Looking Ahead

I hope 2011 will bring more development for Shokiyu, and maybe the beginning of the story--only time will tell

Viginette #36: Grace

"But why would you, Glorian, allow me, a lowly apprentice, to enter your stall when I am not technically allowed to be in here?" Bradlin asked as he stared up at the majestic red dragon looming over him. He knew very well that a dragon could attack anyone it deemed an intruder, apprentices included, and he could see the large bulky muscles under its glinting deep red scales. Worse still were the sharp claws capable of tearing a man to shreds--despite the fact that the dragon was calm, it could very well decide to kill him and eat him in a matter of seconds.

"You have shown much kindness to me, little one." came the dragon's reply. "So why would I kill someone that has earned my trust?"

"You really trust me, Glorian?" Bradlin was surprised.

"Yes--I suppose humans call this feeling 'grace'." Glorian assured the human alongside her. "After all, you are one of the many apprentices responsible for my well being."

Viginette #35: Mercy

"Did you find the source of the crying?" Miresa asked as she dashed through the woods. For most of the day, an odd crying had been heard coming from the woods, and Miresa had volunteered for the elder to find out just who--or what--the crying belonged to.

She heard a "YIPE!" and a small growl as Arune darted away from the errant paw of a wolf cub. "It was only a baby wolf."

"No wonder it was crying--someone trapped it." Miresa smiled as she freed the tiny canine's paw from a jaw trap.

Viginette #34: Frustration

It started innocently enough
I came to claim the golden coin
That a friend of mine had given to me
When the explorer's club I did join

It was worth 100,000 pieces
Although spending it sounded appealing
I opted to save it, just in case
I needed something like an emergency healing

"Well, where was it last?" Arune said
When I told her it was gone
"I left it here on the table" I said
"It was still there at dawn,"

"And no one broke in and stole it from me
(or at least no one I know)
So now my question to you is
Just where did it go?"

"Have you looked in your room?" Arune pressed further.
"Yes, and it was not there.
And I'm not about to say
Someone took it on a dare."

"I am not saying it was taken." Arune said
"No one else even handled your gift
So accusing someone straight away
Would probably cause a rift."

"But I have no reason to accuse," I said
"since the only hands it touched were mine.
And I have better things to do
Than sit here and whine."

So we looked under every nook and cranny
Behind every piece of furniture, and even cast a spell
To show us hidden places
Or cracks into which it fell.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost
Arune saw a gleam
From an empty container on the table
That used to be holding cream

"See here your coin?" she smiled to me
My treasure found at last
"Now I remember, I put it in there
Like I have done in the past."

Viginette #33: Sympathy

When I come home at the day's end
And things have not gone my way
I can at least count on some comforts from a friend

So I tell Arune about my day
And all the trials that happened
And she listens to my tearful telling

Of mishaps and tribulations
And maybe a heckle from Halliwen or two
She does not judge, and does not scold

Just assures me all will be well
Then she conjures a feast of my favorite foods
To make me feel better

Viginette #32: Rivalry

So here I am in my chamber again
Punished for something I didn't mean to do
But since it will calm me down a little
I will explain what happened to you

You see, there's a fellow apprentice named Halliwen
Whose hair is obsidian black
She sees herself as a rival to me
And as such, gives me a lot of flack

And tells me she's the best at everything
(Which couldn't be farther from being true)
But I digress, here's what she did today
To make me feel so blue

She challenged me to make the high mage's stones
Dance a merry little jig
But in the process, I named the wrong spell
Turning one stone into a fig

I did my best to hide my deed
Before the high mage arrived
Halliwen claimed that I had cast the spell on my own choice
But her story was quite contrived

Although I had returned the fig to its true form
The High Mage believed Halliwen's lie
And confined me here without any food
Seemingly till the day I die

Merry Christmas!

All the beings on Shokiyu wish you Merry Christmas

Christmas Break

I will not be posting today or tomorrow for Christmas. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Viginette #31: Loyalty

This is where Miresa and Arune meet:

"Fine time to be chased by a bat..." Arune grumbled as she frantically tried to wriggle free from the vines that had snagged her wings. She had been trapped there for thirty minutes now, while being pursued by a bat that has mistook her for a mosquito. While trying to elude her pursuer, she thought to pass through a small hole created by some branches, not knowing some vines were there.

Just when she was about to worry about whether or not her fellow Wingblades would have to send a search party to find her and free her, she felt herself being picked up, making her yelp in surprise.

"Oh, did I scare you, miss fairy? I'm sorry." came a reassuring female voice. "I'm not going to hurt you, okay?"

Arune looked before her to see a young girl studying where her wings were snagged. "I must thank you for your kindness, miss." she smiled, ever aware of the small pocketknife that loomed inches from her wings.

"Okay, I'm going to have to cut the vines to get you out." the girl assured Arune. Arune shuddered, but then heard a SNAP! as one vine that had held her went falling to the ground, followed by another SNAP! seconds later, sending her falling into her rescuer's hands.

"Arune?" Arune heard the flit of more fairy wings approaching as her unit approached, with Farfalla leading the way. "I see you found an Other..."

"Yes, this girl rescued me when I got caught up in these vines here..." Arune explained as she gestured to the vines. "With your permission, I'd like to remain with her and protect her in return for her kindness to me.

Farfalla thought for a moment. "If that is what you wish, Arune, permission granted. You two are now Others, sworn to protect each other to the end of time."

Arune turned to look at the girl. "Well, if you are my Other, then I at least want to know your name."

"My name is Miresa." the girl replied as she tucked Arune into her hands. "A pleasure to meet you."

Viginette #30: Cloudgazing

"Miresa?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think that cloud looks like?"

"A butterfly."

"Really? Hmm...that one looks like a dragon."

"Almost every cloud you see looks like a dragon!"

"Not that one."

"Oh?"

"That one looks like a fairy. Could it possibly be Arune?"

"Maybe...that one looks like a ring!"

"And that one a shining stone!'

"That one looks like a girl wielding magia."

"What kind?"

"Wind, of course."

Viginette #29: My Favorite Things

"What a nice day to go on a walk!" Arune smiled as she felt the spring breeze ripple her hair.

"I know." Miresa agreed as she felt the grass crunch beneath her feet. "Since I don't have any chores to do today, I thought I'd come out here and play a few tunes." With that, she settled down at the peak of the hill, retrieved a newly made silver flute from her bag, and began a spritely melody.

"Insteresting song..." A familiar male voice startled Miresa from her song.

"It's only Bradlin." Arune assured her Other, pointing out Bradlin making his way up the hill.

"I came to ask if you want to look for magia crystals in the river." Bradlin asked as he sat down beside his friend.

"Or, remember Lady Galia will be telling tales on the town square today..." Arune interjected.

"What a dillema...." Miresa mused. "I like mining magia crystals, but Lady Galia tells the best stories."

Viginette #28: Mail

Another pre overhaul viginette:

"You got a letter today, Miresa." Arune started as she flitted into the room clutching an envelope postmarked with the dragoons' crest. "From Bradlin."

"He got my first letter yesterday..." Miresa smiled as she took the envelope. "Good."

"But why would you two write letters to each other when you see each other each day?" Arune wondered.

"It is true that we see each other every day--but neither of us has a clue what goes on in the other lodge." Miresa explained. "So I send him letters detailing what it's like as a blademage, and he tells me what it's like as a dragoon."

"Well, what has he told you today?" Arune was interested now.

"It says..." and Miresa began reading the open letter. "Dear Miresa: Thanks for telling me what a typical day is like as a blademage, so now I'll tell you what a dragoon's day is like. We wake up early in the morning and assemble outside to raise our banner. Once taht is done, we eat breakfast and are assigned our chores for the day--cleaning the dining hall, tending to the dragons, and things like that..."

Viginette #27: Routines

The birds outside jolted Miresa from her sleep. It was barely a few minutes before the temple belltower would strike the Hour of Day's Ruby, and she wasn't quite ready to wake. She closed the curtains with a yawn, effectively shutting out the birds heralding the sunrise outside.

She had barely started back to her bed when she heard the tinkling chimes from the bell tower. Okay, okay, I'm up, for Meikon's sake! she silently grumbled as she made her way to the dresser.

"Good morning, Miresa...." Arune smiled as she made her own bed. "I trust you slept well?"

"I guess...." Miresa groggily yawned as she stepped behind a screen to dress.

Arune waited for the thumping and ruffles behind the screen to quiet, and then guided her now dressed Other to the bathing room to wash up for breakfast. After combing out her messy hair and brushing her teeth, Miresa trooped downstairs to the dining hall, where the other apprentices were beginning to convene for breakfast.

Viginette #26: Anniversary

"You know what today is?" Bradlin asked Miresa as she came into the town library. "Today marks the thirtieth year since the Fifth Gemsinger appeared and began his quest."

"Really?" Miresa was impressed. "Has it really been that long?"

"Didn't you always beg the Seer to tell the story of his clever way of finding the Water Sigil?" Arune asked.

"Yes! I did!" Miresa smiled.

"I remember that story--he was confronted by a moon shaped indentation in the wall of one room, and an inscription that said 'May the moon shine down upon the water and grant thee the water's Sigil.'" Bradlin added. "However, memory escapes me as to how he figured out the puzzle."

"He saw a hole that caused the light from the torch in another room to hit the indentation. So he set a moon shaped jewel he found earlier into the indentation, making the room appear to fill with water." Miresa replied. "Of course, the 'water' was really a blue dragon slime."

"Oh my!" Arune gasped. "How did he defeat it?"

"He sang a Lightning spell--what this spell is depends on who's telling the story--and zapped it, easily earning him the Sigil." Bradlin replied.

"I've heard that the Shrines of the Sigils are enchanted, so no two people will go inside and see it arranged in the exact same way." Miresa noted. "I'd love it if Meikon called me as the Gemsinger and allowed me access."

"You, the Gemsinger? Like THAT'S a Stone of Power!" Bradlin guffawed.

"Haven't you paid attention to what Lady Galia always says?" Miresa retorted. "The High Goddess can call anyone to be the Gemsinger--and anyone means either me or you, despite the fact neither of us can wield magia."

Shokiyan Cultures and Customs, Day 4

◦What personal weapons are available to anyone who can afford them? Are some considered “for nobles only” either by custom or by law? Are there laws forbidding certain classes from being armed at all?

Swords (or daggers), bows, and axes can be used by anyone with the proper training, although a dagger or shortsword is the biggest sword a commoner usually gets (the bigger ones are for certain classes)

Viginette #25: Changing Seasons

"Goodness, it's cold..." Miresa shivered as she tromped through the snowy forest. Deep down, she wished she were not the apprentice that had to get the firewood.

"If you're wishing for warm weather, I see one sign spring is on its way." Arune assured Miresa as she pointed out a small crocus bud peeking through the snow.

Miresa examined the tiny blue-purple flower and smiled--soon, the snow would be gone for another year, and the trees would get new leaves.

Shokiyan Culture and Customs, Day 3

◦What is considered a normal family unit? How extended is an extended family? How important are family connections and responsibilities?

A Shokiyan family at minimum consista of a male figure, a female figure, and usually a child. Extended family usually consists of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins (although not usually under the same roof).

Shokiyans value their family deeply, and do their best to keep in touch and maintain good relations (or make amends if something goes bad.)

Viginette #24: A Gift

"Miresa?" Lyri asked, snapping the young auburn haired girl from the book she was reading.

"What is it, Mother?" Miresa asked as she set the book back on the shelf.

"I have a gift for you--consider it a reward for your high grades in school." Lyri replied as she offered Miresa an ornate light green box decorated in gold swirls.

Miresa studied the box for a moment--the instrument maker in town always packaged his instruments in boxes like these. But what instrument she got was her most urgent question. "May I open it?"

"Of course." Lyri watched as Miresa carefully opened the box and lifted a tiny gold flute from the magia infused wrapping. After noticing there was a book of songs in the box as well, Miresa took that, thumbed to the tune "The Jolly Dragoon", gently touched the mouthpiece to her lips--and blew a loud squawk rather than the high, singing tone whistles were known for.

Viginette #23: Music

"You're here, Miresa...good." a black haired woman smiled as her auburn haired charge settled before the wooden music stand. "Let's review from yesterday: How should you hold the whistle?"

"Right hand resting on the top three fingerholes, the left hand on the bottom three." Miresa softly replied--deep down, she was still unsure of how well she had practiced the piece that was assigned the day before.

"And if your left hand is your dominant hand?" Her teacher's voice snapped her back to the present.

"Then you should have the left hand over the right." she replied, toying with the tiny gold end-blown flute in her hands.

"How much of the mouthpiece should you put into your mouth?" came the next question.

"No more than an inch." Miresa answered.

"What should the ideal breath for a whistle feel like?"

"A warm summer breeze."

Satisfied with Miresa's answer to her last question, the woman smiled. "Very good...now, play for me what I assigned you to practice yesterday."

Miresa sighed, and said the name of the piece, as was required before any music student performed. "Phantom Hymn." She gasped when she saw her instrument start to glow a pale pink, but she just waved this off as normal. No sooner had she started the first few notes of the tune, did she notice a few ghostly creatures dancing in the air before she abruptly stopped playing, making them disappear.

"What's the matter?" her teacher asked, concerned.

"Was it normal for my instrument to be glowing pink when I said the name of the piece?"

"Oh no--you may have somehow named a spell!" the teacher gasped. "It was a good then you stopped playing when you did, because I do not know if you would have been able to control the phantoms you summoned."

Viginette #22: Gossip

The sun was just beginning to set when Arune arrived in the small grove overlooking the town square. It had only been a day since her Other had awakened as the Sixth Gemsinger, and already the rumors and gossip were flying:

"She calls herself the Gemsinger? Like that's a Stone of Power!"

"Isn't she the blademage apprentice that always causes accidents?"

"Of course! Who won't forget what happened with the magia powered stove?"

"Isn't she Lyri's daughter?"

"Has she even done any of the three things the Sixth Gemsinger was foretold to do within hours of awakening?"

I can't believe they would speak of Miresa like this! Arune thought as she flitted away. I hope Miresa finds the courage to prove all of them wrong.

Shokiyan Culture and Customs, Day 2

◦Does the weather or climate contribute any habits or customs, such as the mid-afternoon siesta in hot countries?

Shokiyans in hot areas take the concept of the siesta one step further to mean just resting overall during the heat of the day

Shokiyan Culture and Customs, Day 1

◦Do average people believe old tales, or do they dismiss some that have a basis in fact?

Shokiyans believe very much in old tales, since one of them (The Gemsinger Legend) saves their world in its darkest hour

Next topic?

What shall we talk about next in Shokiyu?

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 10

◦How are books produced? Are they common (has the printing press been invented) or are they rare, valuable, expensive, hand-written objects? If the latter, who has the time and skill to produce them?

Books are plentiful in Shokiyu, but they are not mass produced by a printing press--they are printed via magic by mages at the major publishing houses

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 9

◦How do people find out what is happening in the world — rumor, town crier, newspapers, TV and radio? How slanted is the news they get this way, and in what direction? Is there freedom of the press? If not, who controls/censors it and by what means?

Shokiyans usually get their news via a town messsage board, where notices and events are posted, rumors and by wandering minstrels, which my be slanted depending on how they feel about the person or issue they are singing about. (so if they loved Leria, they wouls sing her praises, or if they didn't like something she did, they would poke fun at her)

The press is reasonably free, but potentially objectional material (eg. inciting violence or rebellion, for example) is reviewed by a team of mages. If nothing is found, it is published, but if objectional material is found, the work may have the offending material magically erased or rewritten to not being published at all

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 8

◦Are some classes of people (slaves, peasants) not expected to travel at all? Are some (heralds, messengers) expected to travel constantly?

Every Shokiyan, be they slave or free, usually travels at some point in life (slaves just go with their masters.) That said, some merchants and minstrels are always on the go. (In The Video Game), there is a minstrel that keeps track of what you have recently done and what you need to be doing, so you don't forget.)

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 7

◦Where would a traveler stay at night? Are there enough travelers to support inns, or do people have to stay at some equivalent of medieval monasteries?

Inns are very common--room rates are fairly cheap in well traveled areas, and at most inns you get a free meal as part of your stay

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 6

◦What is the fastest means of traveling long distances over land? Over water? Which methods are safest?

On land, by deerback, and on water, by ship. Safetywise, teleportation is the best (provided you're tapping a teleportation crystal)

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 5

◦How common is travel (for any reason)?

Travel is very common, be it for business or pleasure. Bandits don't usually roam in well traveled areas--they tend to hole up nearby the mountains, where it is less traveled, so people usually travel in groups (at least two or three people) if going into the mountains or the highlands

The Latest on The Video Game

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Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 4

◦How available is water transportation? How reliable? How dangerous? How expensive?

Ships are common around costal areas and port towns, although people by a river often build boats of their own as well. Ships are relatively reliable and safe (pirate encounters are somewhat rare; it's the weather that's the main worry) at a high cost (riverboats are much cheaper because of their high traffic rates)

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 3

◦How are messages sent when necessary? Is there a public/private postal system, or does everyone of importance have to send messengers? How fast can news get from A to B?

In addition to human messengers, many Shokiyans also send trained animals with messages. Seers and those trained by them can use telepathy, but this is reserved for sensitive messages.

There is a postal system that is relatively fast--mail can get to point A to point B in two to five days if conditions are good