An IC Thread ^^Follow

Gailen remained silent for a moment after the question was posed, his grey eyes alive with the flickering light of the campfire. His face was stoic, save for the barest hint of a grin playing at his lips

"Does it really make a difference what I think about the races as a whole? Each person is different, each an individual..."

He gave a soft chuckle, all pretense of seriousness bleeding from his expression. His eyes closed a moment as he turned his face from the light of the fire

"No... I'm not dodging the question. Just warning you not to put too much weight in what I say.

"I may be a Bastoker by birth, but this is my home. I was raised here in Ronfaur, so you might say I have an outside view on my own people.

"Humes are malcontent. What we have is never enough. We're always searching, seeking, rushing foreward with hardly a glance to the side. Our ambition is a fire that burns hot and swiftly... illuminating, revealing, forging, and leaving only ashes in it's wake.

"The Elvaan, on the other hand, are slow to rouse, like a mountain against a storm. Once you do manage to get a rise out of them, though, you'd best be ready for the landslide that follows. Their eyes are always on the past, but that gives them a foundation to take hold of when all else fails. Still, keep looking back over your shoulder, and you won't see the pitfall on the road before you.

"The Tarutaru... I don't think there's anyone in the world who can muster as much courage as these little guys. Standing against all hardship like a flowing wind... pleasant, soothing so seemingly faint and yet so incredibly powerful when they've a mind to be. If I could fault them for anything, it would only be their own hubris.

"The Galka. They're the thunder that grumbles in the sky before the lightning strikes the ground. They hate themselves nearly as much as they hate us. That's why they let the Humes lord over them. Whether or not they despise me, their bravery is beyond question... I can respect them for that.

"Mithra. I wish I could say the same for the Mithra. I don't trust them. They've got a mercenary streak... if you ask me, the kind that lends itself to betrayal. They're like ripples in the water, changing the moment the calm surface is disturbed in the slightest. Fickle... not something I want in somebody I have to rely on.

His grin spreads just faintly. He looked down to his hands, fingertips busy slowly turning a small, crude paper doll over and over in the light of the fire. Then he looked up again.

"Come now... you wanted to know what I thought about them as a whole. I'll ask again... do you really think it matters? I've met Goblins I can respect, and Elvaan I'd sooner dismember than trust again for a moment. What I think about their people means nothing next to what I think of them."

Hmm I normally dont think of such things but, I guess I could state my opinion. I for one think that Elvaans seem to be rather stuck up but ones raised in bastok seem to be better! As a Dragoon I often go there in search of other dragoons. Sandoria seems to be a overly strict nation. I see little kindness and only honor. That is not a bad thing but I see many problems coming to the elvaans. Humes such as me seem to be kinder and vary from elvaan-like to taru-like! Being raised in bastok I find some of the things we do are cruel to the galka. The Galka seem more open and such. Some of them severly hate humes. Some humes hate them and bastoks only problem is mixing races. Tarutaru's? There alittle naive and with out the mithra by now the Yagudo's would be taking them over. Mithra are a rather tough race for a women race. I cant expect much from being driven out of the islands to the south. With so many problems...if the beastmen heard this a war would surely start...

Sorry all, my heart just hasn't been in it...I apologize. Maybe once the three cruel sisters stop flinging bad things at me I will get back into the swing. It looks like they have no intention of letting up tho...

Once again I apologize for my negelect of this thread, that for some reason became popular.

Forgive me for the bump, I just thought this was an interesting thread.

I'm loving these stories. I figured, perhaps I should contribute one out of inspiration. Read if you're interested.

If not, no biggey, I just wanted to get my creative juices flowing. ^^

The Thousand Thoughts of Rialia. Part I

The orange whispy sun bathed the heavens with a healthy glow as it set upon the mountainous horizon. It was Lightningsday, and night soon settled upon it like dust upon a table.

I had just moved into my Mog House in Bastok, overlooking it's brilliant harbor and drawbridge. Sure, the noise of the Airship caused me some stir at night, but it was nothing I could not eventually live with. In fact, I believe it added to the life of this humble hume abode.

I decided to take a stroll along the cliffs of North Gustaberg to get a feel for the area. Needless to say, it was teeming with life, the birds, the bees and the worms performing their ritualistic dance above and below the ground.

It was getting late, and I found myself no longer bathed in the light of my hometown, but now under the gaze of a new moon sky, what few stars to keep me company during my outting.

I stopped on a wooden bridge, so hapharzardly build, overlooking the falls to my east, its beauty ever flowing and its sound almost musical to my ears...

Then what felt like a flash consumed me from the outside in. I fell to the floor; my dark, straight locks of hair covered my eyes. Immediately before me, I saw what appeared to be the soles of an animal standing upright. I looked, and towering above me was perhaps the most monsterous beast I've ever seen. The Iron Musketeer at the gate warned me about a beast of this nature. It was called a Quadav.

It was a vicious creature, well over 9 feet high, towering above my short Hume stature like I would to a Tarutaru. I felt the flash still eating at me, crawling along my skin like some kind of veil. Only it wasn't like it was covering me. It felt more like it was exposing me. So this was what Dia felt like.

It took out a small club, and proceeded to strike me while I sat there terrified in its wake. I felt like my life was going to end then and there, and all my dreams and passions with it...


It felt like forever, and the Quadav was having its fun continuously beating my already battered body. There was nothing I could do to stop it. My only means of protection was the single cotton layer of my standard issue Hume uniform, which was proving to be the least helpful at the time. I closed my eyes, said my prayers, and hoped that perhaps the afterlife was less painful...

Then, it was Lightsday.

The Quadav stood motionless, as if it showed mercy.

I might have been delirious at the moment, but I was sure that Beastman could not in any way show mercy. And it didn't. In fact, it couldn't move at all. But now my attention was no longer focused on the Quadav, but on a figure rising from the distance. While the rest of the night stood dark, she was the only thing that stood light. The white of her uniform was only outshined by the white in her eyes...

I heard her utter a few incoherent chants, and for that moment, I took a glace at the Quadav that stood before me. Then I heard one word that struck my mind as fast as it struck the Quadav. Holy.
A white ring appeared around the beast, and a force seemed to burst its life out directly from its shell in mere seconds. The Quadav that a few minutes ago was having its way with me, found itself face down on the edge of the wooden bridge.

I sat agasped as the figure continued to draw herself near me. She knelt down, and placed her hand onto my cheek. What caught my eye was her uniform, which was so delicately made white, accented with dashes of red, and her staff was but a handsome wood pole with a bead that shined like a pearl atop of it much like a crown upon a queen's head.

She gazed down, uttered a few more incantations. I felt my body soften, my bruises so quickly disappear and the blood stains upon my skin quickly dissipate. She held my hand, pulled me up and gazed at the falls as I had not so long ago.

"Beautiful isn't it?" she said.

I nodded, still amazed. She looked at me with a smile.

"There are many beautiful things in this world...and just as there are as many beautiful things, there are dangerous things."

I nodded again. I felt entranced by her words.

"People, adventurers, such as myself do our best to see such beauty, despite what dangers that surround them. Thats my job."

I then asked, pointing at the waterfalls, "Is such beauty truly worth the effort?"

She then held my shoulder, turned me about and pointed back to Bastok. The Lightsday sun rising over the Bastore Seas, and the sunlight peering through the town embossing it in orange twilight.

"You tell me..."

...

The next morning, I was about to leave the gates to South Gustaberg when the Iron Musketeer has asked me what job I had selected. I drew forth my wand, and reviewed my Cure scroll.

He nodded and casted signet.

[End]

*hug-hug*




Edited, Mon Mar 14 08:19:27 2005 by misatochan

I am born and raised Windurstian, and shall be proud of that fact until the day I die. And I shall forever support the banner of gold and green.

My fellow kinsmen, the Tarutaru, are a breed of mixed sorts. From the highest intellectuals, to the silliest people in all Vana'diel (I account myself among the former.) I always enjoy their company. In the various parties I partake in, it seems to be the tarutarus I always come to confide in first, even if they're nation differs from my own. It's the comradery that comes from being only able to see shins and kneecaps.

The mithra are to me, much like they are to Windurst, comrades-in-arms. They look after us, and we help them in the manners that we can. Thier company is always enjoyable. Again, someone I can usually talk to about the issues of Windurst and confide my trust in. Even if they can be sneaky little thieves at times.

Humes have always been an off-sort to me. I can't particuarly say I care for either Bastok OR Jueno for that matter. I've met some really nice humes in my travels, and I've also met some of the biggest jerks as well. Altough, truth be told, at times I do envy the fact that can succed at just about any job in adventuring. I enjoy sitting in the back, and blowing away enemies with my magic, but at times I wonder what it would be like to pick up a sword and hit something... and actually do some damage physically to it. Then I remember that not many likely are capable of dealing out the pain like I can. And that brings a warm feeling to my heart.

I have spent a fair amount of time in Bastok, and gotten to know the Galka population to some extent. I truly do pity them. They lost thier home, and they recieve little to no recognition for their efforts for Bastok. And that makes me sad. Additionally... I find myself more at ease in their hulking prescence. Typically as they are what stands between that monster I've been casting on and it attacking me. I also love to play with thier tails.

Elvaans. Proud, pompous and annoying to most regards. Truth be told, I can't stand them. Not only are they too tall, but they think they are the greatest that's ever exsisted. I scoff at most Elvaan who seem to think that they can even compare to the devestation I can unleash with my Black Magic. Honestly, it just doesn't happen! However, despite this, they do have an unwavering sense of duty beneath that thick veil of pride. They will hold true to their home of San d'Oria unlike any other. Although one Elvaan did once exclaim an intriguing fact about me: "Damn! That tarutaru is more patriotic then me! AND I'M A SAN D'ORIAN!" It was worth a hearty chuckle.

Ultimatly however, despite these overall feelings to other races and nations, my best friends are a Bastokan Galka and San d'Orian Elvaan. Both of which I shall fight along side, no matter the cause. Maybe the Star Sybil is right.. and we should cast aside our silly rivalries and try to work together for the greater good. That we should shed our nationalistic prides as we once did and work as one. To me... no matter how much I may dislike San d'Oria, or how little I care of Bastok.. to me. That is truly the thing I'd like to see most in my life. Where we are not citizens of a country, or members of a race. Where we are all just Altana's children...

But so long as we remain divided in such a fasion, I shall remain forever loyal to my home which shelters, to the stars that guide us, and the Star Sybil who leads us.

Farewell, and may the stars humbly guide your path.
Aqualin, Windurstian BLM

Guess I'll give this one a try.......

Being shunned by my own due to my bloodline and where I now take residence pains me, I am Elvaan proud and true but will inevitably meet Trion in combat for his crimes against me and my family, but that's another story for another day.

The Galka have always treated me as one of their own dubbing me a "Scrawny Galka" as to not make me feel too out of place as a child, even though I still do not appreciate them taping my ears back. My adoptive brother Deathsblessing has pulled me out of more than 1 fire and that's why I put my life on the line for him everyday.

Humes....what can I say they are middle of the road in every sense of the word, some good some bad, but there are the very few who are destined for greatness, where I was adopted by Deathsblessing's Mother/Father whatchamajiggy, one such Hume was adopted by DB, Strifer is one of those very few.

Taru, cute, sneaky little creatures, but I never underestimate them or their ability, powerful allies but also deadly foes.

Lastly the Mithra.....my defenses were penetrated by a Mithra, and I felt as though I had been betrayed by one in particular, but in hindsight it just made me stronger, so not only do I forgive her, I appreciate her. A fine warrior race indeed, not to be overlooked.

I know I dropped a few names, but it's my IC damnit lol

G

Only in the race of Elvaan will one find the pride and honor in this fine land. The Royal Family carries on this great kingdom under one banner, and the Temple Knights are not likely to be struck down by some mere rag-tag army. Our class and sense of honor is enough to carry us through any battle at any price; to the last man, if need be.

Humes? What do they have that we don't? They spend days on end, bossing the Galka around, seeking the riches in the forsaken mines of Gusgen and Palborough. Their destruction is inevitable. There will be a day when the Galka revolt and take the city of Bastok and set up their own power in Bastok. When that time comes, when the Humes are in place of the Galka in the mines, they will learn that greed will imprison us all.

As stated, I do pity the Galka. The Galka have no choice but to live a life in the mines; a great race being over-run by a far less superior one. All the Galkan need is one spark. Something to unite them under one banner, and they will finally be accepted by the Humes of Vana'diel as more than just mere miners.

The TaruTaru are interesting people, indeed. They are far more intelligent in the arts of sorcery, both for the good and bad, than we Elvaan. The only thing that stands in their way are the cursed yagudo. Too long has Windurst bent over backwards to those boul beasts. Why not unite and over-take Giddeus and Castle Otrozja to the north?

Mithra are a race that are not to be trusted. Their craftiness is enough to fool even the sharpest of Thiefs. From that, however, they deserve respect. On my travels, their manners varied from kind and purring in Windurst, to crude and cunning in Kazham.

Do not get me wrong, I have met many adventurers of every race. For every misguided adventurer I meat, three good ones follow.

You an I are alike, szandorr. Both loyal to our birthplaces. I pledge allegiance to San d'Oria, and I'm willing to fight for my life, as well as its great citizens, and the Royal Family. I'm sure you feel the same way about Bastok, especially the Humes, respectively. But my question is why the Galka?

I also respect that fact that San d'Oria has its fair share of problems as well as anybody else. Our very kingdom lays on an unsturdy line between success and destruction. The Temple Knight's war with orcs is not likely to end in my life time, as well as Bastok's with the Quadav, and as well as Windurst's with the Yagudo. That's one of the many reasons why I fight; to take out as many Orcs, Quadav, and Yagudo as I can while I'm fit and able.

I'm not in anyway pointing an accusing finger at Bastok; just merely voicing my opinion, and I do recognize the problems that haunt the very streets of San d'Oria. For any I've offended, I apologize.