#r'anni

[azure-et-aurum-blog]

Burdens of the Past

(( "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." - Marcus Garvey)) ((Soundtrack for this is Fear not this Night)) ((With @celestial-opposition‘s R’anni and mentioning Nana and Misaki))

Runaway parents. 

Boy in a basket.

Kind orphanage.

A sword.

Miss Kyuusei told me she didn’t know her past. That somehow her memories were erased because of a trauma she suffered. I am the same, not because of a trauma, but because my parents abandoned me for reasons that I don’t know. They left me in a basket in the middle of the night near the margin of a river in Thanalan with a sword and a medium on me.

Someone found me, an old lady that now it is gone, and brought me to an orphanage in Ul’dah. There I grew up, I learned some things and became what I am today.

But this never satisfied me. In a way, I don’t have a past either.

It didn’t help that I was never adopted. Sometimes I felt that I was undesired, useless. Or if it was because of my nature of always runaway... or... if it was because if you adopted me, I would demand to bring my blade too.

I continued my path. I didn’t have anyone else with me, until I found Master Shintaro and Master Nanatsusaya in Ul’dah and they saved me from getting in trouble.

Fast forward, now I met you. You say you have some kind of debt with me because I saved your life, but hey, I don’t complain when a pretty lady wants to hang out with me... please don’t hit me.

I am really happy, that is the truth. This adventure we are now on is my quest to discover my past, and you want to find yourself again after what happened to the circus. So our first stop is Rhalgr’s Reach.

Shintaro said that this place would be a nice start because it is the Ala Mhigan resistance headquarters, he spent a couple nights there before setting journey to help liberate Ala Mhigo, as part of his deal with the Twin Adders and Doma. How he manages to have these contacts I will never know. Anyways!

“We should meet a guy name Bramn. Shin said that he was one of the people he talked most while here and this guy told what he knew about Red Mages. Legends and stuff.”

“It is strange to be here... after so long time...”

“Oh yah, you are from around here, right?”

“Yes. But under Garlean dominance... Gyr Abania was always a cloud of fear.”

“... I can’t even imagine... even when... when the Ca...calamity - right? - came, we were mostly spared somehow.”

“It was... different. I was different too...”

“...right.”

Several adventurers now are around here after the fall of the Empire in this region. We asked around to see where this Bramn is, but the information is scattered. Anni attracts several looks too, I can’t deny that her beauty is another thing. Some folks also look at my blade... I guess that Red Mages are really something else here.

We finally reach the guy they call Bramn, taking care of some cannons near the lake.

“Ay, I’m the Bramn you folks are lookin’ for.” He looks serious, his eyes almost pierce my head, so focused the bloke is. “State your business.”

“My name is Jonah... I am from the Forever Blue Incorporated, disciple of Shintaro...”

“Tenryuu? Hah. That son of a morbol has a disciple now? I knew that wanderer and lonely ‘tuff and all was only to impress the ladies... MWAHAHAH!” The laugh of the man is amazingly loud, I should say... “Come come... let’s take a walk. Say, what brings you here... Jonah of the Forever Blue? And this pretty lady with you...”

“Anni, of the R’ tribe.”

“Anni. Now that you mention... don’t you have a tribe, Jonnie?”

“Ahm... I... don’t...”

“Hey, you're among friends 'ere... look around. How many of these blokes you think that lost their homes and families...?”

“I don’t know... lots?” I scratch my head trying to decide what I could answer to this.

“That’s a rhetorical question, lad. O’course I don’t know the numbers... but yah, you’re right. Lots. Including me. The burdens of the past...”

“And... can you help me..?” I take my sword out of the sheathe and show to him. “This... blade’s with me when I’s a baby... when found me. They said it could be from my parents... but I don’t know...”

“Hmm. A fine rapier I must say... it is nothin’ like what the koppranickel blokes bring around ‘ere. This is customized, fo’ sure...” He picks the blade from my hand and looks to the whole thing. “Ah, here it is... quite the place for hiding a signature...”

“A... signature?” I try to look at my blade, I never saw any writings on it, nor a signature in any way... “Where...?”

“’Ere, lad. Over ‘ere.” He shows me the blade but I can’t see what he is talking about... “What, are you blind? This little gemstone! This is the signature. When a smith crafts sum’thing for a red mage around here, they leave a signature. This gemstone is the signature.”

“And you know who crafted?” I raised my ears and opened my eyes in awe. I was finally taking a step forward!

“O’course! Or else that sunnova morbol wouldn’t have sent you here... would he? His name is Dornkirk. ‘Tis the good news.”

“Please don’t tell me he is dead.” I lower my ears in disappointment, already expecting the answer.

“MWAHAHAHA! You bloke surly is fun.” He taps my shoulder. “Nah, lad. The problem is about the last we heard of him...”

“What about it?”

“He was working for the garlean scum.”

[celestial-opposition]

“They will come for us...”

[azure-et-aurum-blog]

Epilogue: Into the Blue, Forever.

((Concludes the Saga of The Forever Blue)) ((Soundtrack for this is: Blue Forever)) ((Featuring characters by @celestial-opposition))

It was the end of the so-called Mister Wise. And at the same time, we could understand the past of Kannitha, Master of Ceremonies. She is down on the ground, but breathing. In the end, Nanatsusaya was right and the monster was bluffing. I see Jonah running towards Anni to check her right away. She seems unharmed too, thankfully.

We get out of the room and back to the place we were before. It is very different now, we can see the light coming through the broken walls, meaning that the influence of the Void was passing.

Outside, a troop of Adders awaits us. It appears they got my message. I am ready to be taken as a prisoner when their Captain ditches the thought. He says that my squad members told the commander about what happened, but they needed to dispatch some men to check the place. When they arrived, they saw the dark clouds dissipating and destroyed some voidsent that tried to escape. In the end, Kannitha explained everything to them and they would report to the HQ, cleaning any charges against me.

Our house is destroyed, falling to pieces. We will have to rebuild from the ground. However, more than ever, we are as a family. If I am to be the leader of the Forever Blue from now on, I think that I need to understand what this will mean, but I will gladly take this from now on. I took care of Misaki when she was a lost lamb, and I made a promise that I would help in whatever I can to make Jonah become the unleashed talent that Shin says he is. So be it. I will do my best. I look at Len, by my side, and she comforts my worried eyes. She raises her head and in whispering words she tells me not to be concerned, that she will be there for me. I smile and nod to her in return, appreciating the thought. 

I took my father’s blade and went to see how Anni was. I wanted to tell her first about my plan. She is from there, as we were chatting before. She said she could help me... I believe in her. But... I don’t want to just leave them behind. I want to help. And when I told him this, Nana said that it would be fine. That Len and him would take care of everything. He is the best... almost made me cry... when he said that he understood. He told me to remember all my training, and that I should take my time... I see R’anni and smile to her. She says that we will find my family and my origins. Somehow, she makes me believe in the unbelievable.

We all gathered at the lominsan docks. The last time we did this was when I traveled to Hingashi, starting what would be one of the most important parts of my life. By that time we had Laurana, Khutula, Bralfagyr, Kiriya, Seda... it is so different now. So many new faces, new companions. Kiriya, however is still there.

Nanatsusaya promised me that he will see to the rebuilding of the house of our Free Company. Len said that she will make sure that Nanatsusaya won’t be lazying around like the big loaf he is. I laugh at the practical joke and Nanatsusaya seems really embarrassed. I put my hand in his shoulder, thanking him for his hard work and everything he did so far.

Jonah will journey to the East with R’anni. To the direction of Gyr Abania wastes, where several Seeker of the Sun tribes are settled after the Battle of Ala Mhigo. I give to him my bless and wish him all the luck on the world, because I understand what it is like to not know what happened to your parents.

Iara, the latest addition to our ranks, says she will travel through some parts of Eorzea, to understand what will be her role in this world now. Kannitha asked to go with her, now that the Circus is gone, and they agreed to be travelling companions for now. Both lost their groups, and I hope they find in each other the support they need right now.

Kakero was talking to Oceanne when I came to say my farewells to both. Oceanne tells me that she is getting closer to a breakthrough discovery that can help Kakero overcome his void illness once and for all. My dear captain don’t say much more to me than the simple words a man could say, wishing safe travels. But his look is no longer of a tired man without anything in his life. He found a meaning, a purpose, I can see that.

Misaki finishes her own farewells and we board our ship. It is time to see how my homeland is after so long. This was my idea, after what I dreamed when I was under Inunaki’s spell. I would visit my old estate, Musume... and to show Misaki how it is there. She never went to my estate, so it would be something interesting. As the ship sets sail from Limsa Lominsa, we watch the people we met in our journeys down there. So many memories and so many adventures. We will be back, that’s for sure. 

But until then, like my old Captain Kakero would say: “Into the Blue, Forever”.

(Ruins of Gelmorra site, the next day)

The wind sounded harsh followed by leaves and dust at the only surface ruins of the predominant underground civilization of Gelmorra. Usually a deserted place, sounds of patient steps come one after another, cautiously trailing the stonework remains. The steps belonged to a man, a midlander, walking in a fancy armor and a giant sword on his back.

“I know you are here, monster.” His voice was cold and deep. Sure of his own statement. “I followed your stench from the castle to here, metaphorically speaking, of course. You leave a very bright trail for someone that is known for deception and treachery.”

There was no answer. However, the knight continued walking, slowly and steady. Letting out a sigh, he tries again, now drawing his sword.

“Dog. Please... you are already dead. What good will come from you now? I know about your clan, I know that you serve under the House of Juno. That your Regnatrix is afraid of a Blue Lightning... I know that you are the answer for... my problem.”

He pierces the stonework with his sword, and the sound that it makes is not only of steel clashing the stone, but also skin being ripped apart. A black cloud rises. He lowers his body, whispering to the invisible monster in front of him.

“Trying to escape? You can’t.” He laughs a bit. “You see, this sword is linked to an artifact that collects void essence. Yes, Inunaki... I know who you are and what you are. Your name was the key. Now you will be trapped and I will use your essence to save my sister from your miserable kind. And then I will go after your precious House of Juno, and make you all pay for what you did.... what? Did you say something?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. Your essence is mine, and I am closer to save my sister from her curse.”

[azure-et-aurum-blog]

Prelude to Endgame

((Continues from Into the Future )) ((Soundtrack for this is Prelude in Moonlight )) ((Featuring characters by @celestial-opposition ))

“W-Well... I... I am waiting for your answer.” I said looking in her eyes in shock and giving a nervous chuckle. Probably wrong time? Perhaps I should have waited for her to give a hint? I just hope that this won’t come out as desperate too... why am I thinking so much?! I should... breathe... calm myself...

"Of....of course I want to marry you Shin. Without you... Without you I wouldn't be here, happy with you and with everyone around us. Without you I wouldn't have a meaning to keep going. I... I want to be with you forever." She answers recovering from the initial surprise. I can see her turning red, like she never was. I am at a loss for words. I just get up and hold her tight in my arms, almost crying of happiness.

I can hear Len screaming and squealing from the door. Something about “Praise be the Kami, finally!!” and then the sound is suppressed, I believe someone covered her mouth. But it was too late.

“You can come in Len... and... probably Nanatsusaya too.” I yell to the eavesdroppers and Len busts the door open showing her tongue to the tall Xaela in defiance. I smile to them and see the Malaguld nodding his head and smiling to me, in approval. I nod back to him. They congratulate us, Len hugging Misaki and jumping around. Nanatsusaya pats Misaki’s head. As they settle, I speak again. “I am sorry, I was about to tell you all anyway. There was no need... but since you are here, I wanted to say another thing. To you Nanatsusaya.”

“I am not going to marry you too, Raen.” He makes a snarky comment. Typical.

“Not that! I’ve... made some big mistakes recently. And you were the one that held our horses here with Misaki. I was thinking... before all of this, but... now it seems the appropriate time.”

“Hm? What is it, Shintaro? You seem serious about this.” Len watches me closely, reading my face.

“Yes, Quite. There is no other man that I know that would be better fit for a position of leadership in our institution. I want you, Nanatsusaya, to be the new leader of the Forever Blue Inc.”

“Are you thinking about helping them again?” Oceanne gave me a stern look. I let out a groan reacting the bluntness of that woman. I know what it will come out of her mouth from there. She will lecture me, like she always does. “You know very well that I cannot accompany you in this madness. If you... if you damage our treatment, there will be no coming back. It will all go down to the drain.”

“I know, woman. You don’t need to tell me this every time, damn.” I turn my back to her, I can hear her shoes knocking on the floor, she is impatient. “He is my friend. My companion. Part of my crew.”

“Here you are again, talking captain nonsense gibberish” She turns her back to me this time. I come close to her and put my hands on her shoulder. She shivers a bit. “W-what are you d-doing?” She asks tumbling on her words.

“Why don’t you say that you worry about me already, Oceanne?”

“T-The hells are you talking about?” She denies but I feel her body getting warm, her cheeks getting red. “You... are just a patient... aren’t you?”

I grab her arms and turn her around to see her in her eyes. She is proud, she wouldn’t let me see her fragile, or vulnerable. She frowns her brows and pushes me lightly. I grab her tighter, pressing her back against the wall. She widened her eyes behind those glasses and her breathing became irregular.

“Y-You are a fool...” She whispers approaching to my face.

“And this is why I will come back...” I kiss her soft lips for a brief moment.

I am back to my studio in Limsa Lominsa. I left the Forever Blue house an hour ago, after discussing the payment with the Xaela. Their friend, a man called Shintaro, is now saved. And I have the essence used to make him fall asleep in the void dream.

I take my time analyzing the sample. Probably 2 or 3 hours. I came with some interesting conclusions. There is an old Othardian legend, about a Man-Dog, a monster that could make his victims fall in a deep slumber to drain their spirit and make them become soulless slaves to their wishes. Inunaki was the name. This word slipped a few times from different mouths in that house but I thought it was some sort of enemy summoner, or a conjurer of sorts.

This finding is of utmost importance. If those people... the Forever Blue... they are after a powerful voidsent, then they are the missing key to my mission.

“I will save you, Aisha. No matter what this will cost, or what I need to do. I will save you, my sister.”

We sat at the kitchen hall to relax a bit after all we went through. I gave them both news, of my marriage with Misaki, and the fact that Nanatsusaya would be in charge of the Forever Blue Inc. from now on. They were quite happy, from what I can see, since they started to drain our stock of wines and food. I could see Jonah eating cake with the new lady, Anni. Nanatsusaya was talking with Iara and Kakero, while Len was chatting with Misaki and Oceanne.

We were all taken by surprise when an explosion came from the upper floor. Misaki held my arm tightly and we all went up to see that our front door was blasted. Outside we could see a woman, with red hair. I couldn’t recognize her, but Nanatsusaya and Jonah yelled at the same time, telling that she was one of the members of the Circus, the one that told about Anni. The miqo’te screamed her name in surprise ‘Valentia’, but her voice was not of this world, and it was quite familiar.

“What a charming and warm reunion. It is a shame that I will have to spoil it.”

“Inunaki!” I said. “What a surprise appearing here. It will save my effort to find you and put you down forever!”

“Nah-ah, Shintaro. I am not here to fight you. I am here to take her!” Inunaki points to Anni, making her float fast towards his direction. I couldn’t reach her and while the voidsent grabbed her, it laughs maniacally, conjuring some sort of portal.

“No, you won’t!” From behind me, Jonah leaped as fast as he could to the portal and didn’t listen to my plead to stop. He manages to grab Inunaki and pushes both to the portal, that closes as soon as they get through.

“No!” Nanatsusaya punches the column of our house in frustration. “Damn you, Jonah! I should have gone with you!”

“The boy... he is quite reckless.” Kakero adds. “But he is not fully dumb, it seems.” He picked something from the floor. Faintly glowing in yellow on his hand, a Red Mage medium floats. “I believe we can... find him with this. We have no time to waste.”

I look behind and see our house, the work of several lives and moons crumbling, and I can’t help but to feel sad. But looking at this small hope, at how Jonah could give us this chance, I take a deep breath and look to all of my companions. I look to Misaki. “Yes. Let’s do this, together. Jonah... Anni. They need us now.”

[azure-et-aurum-blog]

“In the night, when I'm wounded and tired, I want to meet you In the arms of love, I wish I could sleep And all these hard battles Are what I don't want to think about

Ah, I look up to the blue sky I pledged to never get rid of my burning desires  Ah, I can't forget this Blue And its forever brilliance...”

((The IC Forever Blue members w/ @celestial-opposition))

[azure-et-aurum-blog]

“Thanks a bunch, Anni... for being with me in this...”

[celestial-opposition]

“We will find your story... I know this... Whenever you need me I will be on your side cause you saved me and showed to me that I can have another opportunity to make things right.”

[celestial-opposition]

Diary Entry - R’anni Vheo

((This is a diary from R’anni of her days before the Circus’ Arc that is current happening with the Forever Blue Inc.)) ((tagging @jlaweez for mention from Kannitha and Jonah))

I don’t know how to start this but I’m glad that I free now. I was born in Ala Ghiri, Gyr Abania during the Garlean invasion, my family was poor so we had to flee for not be killed by the Imperials when they did some raids in the city. If you know Ala Ghiri is kind well known for her beautiful women and most of them decided to live as a courtesan to be able to remain in the city.

Before one of the Imperial raids, my parents decided that we should flee to Thanalan so we fled, I hoped that our live there would be better but I was wrong. After some moons living in the streets of Ul’dah, my mother was killed by a disease she got since we were living in the streets. My father… Well my father became alcoholic, I only had a few other friends there, most of them from the streets and refugees like me. The only good time that I had was with them and I kinda miss them.

Even living in the streets and my father having his drinking problem, I was happy. I “was”... Having some friends helped me to forget how hard was to live in the streets. One of those days I lost contact with these friends as they were sold into slavery or to a brothel, my father was in debt with some people and… he decided to sell me to pay his debts, it was the most disgusting time of my life but at same time made me to find who I am.

I “worked” as a Songstress in the Amajina & Sons, but sometimes I was forced to work as a courtesan, I have to say that the only part of that work that I liked was to sing to the crowd, seeing they smiling as they hear your voice, your songs. Most of my songs was song of sorrow and pain, but sometimes I sang some happy ones, about my hometown, of how beautiful Gyr Abania is. I only loved to sing, the courtesan part of the work was the disgusting one, being forced to accompany some of the wealth men that was visiting Ul’dah for business only cause you have to pay your father’s debt. I don’t like to remember this part of my life, but it molded me to who I am and if wasn’t for it, I wouldn’t find another place to be and be free from this nightmare.

One of those clients that hired me as their accompany was a ringmaster from a Circus that I didn’t know until that day, I was kind of afraid for being with him I felt something that wasn’t natural but at same time I felt safe for once. Once the “date” was over, I have to admit that I was scared of the possibility for being raped like most of the previous client tried to, but his serene look made all my ghosts behind as he offered me a escape, join his crew in Thavnair and work as a proper Songstress in his circus. Without thinking I accepted that, the only condition was that I had to at least stay in Ul’dah until the Circus went to Thanalan so I would be able to flee with them and head to Thavnair.

Everything was fine, I just had to endure for three more weeks as an Ul’dahn Songstress, and my heart ached every time the ‘deadline’ was closer. I saw some of my friends being sold to slavery, work in Copperbell Mines, others just couldn’t take anymore and killed themselves. I know they didn’t want me to be sad cause I was their inspiration that someday things would be better.

The deadline approaches and I was in a day off from the Brothel, I heard that a Circus is going to Ul’dah and my heart races, it was the day that I could stop worrying about the clients that I had to have a “date” with and if they would want me for something more than just company. I walked in the most common clothes that I could find and watched the presentation in the large crowd. Everything was so magnificent that my eyes sparkled for the first time after years, seeing how beautiful was everything, how passionate they were for their work, something that I only felt when singing.

The night came and I rendezvous with the ringmaster near the place where they were presenting. Asking if I was sure that I wanted to leave everyone behind, I agreed with my eyes in tears. I know that choosing this I wouldn’t be able to see my father and the few friends that were alive, but I needed to free myself from that nightmare.

I was already with a small bag of clothes with me when he said that I could be part of the Circus, we were supposed to go to Thavnair in a few bells so I had my last chance to say goodbye to those that I care. I choose to not do it cause it would be harder than anything see them while I go and they remain here in this forsaken city. I have to say that my days with the Circus was the best thing that happened with me until our ringmaster’s death.

After he passed away, Kannitha decided to wear his mantle and keep the circus alive, but everything changed. She wasn’t the same Kannitha that I once knew when I was introduced to them in Ul’dah she looked more dark than the happy xaelic woman that I met. We went in a presentation in Gridania, which I decided to not be part of, this made our ringmaster angry, I don’t know what happened after our discussion I only know that I woke up tied in the lake of the Cathedral of the Twelve, almost drowning until I was saved by one young miqo’te called Jonah.

I… I felt safe again when he untied and protected me from those monsters that I don’t know who or what they’re. I felt his warm comforting me while I tried to stay calm, seeing that he got hurt by an attack of those things made me sad and worry. I didn’t want to hurt anyone again, not after all the good things that I thought I would have. Maybe, maybe I wasn’t supposed to be with the Circus… but if wasn’t for them… I wouldn’t be save by him and wouldn’t be alive now.