#Ganen Rijin

[purple-link]

Alisaie and Purple Link

FFXIV Write 2024 Story Entry

Spoiler: Story takes place after WoL reaches Garlemald in Endwalker, but but before the Tower of Babil dungeon. Story will be largely sfw, but will adhere to FFXIV's level of mature storytelling.

Chapter 27: Memory

Back in the days of the warring states, the Lupin who had traveled from the west had settled for a while in Othard. By the time their participation had run its course, they had lost a lot of their population, the wolves pushed to the brink of their lives.

One wolf, in particular, simply named Garo, had been running himself ragged, trying to collect as many people as he could, trying to build a foundation. Every conflict he had been in had pretty much reduced his numbers.

With the Rijin Clan taking most of Othard, everyone had basically started to pal around with Ganen, and it was amazing to him how such a ruthless campaigner could be uniting so many people under his flag.

Well, not if Garo had anything to say about it.

That day, however, it was hard to prove. He wasn’t having a very good day. He was trying to get his people around a cavern, to try to cut off one the enemy's armies from their camp. He’d forgotten which one.

One small problem: he was very bad with directions. He was one of the strongest Lupin his race had ever known, and he won every challange to be alpha of his soldiers, but give him a map without help, and he may as well have led his whole race into the ocean.

He wasn’t very proud of this. Today was another one of those days. One part of his army was holding defenses against enemy lines, the other part was seeking to break though them.

Another one of his bright ideas led a squadron his army into a cavern with no end in sight, and his soldiers were starting to get on his wick.

“Boss Garo, this is madness!” said one of the Lupin, “We’ve been here for hours, there is no way out of this mountain.”

Garo turned sharply and growled at his soldiers, silencing them all. While he was much bigger than they were, it only about a difference of a foot. It was still enough to make them step back by the sheer surprise of it.

“I am not going to let a mountain defeat me!” said Garo, “We have sacrificed too much, and gave too many lives just for the last of us to suddenly die in a mountain somewhere! I will not let that happen!”

“Pardon my saying, sir,” said another Lupin, “but as lost as we are, we currently don’t have much of a choice.”

“It’s this ruddy nose of mine,” said Garo, “I should have known better than to fight while sick with a cold.”

He leant back against the wall. He felt his pack for something he could light. Maybe if he didn’t feel like he was freezing.

“I think we should make camp for the night,” said Garo, “We’ll pick this up again in the morning.”

But his argument wasn’t convincing. Even sick with a cold, they believed he could power his way through anything, but getting lost was a whole other matter.

Conversations of dissent were already spreading through the squadron.

“I don’t think Garo’s got the barrier he thinks he has, to defend our people,” said a campfire, off to his left, “If he can’t get this route performed, we may be signing our death warrants.”

“Oh, gods, that’s all I need,” said Garo, to his favorite lieutenant, Yuki, a female, “I have spent a lifetime gathering all my Lupin, and getting them united against our enemies, and now that we have a solid chance, I go and catch a ruddy cold.

"Thal’s balls, of all the rotten luck.”

“If they challenge you, it’s all over,” said Yuki, “You sure you can take the pressure?”

“Of course I can!” said Garo, arguing, “It’s my race or my life! There’s no way in the seven hells that…”

He stopped midway through. He sneezed terribly. Yuki sighed impatiently, and whipped out another handkerchief. He took it appreciatively.

“Thanks for that,” said Garo, “Now, if I had my nose, I’d probably be able to get us out of here like a shot.”

“Yes, curious how inconvient that is,” said Yuki, “And yet, my nose is working just fine, and I still can’t sniff the outside. I think we’re well and truly lost, my friend.”

“Yuki,” said Garo, blowing his nose noisily, “You are, once again, a fount of optimism.”

He put his paw on his forehead, feeling it throb. He was getting sicker.

“Screw it,” said Garo, “We sleep here tonight, ladies and gentlemen. Grab a partner, share the body heat. I want two watches at both ends, at all times.”

But he couldn’t sleep. Part of it was because he was stuffed to all hells, but it was also because this wasn’t the first time his alpha male status was challenged.

If he couldn’t survive now, a new Lupin was going to take charge, and he’d already sacrificed a ton of his time to make sure they were not only defendable but sustainable. Most of southern Yanxia was all theirs.

Meanwhile, the Rijin clan, thinking them hoity-toity, all lived up on the cliffs, their opulent community allowed them to look down at beastmen and try to put them in their place.

He hated that feeling. Not that he couldn’t deal with a beneficial agreement between clans, but no one had offered one to him yet. Every person he’d fought was basically the first time he’d fought them.

He was tired of the fighting, tired of wondering if his race was going to extinguish, like a flame upon a candle. The very thought made his legs restless.

Trying not to wake Yuki, lying next to him, he silently stepped out.

Bugger, he thought, the watch. How can a leader of wild Lupin get a silent and brooding walk to himself if he couldn’t sneak past his own people? He was just going to have to busk it.

“I am going to look around for a spring, or a well,” said Garo, whispering to his watch, “I will not go far.”

“Keep yourself safe,” said one of his watchmen, “I’d recommend taking someone with you.”

“No, I am not going that far,” said Garo, hoping that was true, “Keep an eye on the party. If anything should happen to me, help them get out of this blasted mountain.”

“Thy will be done,” said the watchman, saluting. Garo groaned.

“Oh, stop talking fancy,” said Garo, “We’re not hyur or Roegadyn, and we don’t need to illuminate our speech. We’re just creatures.”

“Sorry, sir, but I don’t believe that,” said the watchman, “The day I believe us lesser than the other races is the day that I get a spear from your own blade.”

Garo smirked agreeably.

“That’s a good way to see it,” said Garo, “Normally, I’d have you spitting my authority around the camp to fire up the lads. I know that all the respect I’ve earned is not going to be in vain.”

He put a paw up to his head. He felt like he was getting worse.

“But please, just give me a minute,” said Garo, exhaustedly, “I’m more than happy to spread my doctrine, right now, I just wanna be me and be sick.”

“Suit yourself sir,” said the watchman, “Again, be careful. I know you’re one of the strongest Lupin in the army, but even you have your weaknesses.”

“That’s smart of you to mention,” said Garo, “Give me a salute, and maybe I’ll feel better.”

He did. And he did not.

“At ease, soldier,” said Garo, waving goodbye as he moved, “I will be back before the dawn.”

Yet another smart move, idiot, he thought to himself, You just left your squadron alone in a labyrinth they’re hopelessly lost in, and it was your idea. Now you’re all by yourself.

He tried listening for running water, but he was picking up nothing. He could smell nothing but ash and dust. And that was when he could breathe.

Eventually, he ran into a cavern, and here, he could feel, much less see the water. He trundled along, looking for a pool deep enough he could just plunge his head in.

Unfortunately, that was when the fever hit. He fell like a bag of bricks down one side of the wall. It was hanging over another level of the cave.

The Lupin felt his body slide down the wall, going unconscious right when he landed in the arms of someone else…

…

The Lupin stared up into the ceiling. He was feeling a bit better, but he wasn’t sure why. His head still throbbed.

Maybe it had been a couple of hours. Maybe it had been a couple of days. He was hoping that there was enough rations for his men to get out of the cave. Without his nose, he was doing bugger-all to help.

“Pray, do not move or speak,” said an unfamiliar voice outside of his range, “You will only make yourself worse.”

The figure stepped above him, his blade fastened to his belt.

It was a hyur, he noticed, and one he recognized very well. His blood would boil, if the rest of him wasn’t boiling along with it. He coughed and coughed again.

The hyur had his hair pulled back. The young man had a wispy little mustache to accompany his wispy little beard. He seemed a little anxious, and mollycoddled over the Lupin as he got sicker.

You wouldn’t have guessed at first glance that this man was a vicious warlord who ruled in Othard over all the races who swore loyalty to him.

“Ganen,” said Garo, his voice creaky, “Ganen Rijin.”

“I have half a mind to call you a simpleton” said Ganen, the Lupin too sick to react to this, “I know you’re this aggressive Lupin leader, but you’d think you’d be able to notice when a cold was coming during an assault.”

“There is no other way,” said Garo, “Enemy forces are assembling at my border, along with yours. This was the only way that I could cut them off.”

He then coughed again, realizing that Ganen was hovering over the Lupin with a wet cloth.

“What are you doing here?” said Garo, “I thought men like you slept in tents, with riches and swords surrounding your bed, and nothing but bodyguards to protect you.”

“First of all, that’s other leaders, not me,” said Ganen, "and secondly…"

He faltered slightly, starting to become defensive.

“I dont’t want to talk about it.”

The Lupin looked at Ganen putting the cloth on the Lupin’s forehead. He smiled and started to laugh.

“H-Hey, don’t laugh!” said Ganen, “It’s not the coldest water.”

“You’re lost too, huh, little boy?” said Garo. Ganen blushed deeply.

“That’s not…” said Ganen, “I’m exploring the caves, alright? I haven't been down the stratum.”

“That sounds like a lie,” said Garo, “I appreciate the kind gestures, but if you weren’t ready to slash a throat-”

“Are you kidding?!” said Ganen, the warlord, who looked grossly offended, “I don’t want to kill anybody!”

“How foolish of you, then,” said Garo, “Killing is an inevitable part of war–”

“No, you don’t understand,” said Ganen, “It’s not just a matter of principle.”

Garo looked at the young hyur curiously, and then he shook his head.

“Fine,” said Garo, “Tell me, what do you think is the most important part of war?”

He coughed.

“I am sick, I am weak. Take my life,” said Garo, “I am at your mercy. You kill me, you have my army. You could get rid of years of conflict–”

“What a waste,” said Ganen, sadly. Garo’s ears perked up.

“What’s that?” said Garo, suddenly feeling irritated, “If you’re not going to kill me, then you’re a lousy warrior.”

Ganen stood up and sighed.

“I don’t want to kill you, period,” said Ganen, “I want to see you live.”

"That’s kind of you,” said Garo, feeling himself shiver, cautiously taking the canteen of water from Ganen’s hands to drink, “But you do realize that, even without a weapon, I could kill you with one swipe of my claws.”

“First of all, good luck, I’ve got great reflexes,” said Ganen, “Secondly, I don’t care whether you kill me or not. I’m not going to let another soul suffer.”

Garo was too tired and too sick for these games. It was his decisions that got him into this mess, and he didn’t need to complicate it by playing political sport.

“Fine, you win,” said Garo, “Heal me. I don’t care anymore. I am a bit curious why a savage warlord is working to cure one of his most bitter enemies.”

Ganen sat next to the wolf. He was waiting for a moment to change his forehead cloth. His eyes moved from side-to-side, visibly trying to make a decision, before he finally made one.

“...I am a bit lost,” said Ganen, “These walls all look similar after a while.”

Garo chuckled, even if it made his body hurt. Ganen shook his head.

“What’s the matter?” asked Garo.

“Such self-deprecation. You can't be serious,” said Ganen. Garo frowned at this.

“Impudent fool,” said Garo, “Just because I’m sick doesn’t mean I’m stupid. I know what position I’m in right now, I’m not about to lie to myself. But don’t think for a minute this diminishes my stature.

“The minute I am well enough to walk on my own,” said Garo, “I will cut through you.”

“Can you really do that?” asked Ganen. Garo rolled his eyes.

“Do what?” said Garo.

“It’s just,” said Ganen, “It’s stuff like that. Your claws, your tail.”

“...Yeah?” said Garo, getting more impatient.

“I quite admire them,” said Ganen. Garo blushed a little too deeply. He turned his head away.

“You’re just a boy,” said Garo, “You’d think carriages with doors are admirable.”

“And they are,” said Ganen, “The really ornate ones are the ones you could tell they spent a lot of time and equations on getting just right. I only have a bland, simple one.”

“Not that you need much, do you, warmonger?” said Garo. Ganen frowned.

“Why do you keep calling me that?” said Ganen.

“Your people,” said Garo, leaning on his elbows, trying to look the young man in the eye, “have been responsible for the deaths of my people since my grandfather’s time. Why should I be in your debt?”

“Y’know, you can act as arrogant as you like,” said Ganen, “I really don’t care. I’m here, on my own, trying to gather as much data as I can about these tunnels. I stumble into you, I notice you’re Garo, the leader of the Lupin armies.”

Garo’s fur stood on end. He already knew who he was, even as he was falling to his death.

“Now, I know you don’t believe me, but I don’t care,” said Ganen, blushing lightly, “Lupin are such glorious creatures. I think all beastmen are glorious.

"Call me selfish, call me what you will, but even if it was my worst enemy, I would still nurse them back to health. I have enough knowledge from what I learned from the White Mages to be able to give my possible best.

“I don’t expect you to be grateful,” said Ganen, “I don’t expect you to thank me. I just want to see you healthy.”

Garo looked on in wonder, not really believing what he was hearing.

“Those are the words of a child!” said Garo, “How could you be so naive? There are soldiers that are out for our blood, right now, clans you haven’t swayed with your impossible swagger–”

“You have a very fluffed up opinion of me,” said Ganen, “All I did was ask people if they wanted to stop fighting, and they said yes. It’s really not more complicated than that.”

“What about ceremonies, treaties, diplomacy,” said Garo, “That takes time. We can’t all just get along.”

“If you think I’m taking this lightly, then you are the fool,” said Ganen, and here, Garo started to hear the man of legend through his words, “I have men, whom I trust, that are responsible for the big words, the massive logistics that it takes to rally together all that had separated us for years, just because we were in a war for supremacy.

"I wanted out the minute I became the leader.

“My father died, and I had to learn, very quickly, what it took to lead the people” said Ganen, “I have to make a lot of quick decisions, not all of them good.

"Every time a person dies by my hands, a little part of me dies. I’m trying very hard to keep that from happening.”

“So, what, you’re just exploring the tunnels as a hobby?” said Garo, frankly, “You, who are in charge of a whole nation…of…”

His eyes widened. Tears were forming at the end of the young man’s eyes.

“By the beard of Ramuh,” said Garo, suddenly very fearful, “You’re serious, aren’t you? You really don’t want to be here.”

“I’ve tried everything,” said Ganen, “I’ve even tried to get Gyosei to explore any tunnels underwater, but–”

“You hired an astrologer?” said Garo, suddenly hopeful, “You hired a fortune teller?”

“No,” said Ganen, “I’ve got support from a friend.”

He heard the bell before he saw it. Garo’s hopefulness died the moment he saw the whiskers.

Coming up the other end of the cavern was a small little guy. He was basically those walking catfish, wearing nothing but a red apron and a dream. In fact, the only thing that was different about him was that he was wearing an astrologian’s planisphere on his back.

“Oh, good gods,” said Garo, leaning back down, “Please don’t tell me you were the one who taught that thing a healer’s trade.”

Gyosei, because that’s what the Namazu’s name is, put his fin up to his mouth in curiosity.

“Oh, my, yes yes,” said the Namazu, “I see we have visitors, Ganen.”

Several hours had passed, during which Garo eventually got well enough to start moving around on his feet.

The little astrologian tried his darndest to use magic to heal him, but it seemed the Namazu barely had the skill. Enough had gotten through, however, that he was able to cure most of the illness from the Lupin’s body.

All he really had to deal with was a runny nose and the tiniest bit of fatigue.

The problem was that the little catfish could only do bits of it at a time, and then rested until he got his strength back to come back and heal again.

Finally, after getting his gear together, he went up to the young lad, who was ready to set off himself.

“Thanks for the help, but I’m afraid I must away with me,” said Garo, “I owe you one, but believe me, the next time we see one another, I fear it must be on the field of battle.”

Ganen looked at Garo curiously, and then saw the big wolf set off on his own again. He looked quickly at the Namazu, who merely shrugged and shook his head, until the young man caught up with the Lupin again.

“Wait a minute!” said Ganen, “I need your help if we’re going to get out of these tunnels.”

“You’re a surprisingly deeply-layered young man,” said Garo, “And I do appreciate the kindness, but my soldiers are in these tunnels, and if they’re still here, I need to find them.”

He sniffed noisily.

“If my nose wasn’t stuffed up right now…” said Garo, upset.

“You need help,” said Ganen, “You need my help. There is no other way.”

Garo looked at Ganen irritably.

“...Fine,” said Garo, finally, “But I move pretty fast. I’m going to leave you behind, if you can’t keep up.”

“Don’t worry about me,” said Ganen, “While I can’t profess I know these tunnels enough, like the back of my hand, so to say, I can get around here just fine on my own two feet.”

Garo had an idea of what that was like. The moment that Garo picked up speed, moving along the tunnels at a clip, Ganen was somehow moving faster, and that was with a little Namazu in his arms.

“I have tiny little legs, yes yes,” said Gyosei, who seemed somehow proud of this statement.

At one point, there was a huge scorpion, his huge tail striking out at the two as they fought it. Garo couldn't dig his claws into its skin.

"Blast it," said Garo, "I feel like scratching stone!"

"You are injured, yes yes?" said the namazu, "I will heal!"

The namazu brought his arms around, making the planisphere float in his fin. As the cards spun around, he plucked one card out of the air.

"Behold, the power of Malefic!"

Poof! The magic puttered out like a barely sufficient rainstorm.

"Odd," said Gyosei, "I was assured I was making progress on my efficacy..."

"Oh, for the love of-" said Ganen, and he brought his hands to the ground.

After a severe shaking of the ground, a huge rock dislodged from the ceiling, falling and crushing the scorpion with its weight. After the dust had fallen, Garo shrieked at the top of his lungs.

"Imbecile!" said Garo, "You could have brought the whole mountain on top of us!"

"Impossible," said Ganen, "I can read the rock. I'm a geomancer."

"...Fine, I'll bite," said Garo, putting his head in his paws.

"I was taught the craft," said Ganen, flexing his arms, "It's not exactly helpful for getting out of dark tunnels, but it does give me control over the earth.

"You'd be surprised how much easier it is to route armies if you can hear their hoofbeats through the ground."

Garo folded his arms, watching the young man take the lead again.

"...That is genuinely impressive," said Garo.

Eventually, Garo started to make a game of escaping the caves.

They ran into a cavern with deep water, with only thin pillars of rock that led to a level higher in the caves. Garo smiled evilly, and started moving from rock to rock, leaping like a leopard from one pillar to another…except that he was a wolf.

Ganen was able to do it, amazingly, without a tail, and with far more grace than he did. Eventually, it turned into a race. Garo smiled enthusiastically at Ganen, who smiled back.

Garo’s footpaws eventually got the best of him, and he mistimed the jump to the ledge at the last second. As he began to fall from a large height, onto pillars that weren’t so dull, Ganen held out his hand for Garo to grasp.

Jumping on any chance to not die, Garo whipped out his paw and clasped as tightly as he could onto Ganen’s arm, his claws digging into the young lord’s arm out of pure anxiety. He was dangling over the ledge.

Garo looked into Ganen’s eyes, and he saw, within the lad, a genuine eagerness for the Lupin to live. A small feeling of gratitude grew in Garo then, one that increased in size into sincere respect.

…He really didn’t want him to die, thought Garo. He eventually climbed up the ledge, in front of Ganen. He was so scared, he grasped Ganen in a hug. They both peeked over the edge.

“Thal’s balls,” said Garo, “I thought I was going to die.”

“It’s a good thing you have me here,” said Ganen, who was half-joking. Garo knew he was half-joking, but he stood up and tried to restore what little dignity he had.

“I…Certainly,” said Garo, “But I’m sure I would have thought of something.”

“Would you?”

“No, actually, I was going to get skewered by those rocks,” said Garo, turning around with exhaustion, admitting he was bluffing, “I would have legitimately died if it weren’t for you. I want to thank you.”

“Let’s get your fellows out of this cave, first,” said Ganen, pointing a finger up, “Then you can thank me.”

It took a little bit longer than he liked, but he eventually found his soldiers, still lost in the tunnels. Thankfully, he hadn’t lost a single one.

“Garo, thank goodness!” said Yuki, brightness in her eyes, “We eventually had to press on, after you had been gone for so long. We thought you had died.”

“You made the right choice,” said Garo, “Better that the army lives on and protects its citizens than have to answer for an absent leader.”

They had still become defensive. Apparently, they either didn’t appreciate Ganen being there, or they really hated catfish.

“Who is this…man?” said one of the Lupin, “Why do you have one of the Rijin Clan with you?”

“Ganen is, he’s…” said the Lupin, turning to the hyur, curious about this himself. Ganen shrugged, as if to say, “my fate is in your hands.”

That’s funny, thought Garo, that sounds like something that he himself would have said.

“He’s a very good friend of mine,” answered Garo, eventually. This was mostly to get all of them out of the cave, including the Namazu.

Garo was so grateful, he hugged Ganen much more genuinely.

This open expression of affection from a Lupin gave rise to those who would splinter off into their own groups, but it was so moving, a lot of people weren’t surprised decades later, when Garo also swore fealty to the young man.

What followed was a series of adventures, mostly towards protecting Doma and all of its citizen, which included the Lupin, who were able to proliferate and multiply, and also the Namazu, who were just ebullient to be there.

Several years into their employment, with a generous pension plan added as well, Garo eventually learned that Ganen was planning a celebration. When he pressed the man, Ganen chuckled lightly.

“I thought it would be nice,” said Ganen, his beard a little longer these days, “When we signed the documents to unify Othard, it was all very cold and procedural.

"I thought it would be a lot more fun to include some of my people’s festival booths and some food and–”

“Say no more,” said Garo, his lips smacking, “Just the idea of a feast has my lips salivating.”

Of course, the memory of the garo yasumi, or the Festival of the Fanged-Wolf, lives on today, and for almost 800 years, they celebrated the union of Lupin and Doman cultures, living for generations in harmony and security.

For most, these memories would twist and fray, suddenly becoming less and less dependable after a time, to the veracity of the events that happened between Ganen Rijin and Garo, the Lupin leader who would become his friend.

Who knows if even this story is really what happened…

To be continued…

[ffxivxd]

Doman geomancy used to be a central hub for academics in Hingashi and beyond. However, after the Garlean Empire's invasion, the threat of a deified Ganen Rijin caused the Empire to shut down all centers of geomancy.

[noobiehealergwen]

Gwen lore

Gwendolyn Alfestia comes from a noble family, Originally being born in Doma. The Alfestia household is connected to Rijin royalty. Being that the founder of the Alfestia line was a sibling to the descant of Ganen Rijin. Due to this the Alfestia were a Dukedom of sorts.

The house of Alfestia heavily focused on sons rather then daughters. As men were the only ones to become heirs. For girls they had very little say and power over their own life there only purpose was to become a perfect bride and have children.

Unfortunately for Gwendoyln, she was the only girl out a set of triplets, the other two being boys. Her father, Duke Hendrix named her two brothers Calen and Klaus respectively. Gwendolyn however had to be named by her mother as her father didn't care about her at all.

From the very beginning she was separated for her brothers. When they got to play in the mud she was in side, forced to practice her sewing. When the boys got old enough to horse back ride, Gwendolyn had to learn literature. She was never allowed to attend parties like her brothers either.

Gwen's relationship with her father was awful. They never talk and the only time she sees him was during dinner, family events, or worse when she was in trouble. To receive punishment from her father due to making mistakes most children would her age. He would not hesitate to physically torment and abuse her getting his anger out. He was such a large man and Gwendoyln who was only a little girl couldn't fight back for years growing a fear of sorts for men.

[the-littlest-kojin]

Amis's Studio

A bell tinkles, and the door swings inwards, illuminating the dark studio briefly, and a tall Roegadyn swaggers in.

Slowly, she turns and surveys the cluttered space, taking in the plethora of instruments and the myriad of sheet music pinned to the walls.

“Hello?” A pleasant harp chord sounds, and she turns to face it, spotting a small, pale Auri woman, with dark scales and garishly bright clothes, sitting at a music stand.

“Are you the proprietor of this establishment?” Another pleasant chord from the harp standing next to the petite Xaela.

“...Do you not speak?” A discordant sound from the harp, harsh enough that it makes her flinch instinctively.

“...I see. Just to check, this is the songwriter’s studio I’ve heard so much about, yes?” Once more, the pleasant chord.

“...Very well. I will take a chance. I wish to commission a song, an aria documenting the founding of the Kingdom of Doma under the prestigious Ganen Rijin.”

The harp’s sound of approval rings out once more, and the songstress points to a window, decorated with a blazing sun, looking out over the harbour to the west.

The Roegadyn stares in confusion out the window for a long pause, the silence oppressive, before she makes a sound of realisation.

“Dusk! You want me to return at sunset, is that it?” Smiling, the Au Ra plays the harp pleasantly once more.

Shaking her head and bemused, the Roegadyn leaves the store, muttering to herself.

~

Returning, the sun’s glare in her eyes and in a much less patient mood, the Roegadyn strides into the shop, her gaze sharp as she fixes it on the songstress.

“Do you have the song ready?” In response, the proprietor of the shop sits at a Doman shamisen, and begins to play it, causing the Roegadyn to step back in shock at the beautiful tones cutting through the silence.

The melody continues for long minutes, nearly a quarter-bell of continuous music, and when it finally fades, the customer blinks in sudden loss.

“Why is the chorus in minor key? I demand you change it.”

Brows furrowing, the brightly-dressed Xaela plays the chorus again in minor key, then plays it in major, before playing the discordant tone indicating denial once more, handing over the sheet music and a bill.

Reading the bill, the Roegadyn scoffs and throws down the gil in disgust, storming out of the shop, and in her wake, the songstress silently sighs.

~

As the Auri woman closes the studio and leaves for the night, she is met by a tall Viera man, who smiles at her.

“I heard a performance, just now, that made me think of you - except that one part of the aria was quite clearly in the wrong key.”

Glaring up at the taller figure, the Xaela stomps her foot angrily, the beads around her ankles jingling.

“I know, I know. Customers, right?” Leaning on his arm, the songwriter nods, resting her head on his skin as they start to walk home.

[izayoiishikawa-blog]

Doma Part I

For two and half decades, this once-grand kingdom on the shores of the One River was subject to Garlean rule. However, with the expulsion of imperial forces, Doma is free once more to control its destiny.

Flag: The Doman character for the nation’s name adorns the center, and the crimson border surrounding it represents the royal family’s ancestral role as gatekeepers of the One River. The field upon which rests is green like the color of the rice plants which grow in Doma’s many fields.

Motto: By the Righteous Blade We Are Delivered

Government: since Doma’s founding, the Rijin clan’s sons have ruled as kings with the support of an educated samurai caste. During the twenty-five-year Garlean occupation, an imperial viceroy held absolute authority, but the recent liberation has seen return of the old government, with the leader of the rebellion and head of the Rijin clan restored to the throne.

Leader: Hien Rijin

Ruling Body: Though the king of Doma has the power to intercede in all matters of governance, he delegates much of the minutiae to a cadre of samurai advisors.

Racial Distribution: Far Eastern Hyur (60%), Far Eastern Roegadyn (20%), Au Ra Raen (10%), Other (10%).

Religion: On the whole, Domans tend to practice their faith in private, and do not proselytize nor judge those who do not share in their beliefs. As is the case in many regions of the Far East, they worship a host of spirits referred to as the kami. Though some of these divines beings can be likened to personifications of nature, enlightened sages and long-lived animals of legend may also be defined as kami. Further complicating any attempt to categorize these entities is the variety said to inhabit ancient relics.

Industries

Agriculture: The banks of the One River have long been considered to be some of the most fertile farmland in eastern Othard, particulary the region surround the river’s mouth in Yanxia, Rice is the crop of choice, though persimmons and plums are also quite profitable.

Fishing: Domans have lived off the One River and the Glittering Basin since antiquity. As the kingdom expanded outward, so too did her people, who built villages on the coast of the Ruby Sea and from where ventured farther and farther west. While sources of food are abundant, some of the adventurous fishermen have made a living hunting sea tortoises for their shells, which are highly valued by all manner of artisans for use in their crafts.

Papermaking: The fibers of the Yanxian mulberry and the waters of the One River are key ingredients in the production of Doman Paper, which is prized the world over for both its durability and its beauty. Not only is it considered ideal for scrolls and documents that must be preserved, but it is also a medium in which artisans may craft fans, lanterns, and more elaborate displays. Though the industry languished during the imperial occupation, masters of the craft managed to preserve the knowledge of their techniques, and in the wake of Doma’s liberation they set about rebuilding the mills and resuming production.

Beliefs: Loyalty is perhaps the most virtuous quality to the people of Yanxia, be it to Doma, her king, or his vassals. The samurai would trust in the Rijin, and the people would in turn trust in the samurai. Many Domans would attest that one need only look to the carnage born of betrayal in the past to see this wisdom in this.

Diet: As one would expect given the amount of farmland devoted to it, rice is part of virtually every Doman meal. Aside from that common element, however, the cuisine of the central and coastal regions can differ to a surprising degree. Pork, and other meats are favored in the heartland of Doma, where seafood is far more common along the coast. The seasoning used in preparation are somewhat dissimilar as well, with the coastal villages preferring the more subtle flavors of Hingashi while stronger spices imported from Radz-at-Han are regular incorporated into Yanxian fare.

The Feats of Ganen

For all intents and purposes, the history of Doma begins with one man: Ganen Rijin. Eight hundred years ago, following his father’s death in battle when he was still but a boy if fourteen summers, Ganen became leader of his clan. Even at that tender age, he immediately understood that the Rijin, a clan little renown and meager holdings, would be judged easy prey too tempting to ignore, and would soon be attacked by one larger and more aggressive clans that were locked in a constant struggle for supremacy. Sure enough, it was not long before his scouts brought word of enemy troops massing near their borders. While formulating his defensive strategy, Ganen first considered how a small contingent of soldiers might defend a fortified position against a larger force, which then led him to devise a most cunning plan. Then the invading clan’s cavalry  first sighted the Rijin soldiers, they were surprised to find them woefully underequipped-on foot and bereft of chain and plate. They fled, and the eager invaders gave chase, only to become caught in wetlands and weighed down by their armor. At Ganen’s command, the trap was sprung and hidden host archers rained arrows down upon the helpless army. Thus began the legend of the boy general who would later found a kingdom.

The Birth of a Kingdom

Many accomplished warlords have left their mark on Yanxia over the centuries, but Ganen had two qualities others lacked. For one, as a child he had learned the art of geomancy from a wise hermit. He could read the elemental energies as well as any practitioner, and use this knowledge to his advantage when deciding on the time and place to engage his enemies.

Ganen’s other strength was his disregard for birth and background. Whether farmers, fisherman, or even former bandit, he would accept any recruit into his service so long as he believed them possessed of ability and wisdom. Races such as the Lupin who would be considered lessers by many Eorzeans were man’s equals in his eyes, and he welcomed them into his service with open arms. Ganen showed mercy to his defeated enemies and in so doing earned their respect and loyalty, further bolstering his armie’s ranks. With every victory the Rijin grew stronger, and in the span of twenty years they controlled the whole of the One River’s eastern bank.

On the western bank, however, other clans observed the Rijin’s expansion with growing fear. Led by Koboku, they assembled a massive army, and it soon became lear that confrontation was unavoidable. For eight years the war ‘twixt east and west raged with hardly a day of rest, until General Ganen at last led his armies to victory with the aid of the Namazu messengers and spies, who provide invaluable military intelligence. Having united all of Yanxia beneath his banner, he then decreed that the kingdom of Doma was born.

Lore book Volume 2.

[kotodama-clan]

• History of the Kotodama •

(WIP. Current as of 31 Jan 2019. Author @dainkotodama. Editor @ritsuka-aoki)

► The Formation of the Kotodama Clan

Where the Kotodama Clan has now risen once stood several powerful clans of the east. Each having seen the power of the Rijin Clan’s boy general, Ganen, and pledging their loyalty towards the vision of a united Yanxia. Their resolve would come to be tested in many battles; the fruits of their dedication being rewarded with strong ties. Marriages between the houses, shared training and invigorated cultural ties all lent to the building of the Kotodama.

This strong loyalty would then come to be tested. Once the Rijin Clan held the One Rivers eastern banks, the Koboku would form an alliance of clans on the western banks. Soon war become inevitable.

For eight years conflict would reign over Yanxia. Numerous were those clans on both sides whom would break. Their lands and forces absorbed by their allies, traditions and lines often merely counted as an offering to the kingdom that would come.

Her name; Doma. The most powerful nation Yanxia would ever host.

Yet the cost in those final battles was tremendous. Our ancestral clans were all but decimated in the last leg of the fighting; having committed everything to the front line once the great general Ganen had victory in his sight. A miscalculation on the part of the clans saw tremendous, though still honorable, losses.

It was in these times that the survivors of these ancestral clans would come together. With a generation of blood ties and histories that went back even further they would build a new home from the ashes of their loss. Hikari; a young geomancer born from the union of the two oldest clans’ Daimyo was selected to lead the newly unified clans. Bringing with them a new name; Kotodama.

Thusly the Kotodama Clan was formed. A clan with fearsome loyalty to the nation of Doma, her king and the glory of her people.

► Her Faith

In those early days of the Kotodama Clan the greatest tensions rose over their varied forms of worship and faith. Some traditional worshipers of the kami, a handful disciples of certain spirits, and still others whom regarded their ancestors as the most important point of faith. In the times before the Boy General, the most senior of these clans, had come to blades over these matters of faith.

Yet in this time of unity the Daimyo saw to it that a middle ground was reached, citing the kings unification of Yanxia as an example for her people to take. At first resistance was met by the senior priests but the spirit of benevolence was overwhelmingly strong in Hikari and in time they would concede and aid in the great effort.

Starting this effort the kami, spirits, and the ancestors would be recognized fully as worthy of worship. From this starting point altars would be affixed and constructed.

These altars would first be inscribed with the family’s name at their center; representing the clan,s heart in a shared name. The local kami would then be marked beside this with the clan’s guardian spirit engraved upon candles from this. Thusly their altars represented a unity of faiths.

In time however two aspects of this would become more central; the worship and regard of the spirit Seikatsu and the veneration of the elders.

Seikatsu was the name given to an ancient tree that the Mugen clan had worshiped said to have been so old that it saw the very birth of the kami and the formation of Yanxia. There was great aether bestowed upon the tree. The Mugen clan believed themselves the chosen to watch over and safeguard it’s grand temple. Their warriors would often enter the field with gems shaped of the tree’s crystal-like bark fixed to their foreheads.

The veneration of elders spread at first from the Hayai clan whom were considered cursed by fleeting lives. Each one would burn fiercely as though consumed by great fire until their paths were cut short. To preserve the passion of each generation they held their ancestors in a place of veneration; committing the souls of the departed to watch over those in the present. It was said in their most desperate moments these spirits would manifest.

It would come to pass that in time a mixture of these two clans beliefs would be the foundation of the Kotodama’s faith as it is known today.

► The Sundering

(WIP)

► The Rebirth

(WIP)

► Traditions

► Rite of Noburu:

The Kotodama Clan has always valued the family which joined willingly over the family born of blood. Originally a conglomeration of disparate and broken clans a rite of adoption was created to replenish their numbers first in the eyes of the law, then later as part of the annals of their living ancestors.

To begin the one looking to become Noburu must acquire the blessing of one of the clan’s higher officials often after having proven great valor, effort and ability in the service of the Kotodama. If an applicant is deemed worthy, a time and place will be determined and one of the seishi (priest) will be assigned to officiate the proceedings.

The ritual itself is simple. Clan members and those close to the applicant will be invited to participate in the ritual. A member whom is of blood or has gone through the ritual of Noburu will serve as the supplicant and bond of the clan alongside a priest whom shall serve as witness and overseer.

A ritual bowl and a crystal of Seikatsu are to be prepared in advance. The applicant is to take a specially cleansed knife and open their palm, recite their bond and personal oaths to the Kotodama and then permit their blood to pool in the bowl. The supplicant then takes their own cleaned knife, opening their palm, accepting the applicant and their soul into the spirit of the clan, and then join blood. Often a feast is held afterwards as adding new blood to the bloodline is considered an sacred occasion.

In the following days of the rite the Seikatsu crystal is to be returned to the Seikatsu tree at the clan’s ancestral temple. Only a trusted priest is permitted to carry out this task.

�� Funeral Rites

(WIP)

► Hikari: The First Daimyo  - “Yaki-naoshi”

Born from the marriage of the Daimyo of the Hayai clan and the Daimyo of the Mugen clan, Hikari represented a bridge between their opposed ideologies. Born weak of body, Hikari would come under the tutelage of the two clans’ priests and mages. Taught not only of the clans’ traditions but the art of command, the woman’s sharp mind seemed to excel.

Even so it wasn’t until the Boy General Ganen united the Eastern half of the One River that she would have the chance for these abilities to shine. The Daimyo of the Hayai clan was succumbing to their family’s curse of impermanence; having fallen deathly sick and leaving his forces without a commander. Upon his sickbed he beseeched both Hikari and the Daimyo of the Mugen clan, whom had become a close and personal confident in this time, to permit Hikari to lead the Haiya forces.

Initially reluctance drug out the fulfillment of these wishes but once the clans of the Western side of the One River began to unite and rise up against the Rijin, their hand was forced. Hikari would lead them during the eight year war.

A tempered style of command would immediately be noted; the great fire of the Haiya tamed into a force which extolled the virtues of benevolence. The Kotodama’s legends say that many were the village whom would surrender to the strength of her virtue.

Even unto the breaking of the Haiya’s back would their virtue be maintained - and then in recognition those clans whom had forged such close alliances would come under her banner in the name of a new homeland.

Hikari would see the clan through it’s developmental stages - to claim and maintain territory, take position in the Enclave and to reforge the broken steel of these disparate clans into a single blade that would serve Doma- the Kotodama.

She would retire at the age of forty-eight; an illness much like the former Daimyo of the Haiya clan would sap her strength leaving a son to take the clan into it’s next stages while she enjoyed a peaceful later life.

► Cheon: The Eight Daimyo “Kireaji ga ii”

Cheon was born in the year of the dragon; a highly intelligent and self assured child. Considered ‘blessed by aether’ the child would come to excel in combat.

[ffxivxd]

In the early years of Doma, Ganen Rijin stood above the other many accomplished warlords. One of them being that he learned the art of geomancy from a wise hermit. He read elemental energies and used it when deciding on the time and place to engage enemies.

[ffxivxd]

Having lived apart from other races for so long, Namazu were long considered to be barbaric. However, this changed when General Ganen of the Rijin clan enlisted a number of them as messengers during war.