? Rowan want to go first or do you want me to get things started?” Ybury didn’t mind too much as her past wasn’t nearly as dramatic as it could have been but it wasn’t all perfect happiness either. She was a bit shy and quiet at first when meeting new people but friendly after a while. Know a person’s story could really help in the process of getting to know them more.
|
|
|
Post by Snow on May 1, 2007 19:41:55 GMT -4
Rowan gave an agreeing nod. "I think finding where we all came from, would be the most logical. It will give us an insight to how we got here." He looked to Yruby, forever kind to him. He smiled, "I'll go first." his life was also not that bad. Some days he just had difficulty bringing up his past. He wanted to be a jumi who could freely say anything, at one point he had been. And up until the point his parents were killed, he had been very trusting. Now it seemed his soul purpose was to reunite his parent's cores.
Rowan shifted uncomfortably. "I had always known of my birth heritage." He didn't dare say Jumi too loudly, should people be listening in too intently. "I had a rather wonderful, living with my parents. They encouraged creativity, arts, healing. I really had it all." It was such a nice life, he remembered, "Until the last days." he added referring to the last and perhaps harshest days of his people's persucution. "My mother was taken from our home. And my father went after her." Rowan's golden eyes shifted, but they did not tear. "That was the last day I saw my mother." He gave a sigh, it didn't do it's purpose of releaving stress or anguish. "And to this day, I do not know where my father is."
Once more he looked to Yruby, "It was a rainy day several years. Goddess knows how I survived, but on that day, I found Yruby." He gave a small nod, as if that alone had been the reason he had survived. "Since then, we've been traveling together." Rowan paused, allowing Yruby to now speak.
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on May 1, 2007 20:04:18 GMT -4
Ybury took a deep breath and started her narration. “I didn’t know about my heritage from the beginning. I guess I could say I felt something but didn’t give it too much thought until later. A lot about my past is still a mystery to me starting with my parents. I never met my biological parents. I was raised by an adoptive grandmother who was, not of the same heritage” of course she couldn’t say ‘human’ because then any possible eavesdropper would wonder what she was if not human also. “She was always very nice to me until her final day. She told me about my heritage before she died. That’s what made me start traveling and searching. I wanted to meet more people like me and find out a little more about my ancestors and about how I ended up with my granny and so on. She couldn’t tell me the entire story it was too late and also I think she was trying to protect me but couldn’t leave without telling me the truth. In short I wanted to find out who I really am. After traveling for a few weeks, I met Rowan and we’ve been together since then.”
|
|
sybil
Rookie
everybody's free
Posts: 68
|
Post by sybil on May 2, 2007 13:14:29 GMT -4
Closing her eyes, Celese listened to the two speak, Rowen's tale striking a dangerously close chord to her own tiny tragedy. Her hand absently felt for the familiar weight that dangled across her collar bone as Ybury started.
Such tragedy.. Why must pain be the only thing us jumi are greeted with in the face of immortality? She thought darkly as a quiet descended upon the group. It seemed that the pairs reflecting had struck a chord within all of them, not only she.
Opening her eyes, she regarded the pair across from her with an emotion that was familiar but she couldn't name. She supposed it was to be expected, to hear such a thing would make anyone's heart feel heavy...
"I share a familiar pain to yours Rowen, though the one taken from me was not of blood, but of a different nature of affection." She started, her eyes lowering from the two to the coarse wood of the table.
"I had a guardian before Isis. He was... very dear to me. We lived together for many, many years outside of a human settlement that eventually turned into a city. We kept to ourselves, going to the city only to buy certain little luxuries every now and then." A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as the fond memory passed over her, the smell of the warm city air so vivid she almost had to look up to check her surroundings.
"Then the Jumi hunting began. They came for my heart stone late in the evening. He told me to run, and even though I knew better then to do so... my fear got the better of me and I fled into the nearby wood. By the time I returned our home had been ransacked, and I couldn't find him anywhere... But I found his heart stone, shattered. They had taken the biggest pieces, and whatever was left is in here." She caught the locket between her thumb and forefinger, letting the dim light glint weakly off the surface for a moment before letting it fall back against her chest.
"Everything after that is a blur, until I met Isis. I have traveled with her ever since, as you two have done."
|
|
|
Post by Snow on May 2, 2007 15:47:17 GMT -4
Isis nearly choked to death right then and there. She had never heard so much sadness emanate from words. But that moment, she felt her heart break. She'd loved and lost several times, but so far, she never knew worse pain than losing a lover or two. Which, for her, never seemed so bad. All they were was passing fancy. There long enough to give her some companionship, then gone when she could no longer keep them safe. Never had she known a Jumi love. That love, that love, ah the tales said it lasted longer than their heart stones.
Aside from the skirmishes as a kid, and always seeming to be alone, Isis had no real problems. She didn't have anyone to call mother or father, but as long as she remembered, she'd been just fine. In fact she remembered more about lovers than she ever did family, which quickly led her to believe she hadn't had one. 'I wonder what that feels like?' she pondered.
All this serious talk was causing her stomach to flip. She didn't even know where to begin her tale. Honestly, she didn't think she had one. "I was, always alone as a child." She started half-consciously. "I got into a lot of fights. Somehow, I realized I was different than the others. Never got hurt. Not once." She shook her head, "I must've been in a fight every day since I was born. I don't..." pausing she crossed her arms, "I don't remember a family. No mother or father to take comfort in. Just a lot of anger and fighting up until they tried to steal this." Her left hand was brought back to half showcase her core. "I remember, I never screamed so loud as I did that day." Her teal eyes looked at the table. "And, it was all in innocent fun. Those kids had only been trying to steal my jewelry because they were angry at me, they didn't know it would hurt me. None of us knew what it meant."
She took a deep breath, surprised at herself for still sitting there even when the mood had turned so serious. "After that, I asked everyone I could find about Jumi. Everyone. Sometimes it got me into trouble, sometimes, it got me sympathy. But most the time, it got me ignored." Isis rested her elbows on the table. "Most of that is just a blur, no rhyme, no reason." her nose scrunched. "I met a jeweler one day. A handsome man, with blonde hair and the truest blue eyes you could ever look into." She took a moment to remember her first love. "He was simply, gorgeous, he had more sparkle than a lot of heart stones I've seen." She sighed, "Point is, I found a heart stone in his shop. Which he gave to me, to help me find my people. He was, the only person to give me some form of information. He told me of the clan, and explained my heritage to me in full." Crossing her arms once more, "I could never tell if he was like me, or like the others. But, at least for a few years, I had a solid purpose. He helped me find all we could, I was never without him."
Rowan watched Isis, about to speak.
"One day, he was just gone. No note, nothing, Goddess, I prayed every night he'd come back to me. Human or Jumi, I'd have spent my life with him." She gave a grimace, "Only thing left was his notes of research we'd compiled. And it still isn't enough to be anything more than speculation. I promised I'd prove everything we guessed in that book." She lowered her head in embarrassment. "Since then, I've had several more lovers and I think it was somewhere near the fifth that I met Celes. Right away, I knew she was like me. Right away I knew we could find something together."
Isis stood to stretch. "Basically. I never had family, loved, lost, loved some more, lost some more. Celes, you guys."
She stretched in almost every way possible, she was much more used to traveling, or siting in dim lights. It was odd that the tavern chair should make her so uncomfortable. No, maybe that wasn't it. She could feel the eyes upon her. She'd make no mention of it. If anyone thought about causing a ruckus with them, she'd write them a lovely Dirge.
Rowan had listened, while her story was so much different from his, he could only imagine what it was like to be alone all the time. As that was how Isis's story summed up, at least until Celes. Again, he was about to say something. But Isis's movements caused him to sit quietly. Somehow, he had learned that when a knight suddenly becomes more of their surroundings, he should be quiet. Hide, make sure he isn't seen. Maybe that was something he had learned from his mother, but maybe more so something he had learned from having a knight.
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on May 3, 2007 22:42:45 GMT -4
Ybury quietly took in everyone’s words. She had heard Rowan’s story before but it still had an impact on her and now she had learned the stories of even more jumis. She suddenly felt as if her life had been easier in comparison. Her past wasn't as filled with sadness as it was with mystery and a touch of uncertainty. Sure she had her sad moments but she didn't have to let go of a lover. She had friends in the past most of whom didn't know she was a jumi which made her wonder what they would have said if they knew. But she learned not to kick herself over what could have been, at least not too much. She had her share of tragedies but not as many as other jumies had. The she met Rowan, she didn't spend too much time on her own from when she started the journey until she met her guardian so she didn't truly taste loneliness. One thing was for sure though, she was determined to make sure nothing ever happened to Rowan and to continue her journey to find what they were all looking for...
|
|
sybil
Rookie
everybody's free
Posts: 68
|
Post by sybil on May 16, 2007 2:46:28 GMT -4
Sadness and pain seemed to suddenly have taken a life of their own and found it suitable to suffocate Celes as she fought to take in all the stories while maintaining a stoic face. Her anger flowed and ebbed at those that had hurt those that had gathered at the table and told their tales, especially at the one that had abandonded her Knight to questions rather then provide her much needed answers.
'He probably was a human, They always bail out when you need them the most' She thought Icyily as she reached out and grasped at a cup she prayed had a spot of wine left in it to soothe her temper and allow her to form sentances rather then strings of curses.
"... These are most likely the stories of many of our Jumi brothers and sisters, those that are lucky enough to still be in the land of the living." She spat, greedily taking in the last few sips of wine that had awaited her in the cup.
|
|
|
Post by Snow on May 18, 2007 17:34:46 GMT -4
Isis gave an agreeing, but solemn nod. "Yeah..." Isis crossed her arms, the seriousness of the situation growing too much for her. "BUT!" She then chirped, "We're here now. One more reason to just keep going."
"You're right, Lady Isis." Rowan said shyly. He wasn't used to agreeing with a knight other than Yruby. "And if that is the case, the more we know, the better. You said you had a notebook?"
Isis nodded again, "Yup." she turned to look aorund the room. She was sure she heard chatter before. 'Hmm?'
'Isis! There's trouble.' called the resting Undine spirit. 'Seems like some ears perked up.'
'Of course.' Isis grumbled. 'Ah well, I can take care of it.'
Isis straightened up her eyes glancing back to Celes and Rowan. She couldn't risk them getting hurt. However, the group of 7 coming towards them were not going to allow for an easy escape.
Rowan immediately tensed up, sensing the hostile energies coming towards them. He looked at Celes then at Yruby. He didn't want a battle to start! His mind grasped at all possiblities that could arise, yet found only battle as the logical answer.
"You have two choices." Isis said as the group leader stopped in front of her. They were a random group of vagabonds. All very large men, who smelled of battle and rum. "You can leave here peacefully, or you can leave here dead."
An axe was pulled from it's resting place, and met with a spear pulled from seemingly nowhere. The joys of locking things away within your heart. Her desire to protect, her ability to fight. Straight from her heartsone came her weapon of choice; a spear, while flashy looking it was still battle worn. "Like I said. Two ways. Your choice."
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on May 19, 2007 14:23:51 GMT -4
Ybury stood up staying by Rowan's side bow and arrow in hand which also seemed to have appeared out of no where. The distance between them was short but she could still, and would if needed, shoot an arrow at them or more. When it came to keeping Rowan safe she placed no limit on her action and would first burn down the town and not realize it in her effort to protect Rowan than let him get a scratch. She didn't want innocent people involved but her protectiveness made all other factors invisible in times a danger, something that she knew she needed to correct yet even if she did Rowan would still always be her top priority.
|
|
|
Post by Snow on May 19, 2007 18:29:43 GMT -4
Yruby and Isis's reactions confirmed that they were Jumi. The group pondered for a moment, almost unsure they wanted to tangle with the two women. "Do I need to repeat myself again, boys?" Isis said, she could see them thinking it over. She half wanted them to attack her, if only to prove that she was not bluffing.
"We'll take the offer." One man said, he appeared in his thirties; despite being with them, he had relatively kind eyes. "We'll go peacefully." He put his hand on his leader's arm and lowered the axe. "Nothing is worth spilled blood. Even as strong as we are, no one is stronger than a Jeweled warrior." His brown eyes glanced to the two guardians at the table. "This is not one of those we an win."
"Jeweled smooled" came the drunken reply of their leader, "I wanna be rich! With a core of them here. WE can be swimmin' in GOLD."
It was now clearly apparent that only their boss wanted trouble. The other six men paled as he lunged for Isis. They dared not move, they did not want to provoke the bowmaster. Even though he attacked, Isis did not really want to kill him. In his drunken state it was easy to parry even with a spear. She raised an eyebrow as she held her spear sideways to stop the axe blade, then shook her head as her knee raised to the man's gut. He fell to the floor a drunken mass.
The man who had spoken before gulped hard. "Forgive us. He's had a hard time." he pleaded. "Have mercy."
Isis grimaced. How many times she wondered had one of her Jumi brethren said such a thing only to be met with lies and an opposite reaction. Her heart stone flashed a brillant blue, as if a storm suddenly engulfed the sea. She turned back to the table and looked to Celes. She could only imagine the scolding she'd get for not finishing. She knelt to the man and held him up to look her in the eyes. "Remember, today, a Jumi saved your life." her eyes narrowed, "If it comes to my attention you betray that, I will find you. You're in my debt now, boy."
Only in batlle did she become so cold. Only when she or Celes was threatened. She stood and looked to the group. "Get out of our sight." she grinned, "Less you wish for my companion here," Isis's eyes darted to Yruby, "To send you to the Goddess."
Rowan was surprised at the sudden change Isis displayed. He was only used to fighting actions from Yruby. He almost didn't know how to handle it when the seven men left the tavern in a hurry and the chatter of the palce started up again as nothing happened.
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on May 19, 2007 22:52:55 GMT -4
It wasn't surprising really. With so many jumi gathered together surely many would try to come after them tempted by their greed or maybe just out of unfair hatred without a base. Yet it was so foolish because together they were stronger. Now she wanted even more to learn about her heritage after meeting more jumi. She wanted to keep searching even more as she was sure they all did.
"Rowan" Ybyry's tone was gentle and her expression in a calm smile unlike a few minutes ago when she was ready to put her arrows to use. "Are you alright?"
|
|
sybil
Rookie
everybody's free
Posts: 68
|
Post by sybil on May 22, 2007 14:57:39 GMT -4
Her mouth had remained closed tightly as the group had dared to come and destroy their gathering, Her fury white hot and blinding as she had looked upon their stupid, rude faces as they leered at each of those seated at the tables heartstones like they were food to ravonus dogs. When she heard Isis let the group go, Her anger spiked even higher as her mouth opened to curse them and the lot that spawned such greedy people.
"Aye, Get the hell out of here before you regret being born, You filthy cur's, You son's of dogs!" She hissed as she stood up sharply from her chair. They had walked in on them at the wrong time, and she desperatly wanted one of them to dare and try to raise their blade against any at the table. She would ensure that the earth itself would swallow them whole. Her eyes fell on her knight with dark approval at Isis reaction, Her eyes were as cold as the arctic sea, and there was a good chance that she would suffer them no trespass should they turn and try to reclaim their 'dignity'.
|
|
|
Post by Snow on May 22, 2007 15:16:37 GMT -4
Isis set her hand on Celes's shoulder. "You can make that face all you like." she started. "I will not be classed with them." she then added before plopping back down next to her companion. Still she could feel trouble brewing in her Aquamarine core; she did not regret letting them go. Nor would she ever.
Isis pondered what to say to take the edge and bite away from her guardian. Nothing came to mind as she crossed her arms.
Rowan nodded, he'd never seen such a rough woman as Celes. He half admired her courage to stand and say such words, and half feared her. "I'm fine, Yruby." He voiced.
---- The group charged out of the tavern, catching the Jumi guardian's words. "Now that one too?!" shouted their rough leader. "Insults to injuries, the wenches."
"Whatever." one of the men said, "I don't care anymore, man. Let's just leave them."
The man who had pleaded before agreed with the second. "Please, boss? It's not worth the trouble."
"We ain't gotta fight 'em." came a fourth reply, "My cousin know this guy, who fights those cursed people for a livin'."
|
|
|
Post by Mikari on May 22, 2007 22:02:32 GMT -4
Ybury smile. "Good" she was very protective of her guardian and certainly willing to turn anyone who threatened him into swiss cheese with arrow holes all over in a split second to keep him safe. She had to admit she liked Celes' spirit though she agreed with Isis but still liked Celes' brave attitude. She was in a bit of a contradiction she noticed but didn't feel her opinions conflicting at all.
|
|
|
Post by Snow on May 23, 2007 1:51:48 GMT -4
After a moment of pondering Isis stood again. "We," she paused glancing around the tavern, "Probably shouldn't linger here. Even though we let them go, I don't trust them." She leaned and picked up the sleeping baby dragon, who quite conviently was never much use.
Rowan stood in his agreeance. "Something tells me, that you are very right." He looked to Yruby, she seemed so concerned about him, but he hadn't just been in a confrontation. No, he should have been more worried about her. "We should..." he grimaced, "Probably leave the city as soon as possible."
|
|