Note to Ffnet Readers: Hello there. I've been looking for a spot to post my stories so I don't have to multipost and decided to post here so I wanted to explain a little something about how this and my other stories have come into being.
I'm a role-player (Rper) and have been in several linkshells and still am on the Asura server for about 3 years. What is RP? Its where you immerse yourself in the game lore, create an original character and interact with other people's characters as your character. Basically is acting and story writing in a community.
The truly awesome thing about Rping is all the creative people you meet along the way. You end up collaborating and sometimes their characters and stories end up intermingling with yours and as a result thing you never in visioned for that character happen, their story takes a new direction and grows.
That being said many of the characters in my stories are not of my creation and things I am recounting are RP sessions which I will note and give credit where its due. Enjoy and if you ae on Asura and want to give RP a try look me up in Asura. I recruit for an RP Ls there and here is the webpage: http://gauntlet. to my fellow Rpers and LS Members:
This is Tsumi's background story and its finally done! I know… it took me way to long due to rl but finally its done. Tsumi's life has moved way past this point but I do plan to catch up in writing to the point she is in rp. She is so private unless you/ve rped with her a lot you have no idea how much has happened to her or how she ended as she is now. Part 3 is the totally new Part. I've tried very hard to make things understandable with all the flashbacks. I hope you enjoy.
Notes:
This story takes place in the FFXI Game world of Vanadiel created by Square Enix and I in no way am claiming to own rights to or have been in on the creative process or deelopement of this game or the NPC character Justi whom I barrow for this story.
Mercenary Heart
Part 1
The Elvaan woman smirked quietly to herself as she sipped from her mug and leaned on the counter. The broken and drunk hume man next to her was one of those bleeding hearts that spouted off inane curses provided liquor bolstered his courage. Under normal circumstances he was undoubtedly a coward unable to do or say anything about his circumstances to the very people he denounced in the restaurant.
"Well," the man asked her finally "what do you think I should do?"
Setting down her tankard the woman surveyed him a moment coolly. "If I were you I'd kill the man responsible" she said smirking at him "but you're not me so you should just go sleep off your drink and sulk about it."
The man eyed her in disbelief. "But I'm not an adventurer….and I could never…."
"Then that's your problem. Remain weak and snivel all you like but spare me your further whining."
The man opened his mouth to retort but a swift hand darted out and grasped his shoulder.
"It's not worth it friend" the Steaming Sheep proprietor told him. "She's merciless and you don't want to cross Tsumi." Draping an arm over the drunken man's shoulder she turned and led him away.
Now thankfully she was alone again. Tsumi took a finger and tucked the crimson braid behind her ear thoughtfully. It was ironic to that because she sat back alone from others she often became the target of emotional displays and avoiding such histrionics was the very reason she was alone in the first place. The only stories she welcomed were those of perspective clients that had come seeking her services gil in hand. She could see the drunk now, out of the corner of her eye, with the restaurant owner and the table of drunken men so obviously now discussing her and her reputation. She'd been in Bastok long enough to be well known in the circles of her peers and those who dealt with their problems outside of the law. The restaurant owner, knowing her reputation wished to remain on her good side and took care to let everyone know her preference for solitude.
Soon she observed an elvaan man rise from the table behind the knot of drunks and begin to head in her direction as nonchalantly as possible. This man was most likely a prospective client, no-doubt having heard the others talking, and had decided to engage her services. She could spot them a mile away. Nervous and almost apologetic such people were not accustomed to hiring mercenaries. Even criminals despised those of her profession since their loyalty could be bought or sold for a price. Downing the last of her ale Tsumi waited confidently leaning on the counter.
"Excuse me my lady" the man said with a flourishing bow "I wonder if I can engage your services."
Tsumi smiled slightly, an action she had learned to put those she was dealing with at ease, and regarded the man critically. "If the price is right," she simply said.
"You'll have to forgive me I've never engaged the services of a mercenary before" he said setting his drink down and examining her landing on the two swords belted at her hips. "What are you exactly?"
"I'm a Red Mage also trained in the arts of Ninjitsu" Tsumi replied. "I'm more than capable of accomplishing the task you require I assure you."
"I'm sure that you are, if the stories I'm hearing are true" the man stated.
"They most likely are" Tsumi answered with a cocky smirk.
"So you really have organized raids on the Quadav that dwell in Palborough Mines?" he asked.
"Yes, I have a particular hatred for the Shell-backs and do whatever I can to make their lives miserable" she stated a hardness entering her blue eyes.
"Well then," the man said guardedly "you may be just the person for this job."
"What does it involve?"
"Some quadav attacked my caravan" he said pushing back his cape to reveal a still healing gash on his forearm "and they took some cargo of great value. My employer wants to retrieve it but it's not something we can do alone."
"If the price is right I'll gladly assist you," Tsumi replied with a nod.
"How does 50,000 sound?" he asked.
"I require half-up-front and the remainder upon completion of the job, plus one item of my choosing from the possessions of the slain Quadav. You can have everything else you desire. I'll meet you at dawn just outside the gate" she instructed pulling away from the counter and saluting the now bewildered man. "I'll see you tomorrow. Farewell."
"But I didn't even give you my name…." he trailed off.
"I don't need it" she replied turning on her heel leaving no doubt the interview had concluded.
She stepped into the cool of the evening allowing her mind to wander. Soon she would have another chance to face the Quadav with the dark crystal pendant… the pendent that was hers by right. She would exact revenge from that Quadav and every other member of its race would suffer as well. It was the shell-backs that were responsible for every indignity she had been forced to suffer and for that reason she sought revenge whenever she could. She remembered that day her world came crashing down as vividly as if it were yesterday...
Tyra burst into the house with her friend Miranda laughing only to stand stock-still at the sight before her. A San d' Orian knight sat at the table and Miranda's mother was crying inconsolably into a handkerchief while Miranda's father Justi stood staring into the fire. The moogle of the house, Nila, started to rush over but was stopped by her master's gruff retort. "I will speak to her" he said. "Father what's wrong?" Miranda asked instinctively clutching her best friend's hand. "Not now Miranda…" he said looking straight at Tyra. "Come with me Tyra." Tyra gave a reassuring, brave smile to her friend and let go of her hand and turned to follow he caretaker out doors her heart thudding in her chest. When he stopped he turned and regarded her sadly but lacking any warmth. He found it inconvenient taking care of a child that was no relation to him even if that child was the daughter of his wife's dearest friend. "Tyra I'm sorry to inform you…your parents were killed a few days ago," Justi said. "What!" she exclaimed a numb shock paralyzing her body. "Apparently someone betrayed their company to a group of Quadav soldiers and every last one of them were slain." "But…but they were just there to care for the sick and wounded…" Tyra sobbed. Disbelief clung thickly to her heart. Her parents had gone as far as to go to another country that had once been their enemy to help those in need. "It's the way of war child" he said sadly. "An enemy tactic often is to slaughter any White Mages they encounter behind enemy lines so they cannot assist the soldier's in battle." "They didn't even fight… they just helped people," she said her voice quavering with emotion. "My mother was a doctor and my father was there to make medicines, they used their magic to heal…" "The enemy rarely makes such distinctions. Your parents were capable of helping soldiers return to the battlefield and so to leave them alive was too great of a liability" he said quietly. Trembling with emotion Tyra slide to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest. The man she had lived with, the father of her best friend, eyed her helplessly. She could see he pitied her yet he still viewed her as a burden. All at once she felt alone. "What's going to happen to me?" She asked catching her breath. "A place will be found for you to stay in and you'll be given the chance to learn a trade I imagine" he stated. "Father," Miranda said appearing in her doorway. Please, Tyra should stay here and be my sister. Both Mother and I think so." "It's hard enough to feed and clothe ourselves. We cannot take her in Miranda." Just then Miranda's mother appeared in the door next to her daughter with the knight at her shoulder. "Please, Justi let's talk this through. We already have been caring for her for these past 4 months." "Mr. at least take the time to discuss this" the unidentified knight replied. "Very well," the man at last relented. "Miranda you stay outside with her." Tyra watched them unable to cry any more as her friend rushed to her side and clasped her in her small arms. "It will be alright you'll see and well be just like real sisters," her friend said in a comforting voice. "No it won't," Tyra replied. "Your father hates me because I always get you into trouble." "He doesn't hate you…" "He does and now I'm going to be more of a burden to him" Tyra said in a quiet voice. "I should go." "Tyra, don't say that…" "I mean it and I am," the child stated a note of steely resolve in her voice. "I'll find somewhere." "Tyra don't talk like that." Tyra looked sternly at Miranda feeling at once an annoyance at her insistence of trying to comfort her. She knew what was real, Miranda's father didn't want her, and she'd seen other orphan's that nobody wanted. Nothing but hardship lay ahead for her and to pretend anything else was ridiculous. "I need to be alone" Tyra said. "But Tyra…" Miranda pled tears forming in her eyes. "I'm going and don't follow me," Tyra stated as she turned and ran into the streets while they fell into the mistiness of twilight. She ran as fast as she could through the slowly dwindling crowds in the street. Unthinking she ran past the guards at the gate preparing to close the city up for the night and into West Ronfaure leaving behind their shouts of protest. Thinking she heard pursuit behind her she ran faster and harder feeling the tears dry up more with every foot-fall following the wild path she had a million times before. At last she halted where she could run no more. She had come to the shore by the lake. Tyra slumped down breathing hard. This was the place she thought of when she thought of her parents. Her grief had driven her here to be alone with her memories. Her mother liked to picnic there before the war with the orcs began and they had ventured one last such picnic the day they left home. She thought of the three of them smiling and happy, her parents reassuring her that they would return and then one picture remained in her head. She remembered a strange pendant. A crystal around her mother's neck black as night like the kind the leather crafters used to tan hides. Her mother had said it was special and needed to be guarded and that one day she herself would be responsible for it. "I wonder what happened to it" she thought "I wonder exactly what happened to them." Hearing a shuffling sound Tyra looked up with a start to see her friend looking down at her. "Tyra it's not safe here" the girl gasped in the falling shadows. "Since the orcs took Ghelbesha they're all around everywhere. Come back with me please. Just give us a chance to talk to my father." Tyra regarded her a moment, her thoughts and her feeling wrestling in her mind, trying to decide what she should do. At last, as her friends hand reached out for hers the elvaan girl slowly raised and as if in a dream she heard a rumbling growl from deep within the wooded shadows. Both children stood stalk still, their wide-eyes locked with each others. Then it came crashing through the trees, an immense axe wielding Orc. Miranda's reaction was instant. Screaming she ran towards Tyra and the orc lumbered after. Turning Tyra began to run as well and came face to face with a hooded orc wielding a staff. Tyra's breath was knocked out of her as clods of grass and rock rose from the ground below her feet and pelted her over and over. The elvaan child nearly collapsed; staring into the hidden face of her attacker she felt no fear. As if in a dream she heard the screams of her companion cut short and saw the heavy wooden staff come down upon her as she descended into darkness.
Tsumi paused as she entered into the door of the inn. Tucked away in the back alleys of the Bastok Mines district it wasn't much but it was out of the way and quiet. As she wordlessly passed the clerk at the desk she pushed away the memory. It was useless dwelling on it. She had lived that day but Miranda had not. It was of no consequence that her remaining childhood was spent in the home of the man that blamed her for his daughter's death. It didn't matter that she had been treated as little better than a servant day in and day out. She had risen above that. She had made her way in the world and became powerful instead of powerless. She had done it all despite her "benefactors" malice and found a way to escape.
Closing the door behind her muttered an incantation under her breath and concentrated on the candle on the table. The wick lit up as the fire flared around it. Closing she made her way to the bed and unsheathing her swords one at a time she set them by the side where she could reach them in a moments notice in case any attack came in the night. As she finished her preparations for sleep she reflected how far she had come from the grieving orphaned child. She learned to push her emotions aside and use them to fuel her determined climb from her helpless situation. Devouring all the knowledge stored in the cathedral library she had determined that a Red Mage was the best choice for a self-sufficient warrior and sought to save enough money to go to the eminent school of magic in the land in Windurst.
Her education to become a Red Mage she had to work hard to attain. It had been a stroke of luck, however, that had landed her the best teacher of swordsmanship in San d' Oria. She had thought she would have to learn much on her own and copied diagrams and instruction from books. While trying to copy these diagrams Balasiel, trainer and former captain of the knights had seen her. He was impressed by what she had been able to teach herself and offered to train her. He even taught her some basic White Magic spells in hopes she would enter formal training and become a paladin like he himself. She however had her own goals and as soon as she was able she went to Windurst. She paid for her education in Windurst by working for the school doing everything she could for those that worked there and others in town. Nothing came easy to her; no other master teachers fell into her lap like Balasiel had. She had to hunt for them and convince them to train her in whatever they excelled at and then move on to the next. Everyone admired her determination but many at the schools pride were hurt when she decided to move on to a new teacher. She and she alone had decided when she had learned all she could from those teachers and it was then she had begun the education that would lead her to her life as a mercenary.
It was on the day she left Windurst that Tyra had died and Tsumi was born. Tsumi, the powerful mercenary red mage, was the one who would go to any lengths to bring vengeance upon the destroyers of Tyra's life. Tsumi she had learned meant "sin" and "crime" in an old elvaan dialect that existed before San d' Oria had even been conceived. She knew that the path she had chosen would undoubtedly lead her in the very things that new name stood for and so she had left Tyra's weakness behind. To everyone who looked or tried to find Tsumi's past they never would anything because only she held the knowledge of that name was once hers. Perhaps there were some people that could remember Tyra and in some dark corner of San d' Oria there may lay a record of her unfortunate past, but those were only things that could be connected with Tsumi if she gave them the key to unlocking them.
She had arrived in Bastok as Tsumi and she had found mercenaries and thieves willing to teach her the trade. It was then that she had learned of ninjitsu and saw its potential for making her a more balanced warrior. She managed getting the trust of the local chapter of the Tenshodo and to convince Kagetora to train her in ninjitsu. She excelled as usual due to her talent and hard work and then she began her quest. To search out those that had killed her parents.
Tsumi lay down and closed her eyes. Tomorrow she would get up early and organize a small raiding party. They would be the distraction for her and her client to get into the depths of the mine. Perhaps there she would find the quadav that had her mother's necklace and perhaps it would lead her to the one that had ordered the execution of her parents and the other White Mages that day.