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 Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:19 pm
 (Played by Rabid Jigglypuff)-T.o.C-
Welcome
About Magick
About JuJu
Offerings & Requests
Guestbook
Where to Find Her
Glossary
Reserved
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:07 pm
Welcome to de Cave
A frighteningly strange figure busies herself along the rockface sorrounding her cave home, preening the severed turkey leg hanging rather craftily from a string attached to a crevace. The path to her den is covered in a similar array of macabre decorations - skulls, painted rocks, even a figure made of bound straw looking oddly like a two-legger. The air hangs thickly with the scent of decay, mold, and something else entirely - strange. Pleased with her work, the female sits herself down by the entrance to her new home, the rattle on her tail making an unsettling -cl-clack- against the stone floor. A cool wind blows and the sinister girl smiles a skull-like grin.
"Home sweet home, ay?" The female banthi purrs outloud, speaking to an unknown source. "De land be lookin' fair on de eve of Spring. Soon dey will come... yes... come to see JuJu and talk wit de spirits..."
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:17 pm
About de Magicks Voodoo is an interesting religion, as it comprises both a strict belief in the healing power of spirits as well as the vengeful wrath of the dead. JuJu herself was trained by an unknown benefactor a very long time ago in the art of Voodoo and takes great pride in her religion. Though many think of Voodoo as being an outlet for revenge via curses, pain and misfortune, the core beliefs are bent on the healing and guidance of the spirits rather than on the intention of hurting others.
Rituals are performed to bring about these "Loa" (also Lwa or L'wha) or spirits of Voodoo in order to appease them into fulfilling a request. They are also referred to as the Mystères and the Invisibles by JuJu.
A good way of thinking is to consider them alike the saints and angels in Catholicism, their function being as intermediates between Bon Dieu (The Creator) and the living world. They each possess their own distinct likes and dislikes, songs, rhythms, rituals and symbols and must be treated as individual personalities rather than faceless slaves.
Via rituals, these spirits are able to take over a ritualist's body to receive offerings and grant requests. This process is often violent but can sometimes be calm and quiet, depending on the Loa being summoned.
There are 3 classes of Loa:
Rada loa - Generally the older, more beneficent spirits. They include Legba, Loko, Ayizan, Dhamballah Wedo and Ayida-Weddo, Erzulie Freda, La Sirène, and Agoueh.
Petro loa - Generally the more fiery, occasionally aggressive and warlike Loa. They include Ezili Dantor, Marinette, Ogoun, and Kalfu
Ghede loa - The spirits of the dead. They are traditionally led by the Barons (La Croix, Samedi, Cimitière, Kriminel), and Maman Brigitte. They are traditionally loud, rude, sexual, and very amusing
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:18 pm
About de Mambo Not much is known about JuJu's past or where she even came from. One day she simply showed up in the southern reaches of the land and made herself at home in a vastly large mountain cave. Her age is unknown most of all, with some rumors dating her back centuries..
She's a fickle female, prone to spastic personality changes. She welcomes any banthi to her dwelling for business or pleasure, having no loyalties to any clan. She simply hates nor likes anyone particularly that much. It isn't hard however, to tilt her mood in either direction during any one meeting. The female is quick to light a fiery temper but has a sly attraction to any formidable male that arrives at her doorstep and is a sucker for compliments.
Its an understatement to say that it is difficult to tell where her loyalties lie when her tastes change so frequently.
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:19 pm
Offerings & Requests to de Altar A word of warning to be taken with the highest sense of alarm...
Loa spirits are are not pawns to be used and discarded. Though one does not require to be a strict Voodoo priestess to take part in a ritual to bring about a spirit guide, they must be treated with respect or dire consequences await. You must keep in mind that although a vast majority of spirits are kind and gentle to the living, there are many that simply cannot be trusted. These beings are wild, unpredictable, and sometimes violent if not properly appeased or simply because they feel like being a deviant. JuJu understands these spirits; their needs, wants, desires and capabilities --- take her advice to heart.
Requests
With that said, there are many benefits to seeking out a spirit. JuJu is more than happy to help a banthi channel their desires, whether it be blessings of good fortune and prosperity (by far the most common, simple and easy service JuJu can provide), advice on important decisions or explanations about events not fully understood, the spirits may guide a banthi in both present AND FUTURE endeavors. It is even said to be possible to catch a glimpse into the future...
But don't get so excited, now. The spirits may be able to casually glimpse into the future whenever they please but that doesn't mean they will or should. Some spirits love to meddle in the affairs of the living but many exist by a rule that "come what may", that a person's destiny is already set in stone. They may simply allow you to deal with it better by "peeking around the corner".
Offerings
An offering MUST be made to the spirits and indirectly to JuJu when seeking out her services. The offerings must be appropriate in some way to your request as well as the type of response you desire.
For example: Tethra happily brings a sachel of brightly-coloured feathers, an owl's eye and the tongue of a lizard in order to gain advice on when the weather will be appropriate to fly.
Bright feathers amuse the spirits, they're pretty and soft and symbolize the 'breeze of time' per se.
The eye is obvious, to help the spirit see!
The tongue is for the hope of clear responses that are helpful and easily understood.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:08 pm
De Guestbook Visitor's name | Their Offering/GiftTokala | Bird's nest with 3 eggs, bird's beak, shiny compass
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:24 pm
Where to Find Her Click the map to determine your relative position! There are many rumors as to where JuJu may reside. Recently however, a very reliable text has been discovered to be in both Ahnleh clan and Feral clan's possession. This means that with a little research and willpower, its possible for any banthi to find his or her way there.
For RP purposes, please keep in mind the DISTANCE, TIME and EFFORT needed to arrive at JuJu's cave. The terrain changes very much on the path to her residence with many dangers on the way (predators, not to mention the very close proximity to Ahnleh clan's territory). Given that most banthi have NEVER UNDERWENT SUCH A LONG, DANGEROUS TRAVEL, its not likely that just anyone will be able to decide that they want to take the risk of leaving the protection of their clan's territory.
Don't want a huge lineup forming at once, she'd have to start calling numbers!
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:31 pm
Glossary Gris-gris (or gri-gri) - A spellworking procedure
Gris-gris/Mojo bag - A Voodoo amulet that protects the wearer from evil or brings luck. Usually describes a small cloth bag worn on the person. Inside is placed a mixture of one or more of the following: herbs, oils, stones, bones, hair, nails, grave dirt, or other personal items
Voodoo doll (Jeu-Jeu/Ju-Ju) - A fetish or doll. A representation of a person (a banthi perhaps, in this case) usually fashioned out of crude materials containing somesort of physical trace of the target. Used in the practice of sticking pins into dolls as a method of cursing an individual
The Loa (also Lwa or L'wha, the Mystères, the Invisibles) - The spirits of the Vodoo.
Bondye (Bon Dieu, or good god) - the Creator
Houngan - Priest, master of ceremonies
Mambo - Priestess, mistress of ceremonies
Bokor - Sorcerers
Cross - To put a Spell on someone, to interfere with another's activities.
Mojo - Mumbo-jumbo (mumbled and jumbled), a spoken spell.
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:39 pm
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:45 am
With Tethra's help, she was able to find the rock formation told of in the book. With her satchel that held her offerings, the brave and extremely exhausted coonfox started forward again. Climbing steadily, she slipped a time or two when she hit the wrong footing. Huffing at one point, she started limping for a few paces as she shook a rock from the pad of her paws. If she so much as twitched she got home, it would be a miracle.
Getting almost to the entrance, her nose picked up some of the strangest scents she had ever whiffed. With hope growing, she called out, her voice cracked from thirst, "He-Hello?" This had to be worth it, there had to be someone in there to make it worth it. The thought of the walk home alone with nothing in her heart to show for it was too much to consider.
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:26 am
The journey to the cave was a hard one, no doubt. The land was unforgiving and it was no coincidence that the Mambo had chosen such a location for her dealings. The crossroads, is what she called it. A perfect place to work the magick where spirits lingered in the very breeze that wafted through the area.
A heavy feeling would develop in Tal's chest as she grew closer to the dark entrance, littered with macabre ornaments and the remains of creatures she'd never seen before. Her voice echoed across the hard surfaces of the inlet of high rock, bringing eerie life to the grinning skulls that watched her approach. As the very last syllables disappeared, an uncharacteristically chilly air filtered around the entrance to the dark cave that at once rattled all the skulls, charms and adornments in a ruckus of noise before it too, died away.
"Helloooo child?" A disembodied voice suddenly arose, its source unclear. "Come in, dear. Don' be makin de JuJu wait!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:58 pm
Tal wondered if there was any shame in turning back. Her chest was heavy feeling and the decorations gave her the creeps. Frightened, she was very nearly ready and turn tail and run. That was until the voice stopped her dead in her tracks. As her chest rapidly came out and in from heavy breathing, the coonfox readied herself and approached feeling that running would anger the very forces she had come to seek their guidance.
Shivering at the feeling much more then the chilly air, she approached, "I am Tokala, Tal, and I have come seeking you JuJu and the magic you commune with." There couldn't be something easy to say, like a password, not that she had read, anyway. With the bag of her offerings, she walked further into the dark cavern that felt nothing like the one she had grown up in.
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Rabid Jigglypuff Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:37 pm
As Tal approached a dim light illuminated the rocks which seemed to glimmer with an unseen material embedded in the walls themselves. The strong smell of incense burning, spices and other such foreignness grew stronger as she would continue down the short, winding path. At the end was a rather cozy cavern, tightly packed with objects from the ground up to the low-hanging ceiling. Stacks upon stacks of books, random papers, flasks and giant jars filled with strange liquids and... objects floating in them on occasion, obscured by the fogginess of the mixture. In the center of it all was a makeshift fire which was the source of all the light within. There sitting calmly behind it was a horrible creature, a female banthi with the stark-white face of a grinning skull, tribal patterns adorning her body down to the mysteriously glowing symbol that shone through her chest fur. She was smiling broadly, waiting for Tal to come into view.
"Ehehe! Yes, we know yous. Young pup, so young... and come to see JuJu by herself. So brave, dem courage is strong 'n you." She purred her accented words, her entire upper half shaking as she let out another hearty, raspy laugh sending the long string of ornaments hanging from her horn on a rattling frenzy. "Tell me dear... did yous bring JuJu something? Something fo' a gift to de spirits?" She seemed to curiously lean towards the fire to see if she could spot the objects Tal had brought with her, despite the close proximity to the roaring flames. "Don' be shy.... dear." She laughed again, a raspy, deadened laugh.
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:15 pm
Tal looked at the walls, wondering about them. Her curiosity was stuck and she almost stopped to really examine the walls. However, the tired banthi couldn't rest; she had a question to ask. The incense made her sneeze a few times before she became used to the scent enough to keep moving. Stopping to look at the books a moment, she wondered if the answers to another question might be with them. Not about to test her luck, and the patience of the banthi she was approaching, she let it be. Eyeing the jars, she sniffed at them but didn't get anything, the incense was too strong.
Holding still, she forced herself not to look too closely at the banthi, though her curiosity was high. Staring was rude and she was not here to offend. Looking up when she said she knew her or 'we' whomever we was. "Thank you, its an honor to meet you, ma'am." she said in a soft voice, brave, well maybe, but right now she was very unsure. She didn't know how to act, and even the gifts she wasn't clear on.
When it was of her, she put the bag down, she said, "I did, I am sorry if they aren't the right things." Nothing was spelled out clearly, certainly not with these things. Because she wanted to know about new life, the first thing she pulled out was a bird's nest. Holding it carefully in her jaws, three little pale, speckled eggs with the white and blue features of their passed parents still there to keep them warm and cushioned. They were still alive, new life for the talk of new life. As well, there was some of her fur in the nest; it was for her she asked. Placing the nest down, she nudged the eggs a little before going back to the bag. Out came a shiny compass, to show the way to the truth, also she thought the shininess would be pleasing. THe raccoon in her loved to look at it, shininess very much appealing.
At one point, she had considered bring a few other things, but had to try to be more practical. Then again, if she was practical, she would have eaten the eggs before now. She did get the parents, which is why the protective feathers were there. Saving the beak, she put that out last, for a clear message.
Ears held up by will, she dreaded the idea that JuJu might not be pleased and send her out to find something more. "Is this alright? I really did try and put thought it to what I bring." Before being brazen enough to ask her question, she wanted to know if the gifts were acceptable.
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