ooc: Jewel Quest, a Spiritual Journey

[TygerEyez]

ooc: Okay, everyone. I've had this idea for awhile, and I've love to get it started. Here's the background.

The World of Aris is ruled by nature, magic, and faith. Lush green rainforests surround a certain peaceful village, hiding it from those who would choose to destroy the spiritual warriors of Aris. This village is known as Tilan, home to a dying people. Within this village, there are four kinds of people:

The Wizards, men who perfect the art of Battlemagic.

Sorceresses, women who's magick of nature protects their village and others around them.

The clergy, men and women who spread the gospels of Aris' gods and goddesses.

And the warriors, strong-willed, able, and smart men and women form the army of Protectorates.

An immortal named Mali watches over them, and each year she chooses a group of young men and women to take their Spiritual Journey. They know they are chosen when Mali has given them a jewel, a special stone to help guide them as their Jewel Quest is now upon them. On this Quest there are dangers, trials, and truths that will become known to them as never before. When they have discovered something substantial about themselves, an animal guide will then present itself to them, and become a life-long presence (physical and spiritual).

What I need from those of you out there, are young people (18-26) to complete a Jewel Quest. These people don't know if they're Wizards, or Sorceresses or anything. This will become apparent to them on the Quest. Also, please do not choose the animals for your people. However, you CAN choose your jewel. Just be sure to post that along with your character's bios. As I said, it will become apparent. Honey_B will be helping me, and we will be using your posts as a guide. It's so much more fun that way.

One more side note: if you insist on having some kind of magical powers, that's fine. However, you are young and untrained. Do NOT suddenly know everything about your powers. They are new to you. This will all make sense as we go along.

I will be playing the part of Mali (my jewel is Aquamarine), and I have asked Honey_B to accompany me as an equal, a friend, and a companion to test your will and strengths. We will be the only goddesses/immortals as of now. Please do not ask.

Now, may we have some Destined Arisians to complete our Jeweled Quest?

 

[quixotic sammie]

Job Application

I feel like am applying for a job. Is this how I am suppose to apply? and will you let me know if I am accepted?

I am pretty new to Lit but I am liking it. I am in a couple threads now, the Amneziotic Quixotic Adventure one, and Love Quest Across Time. So maybe peek at those to see if you like my style.

I have an idea for a character -

I would be young, 19 or so, and have always been different from the others in the village, though no one can explain the reasons. I am shorter, smaller, though fit and agile, but mostly my hair is very dark, almost black and has a lusterous sheen that everyone marvels over. I like to be marveled over. But weird of all, my cheeks and eyelids are a bit puffy, giving my eyes a cat-like look, and my face is a bit round and too gentle for my own good. My child-like looks let me get away with many mischivous deeds.

It is said that I appearred as a young child one day, waundering in the village from no one knows where. And that I grasped an embroidered coin purse, which spilled out a thousand small radiant deep blue jewels which had never been seen before. There was much gasping. And supposedly (I doubt this ever really happened ok?) I spoke the word 'sapphire', and so I became know as Sapphire.

Sapphire Chaufem is my my name, meaning 'the cat-like blue jewel'.

I am very petite, five one and maybe 95 pounds, dark hair, deep brown eyes, but not a childish figure anymore, 32b-22-32, and more than a few of the young boys/men have tasted my lips. But whether any has favored my bed is not known among the village.

I love the village and have been harboured here, but always my heart seems to seek some outer place, some strange place I have never seen?

I wonder if I will ever find it?

 

[jinnysub]

I woke one morning to find a ruby lying between my breasts. I thought that my time for being chosen had long gone by, with some of my creche-mates being chosen 7 or 8 years ago now. I thought my chances for being chosen by Mali, or anyone for that matter, had been negated by my age, with most of the women my age either having found their place with Mali or bearing or nursing their second or third child by this time.

I'm not sure that being chosen is something that I wish to accept at this time in my life. I have begun to settle into my life as a fisherwoman and pearl diver, a calling that suits my solitary nature as well as my growing need to pit myself against the elements and against the forces of nature.

No one, male or female, has brought back as many pearls from the giant oysters in the past two years, and no one has brought back the carcass of the dugong, able to feed the village for a week. Only I know the number of sharks and moray eels that have tried to make my life on the seas shorter, and the secrecy of that knowledge is something that I treasure and hide from all those who would wish to follow me to my secret fishing grounds.

In the interior, only a very few men have travelled as far into the forest as have I. Only a select few have been as far as the villages of the enemy, and then as part of a war party many years ago. I have twice now gone the three-day journey, watching their villages from the trees, wondering at the strangeness of their all-male worship but noticing, too, how the lives of their women are so much the same as those of our women who find their place in the village and the family.

The last time, some of their outlier dogs scented me and I found myself tested by their best young men in a race for my life. Running for two days away from our village so that they might not follow me to our home, I lost the last of them and had to walk five more days before the smells of our cook fires brought me back to those I live with.

I long ago gave up the longing of the other girls to have the young men notice me. My breasts are good for swimming, diving, climing trees and running, not for looking at. My muscles are tight with the exertion of the deep dives, long paddling sessions, and running beneath the canopy of Mother Forest. In truth, I am more of a man than a woman, although shorter than any man in our village. While I act and look like a man, secretly I envy the women with their children at their breasts, those who have brought new life to our village, and enjoy the lifeforce of their men in the dance of life.

My name, Shom-ani, is truly a life name. She-who-stands-apart.

 

[darrenfate]

HECATE

I have known that it was my time to join the others on our Spiritual Journey. I sensed that I was needed and had prepared my body and mind by fasting for the last three days high in the cliffs.

I am not the strongest, nor am I the swiftest afoot. My singular trait was that I could be counted on in times of trouble. I was the cool head in the heat of battle, never blinking with an almost unearthly calm on my countenance. The worse the situation, the more rational and logical I became. A natural loner most of the time, I had earned the respect of the leaders by my quiet strong presence.

As I decended from the highlands I saw before me a lone object lying openly on the rock. Stooping to pick it up, I saw that it was a shimmering black pearl far from its native sea. I knew that it was a gift from Mali, an outward sign of my chosen status. I took it with me as my talisman of good luck and decended to the villiage below ...

 

[TygerEyez]

Thank you, and welcome all!!!

Welcome, everyone! It's nice to have you, of course.

Jinny, I'm so glad you could make it. You too, Darren. And it's a pleasure to meet you, Sammy.

There is only one thing that I'd like to mention here, and it's for Sammie's benefit. Know this, hon: I am not meaning to debunk you in anyways. Merely, I'd like to point something out. I understood what you meant by saying your hair has a lovely black auster. Please, however, do not carry through the thread with the ideas that all will be marveled by it. I realize I might sound harsh, and I don't mean to be, but it saves alot of hurt feelings and alot of misunderstandings in the end. I've played many roles against people who insisted they were the most beautiful, most stunning, (and therefore) most important person in the thread. *chuckles* I mean no offense, of course.

Okay, so as it stands:

Jinnysub -- Shom-ani (Ruby)
Darrenfate -- Hecate (Black Pearl)
Sammie -- Sapphire (sapphire of course )

Myself -- Mali (Aquamarine)

 

[Inkubus]

If the casting call is still open?

Valentin

As far as names go, it was a nice name for an orphan. My childhood was sweet and filled with song. Artemio tried to teach me of religon and faith, but for some reason I felt that I left the gods well enough alone and I did harm to no one then perhaps the gods might see fit to do the same to me. Either way Artemio educated me and instilled in me a sense of good, for before him I can not remember having a concsience. And after my dear caretaker passed on, I began to roam and live by my gifts. I never quite learned what men call the manly arts...for hunting did not excite me and a sword felt clumsy in my hands. The lyre was the first thing to sit right in my hands...and with it I could speak to hearts of both man and beast...I swear sometimes even animals would stop and listen...well you dont have to belive that but other than music and acrobatics I cant say I did anything that would deem merit in my childhood. I was not outstanding, I was far from good or evil, I chased my heart from town to town living by my stories, my music,my wit and when neccesary...my speed. I could palm things and play at magic and I can make crystals appear from childrens ears. Crystals are plentiful and pretty so it was no problem pocketing them saving them to palm during a performance. After the last performance I palmed a coin and tipped a serving girl to bring me food and drink for my journey as I took my leave I moved to palm a crystal and pull it out of her ear when... something felt wrong in my hand...as I turned the girl was gone and and inspected the unusually large crystal...I trembled as I saw it for what it was ...a Diamond! worth more than my meager life, I trembled and hid it in the one place that no one would expect to find a real diamond. In plain sight. Why would a sand child have a real diamond especially one only 19 seasons. I hung it from my neck and continued on my journey, but that night as I slept I remembered Artemio's stories, of Immortals and gods, of quests and the balance of life...I awoke to the stark realization that the gods wanted me for something....There had to be some sort of mistake.

 

[Anher]

I certainly hope this is still open...

Gawyn was always overly serious while growing up. When other children were out playing he would be nose first in a book, not reading, but writing. This habit has continued throughout his life and thus he has a shelf or so full of his own private writings and is rarely seen without something to write upon. By no means is this to imply he didn't take time out to develop more physical persuits, just that they have always been secondary to his writing. He wasn't what any of the village children would call popular but he did have a small group of two or three friends with whom he could actually communicate.

One afternoon while he was scribing in his journal whilst in the crook of his favorite tree his attention wandered for a brief moment. Spying something glinting on the ground he closed the book and climbed down to investigate the glimmer. As he neared the breath caught in his throat it was a stone, no not quite a stone, it was a jewel. A most distinct jewel at that, a tourmaline, but not just with a single hue. The jewel was split almost in two with color, one half blue and the other red. Taking it he ran home and showed it to his parents. They were amazed that there son would have been chosen by the gods for a jewel quest.

Preparing him as best they could they gave him their blessings and sent him along his way....

(I hope this isn't too long...)

 

[poohlive]

With a final grunt he lept off the building, arching his back as high as he could. A back flip in the air, and he landed perfectly on the ground. His feet shot up pain through his legs, but he didn't show it. Garret nodded, and smiled at the group of onlookers, who were now clapping and throwing assorted coins. Garret saw that a few of the females looked at him with a bit more than appreciation in their eyes. He blushed, leaning down to pick up the money.
Something shined in the ground, something other than gold coins. Green? He picked it up, examining it in the skylight.
Ahhh, an emerald. What a lucky day indeed. He was sure he could get a hundred gold for it.
He couldn't sell it in the city though, people knew each other too well. They would probably claim he had stolen it, and give him nothing more than a few coins. Well, he would just have to go somewhere else to sell this fine specimen.
Walking through the now populated marketplace, Garret looked at the assorted clothing and food. It seemed as though the prices were fair today. He bought a bag of apples, seeing that it would be his meals for the next few days or so.
In the back of town, crawled past old side streets and rotted down walls. There, he found himself a nice spot. It was an abandoned building, had been for some time. He had been living in it ever since he could remember. His parents had decided when he was twelve that it was time to seek his own life. He had done just that, getting by with what he could, nothing more than some clothes on his back and a curled mop of brown hair on his head.
He would seek his fortune, by the gods he would.
Right now though, sleep seemed more important.
(why not say he's just turned 18, makes him get more of a kid feel that way)

 

[TygerEyez]

Welcome everyone!

Yes, this thread is still open, and going strong. I'm sorry that I was called away for a day or so. Okay, so far we have 4 men and 3 ladies, which includes myself.

I have one thing to ask of Anher. I know you said you wanted your stone to be half red and half blue? I was wondering if you would be so kind as to pick one solid color. The reason is that each stone each player chooses tells me something about them, and will help me later on during the thread. It's alot easier to go from one jewel's characteristics than to try to blend two. If there's no possible way you can combine them, I'll try my best to accomondate.

Hopefully more will join us as we go along. Anyone wishing to join from here on out, please send me an email at burningbright_tyger@yahoo.com

It makes it a little easier for myself to keep an eye on who wants to join before the thread gets confusing. Thanks, and I'll start the thread after I post here. Again, welcome everyone, and I hope this works out!!

*smiles*

 

[Sweetp4u]

New character:

Awni
19
average height, build, weight.
Brown hair and eyes.
Ice Blue Garnet (stone)

She's a loner, and sure her destiny is as a warrior. But as said It is uncertain. She spends her time with nature, needing no company other than her own imagination. Though she does get lonely, It is just her and her mother.

She awoke bright and early, ready to go out and gather herbs and enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature around her. A calming, peaceful life she did enjoy. She would spend time trying to strengthen herself up, for one day she would be on a quest. When the time was right, and her future ready to be written out. She was dutiful and paid homage to the God's often. Never treating others badly, never stepping out of line. Pretty much boring, but generally good in spirit and in nature.
She walked outside and headed right into the woods, where no one would disturb her quiet exsistance. She had taken off her slippers, and stepped into the stream, wading around. Watching minnows dart around her feet. She stopped when she seen something shiney, catching her attention imediately. She bent down and moved the sand around. Her hand came up, it looked dirty and slimey. She wondered what it was? Rinsing it off, she once again looked at the stone. A Garnet? She was a bit curious, but placed it into her pocket. She would keep this, for it was something that she felt was her lucky charm. She waded out of the stream and sat down on a near by log. Pulling out the stone she gazed down apon it, her eyes fascinated with the way it shone in the light. Then it dawned on her... She had been chosen to go on the Journey of discovery. She smiled brightly, and gripped the jewel tightly to her chest. Finally some direction in her life! She walked home and packed her things. Tomorrow she would be ready for the Quest to begin. She kissed her mother, and wished her well. "I will return once the quest is complete."
It took awhile for her to fall asleep that night. Wondering about what to expect during this sacred journey.


occ: Let me know if this is acceptable

 

[BadForm]

Joni 'Jet' Black

OOC: Firstly, I apologise for writing this here - I never give my email address to anyone on lit. Sorry, it's a dumb privacy thing I have. Secondly, I would suggest keeping this thread open for OOCs and start another thread for ICs - when I've seen that used it keeps things more readable (and also means ppl can post chars here and you have one immediate place to look for them). You may, of course, have considered that already.


IC: Life on the farm had been good. My father had died when I was too young to remember him, and I had grown up with only my mother. We seldom went anywhere, save for market day, but I had never been lonely. In the soughing of the wind, and the trickle of the stream, in the buzzing of insects and the mooing of the cows, I heard voices of friendship. Not words. They always seemed to be just beyond my hearing, but still voices. Mother always said I was a 'simple child', whatever that meant.

That all changed yesterday day when I returned from the stream with the water. I put the bucket down in front of Mother and she thanked me, before scooping up a drink in a mug. Then she spluttered as something in the cup hit her mouth. I didn't understand. I had checked the bucket carefully to make sure there were no slugs or fish: it was clean. She lowered the cup and drew out the most beautiful black stone I had ever seen. Its pitch matched my own skin, and I smiled at it in awe.

"You think this is funny child?" Mother was screaming, and I didn't understand why. "Your father thought it was funny when he got his too. That's why he's gone now, child! That's why he's gone!"

The look on her face mixed rage and surrender. "That's why he's gone, child. An' now you gonna go too."

She was crying.

"No, Mother. I ain't going nowhere."

I still can't understand what happened next. She thrust the stone at me, yelled 'take it' and threw me out of the house. Like I say, that was yesterday. I've been wandering the village all night wondering what to do. I don't know anyone here. I want to go home, but Mother made it clear I couldn't. Someone help me. Please?

OOC: Hope this isn't too long. I see her as a muscular farm girl of limited practical intelligence, and highly trusting. She could be a warrior OR a sorceror (the voices she thought she heard could be imaginary or an indicator of latent magic). She is of average height, almost jet black skin (and yes, that's a perfectly formed pear-shaped piece of jet she's got) and nappy black hair.

 

[JediKnight]

any room for another character?

Jem

19 years old

male

brown eyes, dark brown hair

Jem has always been very solitary. He has very few friends, even among the other young people of the village who he has known his whole life. He spends most of his time alone, often wandering into the forest during the day and staying there until nightfall, climbing trees and sitting and thinking about life, death, destiny, and other things. He never thought there was anything special about him.

Then, one day, he was napping in the branches of his favorite tree. When he awoke, his eyes immediately focused on something stuck in the branch directly above him. Sitting up, he pulled the object out and saw that it was a black moonstone. He wondered if someone had put it there while he was sleeping, because he was certain it hadn't been there before. It was then that he realized he had been chosen.

 

[Moridin187]

I emailed you the character Tyger, I'm just putting the same thing in here so other people can see it if you decide to accept me ^_^;

Morlan, his name meant "the curse". This name because he was the unwanted child of two teenagers who hadn't loved one another. He had grown up unloved, uncared for. His parents had fed and clothed him, and done little else. So, from an early age, he had retreated into books. A few people in the village knew his name, but little else about him. He had no friends, and very few acquaintances. He was average looking, neither ugly nor handsome. Not fat nor overly thin, not muscular nor weak. His skin was pale from long hours spent indoors reading, long black hair flowed in unruly curls down to his shoulders.

When practicing combat against strangers he held his own, but fought more often defensively, rarely attacking. When he hunted he always managed to get enough food for the night, but rarely enough for the next day. No girl of the village had ever given him more than a passing glance, he blended into his surroundings. Secretly he wanted friends, companionship, love, but had no idea how to get such things, and so he relied on the only friends he had, his books. Having had little experience with people, he is quiet by nature, although not aloof, just very shy.

One day Morlan sat up on the roof of his house, reading, as always. He heard his mother shriek his name.

"Go get some food you worthless bastard!" He sighed and grabbed his bow and quiver, leaving without a word. As he walked through the forest, an arrow nocked in his bow he thought to himself about how badly he wanted to escape this place. About how badly he wanted to meet people, to meet women. A bird flew overhead and he let the arrow fly, his aim was true and his dinner fell to the ground. He ran to the bird and grabbed it, as he did he noticed something clutched in its talons. He pried it out of the stiffening bird's grasp and wiped the blood from it, finding that the color did not change even when the blood was gone. What at first he had thought was a simple rock revealed itself to be a perfectly round sphere blood red coral. He looked at the dead bird in his hand.

"Now what were you doing with coral my little friend?" He frowned as he walked back to the house, something tickling at the back of his mind. Then, it struck him. His unspoken prayers had been answered, Mali had delivered him. He sank to his knees in a forest clearing and offered her a prayer, thanking her as tears ran down his cheeks.

 

[Exosus]

Shattenjager Ilphulkir

Although his name means Shadowhunter, Shattenjager always held a disgust for violence of any form, and scorned his father's occupation as a hunter, instead becoming a weaver like his mother. He lived a harsh life, beaten by his father especially after he refused to become a hunter, and was nearly killed several times, and has trouble speaking, or trusting anyone and so lived a solitary life, shying away from physical touch, weaving his thoughts into cloth, his hatred of himself boiling over, until the one day, he had just finished a scarf of many colours for a woman, and as he folded it in preparation for her collection, an emerald stone fell into his hand. Studying it for a second, he frowned as he realised what it meant: He was to join other humans on a quest to find his purpose. Snarling, he hurled it into the corner of his hut, unable to bear the sight of it, knowing that when he was called, he would go, unwillingly, but he would go.



Oh, Tyger, m'dear, if you want me to play a female character, let me know and I'll scrap this one.

 

[TygerEyez]

After several emails, I decided to check here. Good thing, eh, BadForm? *smiles*

Exosus, you made it!!! Your character sounds fine. If you'd like to change to a female, that's up to you. Just let me know here, or an email either way you decide. Also, I'm afraid poohlive has already chosen the emerald. I was hoping to get all different stones. *thinks* If you truly, truly want the emerald, I'll try to work something out.

*smiles happily* Gosh, I hope this works. There are so many people!!

BadForm, I'm assuming your stone was onyx? Am I right?

If anyone else joins, I have some more ideas for stones. *chuckles* There's still the tigereye, jade, crystal, peridot, amethyst, and several others. *smiles again and goes to post as Mali*

See you on the Quest!!

 

[Sweetp4u]

occ: i will remove my character.

 

[TygerEyez]

You don't have to SweetPea, honestly. I'm sorry if I didn't mention you in particular, but your character is just fine. I simply couldn't remember all the writers I needed to post to. My fault on that one.

Please, stay?

 

[Sweetp4u]

It is my fault for posting before you had a chance to reply to my email. Its alright. I dont mind. and i understand I shouldnt have posted in the thread until i had the go ahead.

 

[TygerEyez]

Oh, wait!! I understand now! *chuckles* You mean in the actual thread, when I said "she wasn't one of my Destined", right?

I wasn't referring to you, hon. I was referring to the SweetPanda person, or whatever the name was. She posted as a wise-woman and threw herself in without asking me, or even saying she'd like to join.

*chuckles and hugs* Please, stay, honesty. I've read your writing before, and I'll be damned if I let you go. *prepares the puppy eyes just in case* Don't make me use these! lol

 

[Sweetp4u]

lmao, alright! just dont use the puppy eyes i can not say no to those. And i was wondering who it was too. Since you made it very clear i am welcome I will put back my post. Thanks for the welcome, and I look forward to this wonderful thread. (i know its going to be good because this has much potential)
Ty SP

 

[BadForm]

Tygereyes - the stone I chose for Joni is Jet - a semiprecious stone formed from fossilised coal, mostly (IRL) found in England (I believe), but also in may other countries.

BTW - I'm a little unsure as to where to go from here, your ooc message indicates acceptance as to her being one of the destined, your in thread seems to indicate she is not. A little clarification on this will tell me where I should go. Thanks.

 

[TygerEyez]

I think the same thing happened to you and SweetPea, hon. When I said that "she wasn't one of my destined" I was referring to the Wise Woman who simply walked into the scene. I had had no prior email, or even a post from this SoftPanda person, and therefore I was trying to hint that she/he should contact me.

I didn't mean you or SweetPea. If I happened to leave your name out of the Destined that I was referring to, it was my own dumb error. I'm so sorry!

Joni is accepted, and welcomed, and I was just trying to find a way for Mali to watch them without appearing. There only seems to be three people in the glen now, and I was hoping to wait for some more. I am keeping an eye on the thread, but I am going to wait to post.

I'm so sorry about the confusion, for everyone. I'd hate to see this Thread die because I'm a nincompoop.

 

[jinnysub]

seems to be 8 or 9 in the glen, tyger...

 

[Sweetp4u]

ok not to sound harsh or anything but.. Im dyin of laughter over here over the "sexual sacrifice thing" just wanted to share that thought. if i put it in there id get into trouble for the occ interrupting the story. Am i the only one laughing at this? Wondering

 

[darrenfate]

Hell no you are not the only one laughing! I'm dying over here too! Ahh a virgin calling for another's sacrifice. Maybe we could just jail him for cannibalism!