Note to my Fellow Rpers: Hi guys. Since I always seem to end up posting my stories in more than one spot I decided to find one central place to store them and this is it! The other nice thing is that it helps others to learn and maybe try out RP.
Note to FFNET Readers: This story is basically a record of the life of my RP Character Tsumi whom I RP on the Asura server. For those of you not familiar we RP you basically create a background and personality for your character. Most of us also write storylines and when you interact with other people's characters as your character they grow, change and become part of other characters stories.
Disclaimers:
FFXI Online, its storyline, Characters and the Shadow Lord NPC are not my creations I merely borrow them for this story.
Zaledo and Zhuvin are the creation of a friend of mine that I used to RP with on the Crystal Warriors LS in Asura server. Malvok and Bulnoi were Zaledo's original visions and he was gracious enough to let me write a storyline with him and expand on that vision. Much of the first part of this story come from the creative minds of Zal and Zhu!
Ryu John/Dark Samurai is the creation of another friend of mine who I have been Rping with for 3 years on Asura server in the Children of Altana, Gauntlet and Trial By Fire Linkshells. His friend Cyraniel, who doesn't RP with us any longer, and he wrote a wonderful storyline that I was lucky to get in on. You will see part of that in my stories.
Resiner, Aeran and Phineaous were all rpers on the Children of Altana LS which existed for many years on Asura server. They may or may not RP very often anymore but they are all wonderful rpers and friends.
The Path of Revenge
Chapter 1
Tsumi frowned beneath the cowl. She should have known that Zaledo's Trail would lead to the place she hated most in Vanadiel, the Kingdom of San d' Oria. The place where her whole miserable life had started brought up too many memories she'd tried to put behind her. Also, she was afraid she would be recognized although she was older and had assumed another name. For this reason she avoided the Kingdom as often as she could and always made her stay brief. She kept away from the Chateau and as far from any knight as possible.
Of course this only complicated her task but it didn't stop her. She had found out that apparently Zaledo had been found by some elvaan thief named Zhuvin and brought here. When he came to he had no memory accept that his name was Zaledo. During the year while she was taking on Dark Knight training and learning to understand the nature of the dark power she possessed the thief had befriended him and helped him get a house in town and adventurer status. It had taken a bit of time to trace him and obtain the location of his house and she now stood outside of it in the midnight shadows.
The house had been quiet, far too quiet to be occupied. She watched and waited for most of the day and now she was certain he most likely wouldn't be returning that day. Now she needed to find out how long he would be gone and perhaps where. If need be she would come and find him.
In fact she was beginning to think she could get him to come to her, he wanted to know his past after all and she could give it to him. Yes that was his weakness, and if he willingly came to her then she might not even have to force him to put on the crown. Yes that was how she would set her trap.
Walking to the front door she pounded as loudly as possible until it was opened by a sleepy moogle.
"Is this the home of Zaledo?" she asked before the sleepy creature could answer.
"Yes… but the Master isn't here, kupo," it answered.
"Then you can give him a message for me…" she said. "My name is Tsumi, I'm a mercenary and his former employer has hired me to find him and bring him back. Should he want to meet me send a message care of my moogle Kupla. Tell him I have to the key to everything he wants to know and can't remember."
"You know where he is from?"
"That's what I said Moogle," she stated turning and walking away. "Send the message to me when he's ready to meet."
Tsumi smirked to herself… she had just laid her bait and she was certain he would come. She walked through the streets to the port. She was certain it would take a few days to get an answer and she didn't intend on staying the San d' Oria. Jueno would do just fine. She had been operating out of the rent-a-room she had there during her search. The Kingdom was just a few hours away by airship and she would come when he summoned her.
Tsumi smirked again as she paid her fair and entered the docking area. Her life's aim would soon be fulfilled. Yes she would soon have her revenge.
Tsumi woke up in her Jueno rent-a-room hearing her moogle bustling around in the main room. The creature was annoying but useful. She had been with her since she was registered as a citizen and adventurer of Bastok. At first it had tried to befriend her but Tsumi had made it clear she hadn't desired anything but its service and respect since she was its master.
Dressing Tsumi noted the linkpearl on her dressing table, it was the pearl to the Children of Altana, the group she had infiltrated on behalf of the Shadow Lord. Scooping it up she placed it in her ear.
Saddening the little moogle fluttered into her bedchamber with her ritual morning cup of Sandorian Tea.
"Any messages or deliveries for me this morning?" she asked taking the cup.
"No mistress. What would you like for breakfast?" The moogle answered a concerned look on her face.
Tsumi ignored it. "I'll have some scrambled eggs and I'm hungry Moogle so get to it."
Sighing the little creature flew back into the main room and busied itself with the food
She might as well see what the idiots in the linkshell were yammering about. She should use some more information to feed to the Shadow Lord to keep it him occupied. Placing the pearl in her ear she turned it on as she sat at the table.
"Greetings…" she said as she customarily did she came on the pearl.
Less than enthusiastic responses greeted her, well accept for the boy Phineas Aldet that seemed to have endless supply of love and kindness for the world.
"Hello Miss Tsumi," he said, "I hope you are well today," he said.
"I'm as well as can be expected," she answered.
The others on the Linkshell at that time were as follows:
Reisner, a truly model Paladin that really had the holier-than-thou thing down to an art, was the epitome of the reason she distained the profession. He also said verily way too often. He had learned to hate her quickly.
Aeran, a mithra thief that seemed to be the favored of Reisner, seemed to be a weak and intensive girl. Of course this explained Reisner's interest in her since all Paladin's like to rescue damsels in distress. Of course the girl thought he was tremendous.
Ryu John, a curious samurai mercenary that had a strong code of honor. He felt he had to repent of his past sins and had a vendetta against fiends. She had spoken with him over the pearl him and if it weren't for his hero complex their shared profession made the conversation a little interesting. He felt slightly superior to her since he had "overcome" wanting vengeance as she did. All in all she didn't mind talking to him, of course when he found out she was working for the Shadow Lord he'd try to kill her. If she hadn't completed her revenge she'd have to kill him and if she had maybe she'd let him be the one to kill her. Fighting him would be interesting, judging from the stories of his past she had heard around the Tenshodo when he was the "Dark Samurai".
Basically this group was full of do-gooders and they mainly talked over the things needed to do and seldom did them. She mostly greeted them with sarcasm and biting remarks. It was boring, but she listened while she ate and as she did various needed but menial chores.
"Everyone this is my master and teacher Cyraniel d' Teregarge" Ryu said.
"Hello" the new voice said dryly.
"Greetings I am Tsumi," she said, "Red Mage and Mercenary of Bastok."
"I too study the ways of Red Magic," Cyraniel.
"Then you must have some sense to choose that profession, but tell me how could a mage be of any use as a teacher to a samurai."
"He taught me to use Black Magic in the past and now I work as his swordsman."
Over the next few minutes she gathered Cyraniel was a typical elvaan with a prejudice particularly against Hume and a superiority complex over everyone. He was cutting, terse and even more unpleasant than she was. She couldn't understand why Ryu was so loyal, although it was a refreshing change to here a cynic in amongst the do-gooders.
When it seemed she hadn't heard a word from Zaledo yet so she decided to go for a walk, perhaps go into Qufim and kill some of the lesser demons.
As she walked into Ru' luade gardens and rounded the bend close to the Ducal Palace her sharp ears picked up two familiar sounding voices. They came from an eastern Hume with a typical topknot, Great Katana and mid-weight armor who most definitely was a samurai and a cowled elvaan man sitting, leaning against the wall. Could they be Ryu John and Cyraniel? She decided to listen in.
"There is a dark presence here in Jueno…" Cyraniel was saying. Did this mean he could sense dark energy? Well that would give her a nice bone to throw the Shadow Lord to keep him satisfied.
"I have…I am trained to combat demons, I can sense the evil…its faint, but I can feel it…" Ryu paused then said, "It seems that there is a hundred thousand, bounty on my head…"
A bounty? Now this was interesting. Of course she didn't really have the time to pursue a bounty needing to keep tabs on Zaledo but perhaps she could find some use for the information.
"It seems that someone wants you out of the picture, what are you going to do about it?" Cyraniel asked looking off in Tsumi's direction. Did he see her?
"I have the Tenshodo and some friends in Norg, whom are dealing with this situation…even a dear friend of mine tried to take my head…"
"I guess he was not a friend…"
"I guess not…I think I know who placed it…but I am not quite sure just yet…" Ryu started to speak but trailed off.
"If you have the Tenshodo and even those in Norg on this search…then how come the one whom placed the bounty is not found?" The mage said definitely looking in her direction.
"You are correct, it is possible that it was an inside job, there is something I am missing…something I can not put my finger on…I will discover the source…" the samurai said.
Tsumi was almost certain that she had been seen so she decided to approach the two.
"It seems we have someone listening…" Cyraniel spoke as he turned his attention to her.
Tsumi chuckled mirthlessly as Ryu said some nonsense about his not being concerned still oblivious to her approach, this could turn out amusing.
The samurai spun around and looked her over obviously trying to figure out who she was.
"What is this? A bounty…this could be interesting…" Tsumi said.
"If you wish to take my head then so be it! Go ahead and try…" Ryu said obviously trying to sound vicious to intimidate her.
"Well…if the price is right, I just may," she said watching his reaction. It was fun to toy with hot-headed men.
"Many of the greatest and worst mercenaries…have tried to take my life; I do not care who tries to take my life, I will accept all on comers!" Ryu spoke as his hand moved to his blade. "Even if I do not wish do fight, I will still accept their challenge, I do not fear death…for if it is my time to go, then it is my time to go, and I will welcome death!"
"You are quite brave…but you still are foolish…" she answered back tauntingly finding his obviously frustrated demeanor pleasing.
"I wish not to have any more confrontation…but if I must…then I am ready to fight, and fight anyone…and you would be a fine opponent…" Ryu said studying her carefully.
"If the price is right, I could help you in your search of this the one whom place your bounty…" Tsumi said deciding to play both sides of the coin to throw him off-balance.
"I work better alone…" Ryu spoke as released his grip on the hilt of his katana obviously willing himself calm.
"So this is 'The Dark Samurai' the one of such a promising reputation, and I find this…a disappointment…" Tsumi said harshly.
Ryu sighed as to her surprise he laughed a little.
"If I was not too much involved with my current target and had some reason to hunt you down…then your bounty would be mine…you should feel lucky, that I am not going to kill you…" Tsumi said not liking at all that she had obviously lost control of the situation. Saluting them she turned her back on them again.
"We will meet again Tsumi…" she heard Ryu say with a chuckle from behind.
Leaving the garden she stopped at the rent-a-room to be sure she had not received a message from Zaledo. Disappointed she had not she realized it was time for her to check in with the Shadow Lord. At least she could inform him of this Cyraniel if nothing else.