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[ Shard ]'s Diary Only he should be posting here. Visit the shop
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Sep 25th- With a flutter and strange utterance Arden came to life today. Thanks to your care and protection he has grown into a happy little moggle that hopes dearly to be by your side all the time. :3

Sep 7th- Well this is odd? I didn't know we could get 'myth' characters, but it looks like your match is a sweet little Moggle. Take good care of him. 3nodding


General Info:
Name: Arden
Gender: Male
Size: 8 inches tall
Born: Sep 7th
Personality: A side kick through and through. Very loyal, helpful, and willing to follow his friends to the depths of hell. He may not be the strongest, or come up with the best ideas ALL the time, but he's definately one that brings joy to those around him, and always finds the perfect way to compliment the group.

Skills:
Dance magic: 1/10 (rather like enhancement magics.. can manipulate fear, joy, how brave someone feels, etc.)
Snow magic: 2/10 (hiding oneself, losing another in it, etc)

Status:

Social: Group orientented
Energy: Rambunctious
Ability: Coupled strategy, simple mystics
Mental: Dance mysticism knowledge

[ Moogle Info ]

[ Accessories ]

- -

[ Journal Entry, Sept 12th, 2004 ]

I recieved my key from Kanth nearly a week ago, along with a cryptic note taking me to the Velveteen Toychest. The store was well out of the way of the paths I usually travel, but easy enough to find. But, while I was opening the door, I was hit with a jolt of unease. One more step, and I might be accepting something that I wasn't ready for.

Responsibility.

I lead a fairly busy life, and, more than that, I'm not sure I'm ready for the responsibility of a pet. The one thing that I know about Kanth and her skunk Erae is that they're practically inseparable. But, there are some places that my work takes me that I'm not sure I'd be comfortable bringing a pet. By going through the door, I'd be accepting a creature into my life that might complicate things.

I stepped through anyway. But none of the shop owners was in then, and I felt uncomfortable opening it without their confirmation. And so, I waited. Every once in a while, I would pass Iris or Naraka, but never long enough to open the chest. Yet, somehow, I felt that the longer I waited, the more I was making my velvet wait. The key grew heavier.

So, the night before last, I came into the shop. There was one other person there, D, and their pet. After a brief conversation, I crouched down in front of the chest, and pulled the key out of my pocket. Putting it into the lock and turning, I opened the chest slowly.

At the bottom, looking up at me, was a moogle. Smaller than any true moogle, the plush was expertly crafted, a perfect replica... if a replica was all it was. The eerie pulse of life I had felt in the key before was gone, but this plush...

I would have known that this was no ordinary plush even without being told.

I couldn't help grinning. It looked like it would be quite the character, with its yellow, spotted bandanna, and straightforward expression.

I reached in, and took him out. He weighed almost nothing, but somehow seemed to be of great importance. I put him in my pack, and made my way back home.

- -

[ Journal Entry, Sept 14th, 2004 ]

He's been sitting next to my computer, watching me write this entry and the one before it. I haven't quite figured out a name for him, yet, although it seems that moogles tend to have variations on the words Mog, and Kupo. One moogle that *didn't* have that sort of name, Stiltskin, seems to be almost legendary among them, so I obviously don't have to restrict myself.

Good information on Moogles seems to be hard to come by, but that's not really surprising, given that they're magical creatures. So far, it seems universally agreed that they are generally shy, but playful and fairly good natured when their trust is earned. They usually grow to about three feet tall, though there are rare exceptions. Adventurous Moogles are not completely uncommon, or they might have never been discovered. Almost all absolutely adore some kind of food called a 'Kupo Nut', but those are almost as rare as Moogles themselves. Given my connections, however, I might be able to find one.

They seem to be inherently magical, which I already knew, and some people believe they can communicate with the pom on the top of their head, which I didn't know. It might be true, it might not, but they've definitely got some way of communicating among each other that absolutely baffles the people who've seen them in groups. It could be through body language or some other trick... but the fact that they can speak at all eluded humans for ages, so I doubt I'll figure this fresh mystery out anytime soon. Apparently, they can fly as well, although they tend to walk most of the time... their wings are probably more for short term hovering or gliding than fully fledged soaring. I think this is pretty awesome, myself, since I've always wanted to fly. Still haven't found quite the right spell for that, though.

Oh. Maybe I should actually put something about what I've *done* with my moogle in my journal...

Now that I think about it, he's probably been listening to a lot of music lately. Everything from Enya and Lorenna Mckennit, to Linkin Park, to about five different instrumental soundtracks... to Dave Barnes. Mostly things with complex beats or strong melodies. I wonder if he likes any of them. I've watched a few shows while he's been around, too... mostly recordings of CSI, Monk, the Dead Zone, and some anime. I've also watched a few lighthearted shows to balance that out a bit... Friends, some cartoons... but I've found myself watching from the computer, and paying more attention to my research. He seemed to be intent enough, if a plush can seem intent.

I'm busy most often when they are on, so I have to rely on tapes, and tend to watch once a week, in a big chunk. It's a bit of a pain to set up, but on the other hand, this means that I can speed through the commercials, and neither of us need to see them.

... somehow, I worry about exposing him to Monk, and for that matter, CSI. Monk, because I really don't want him to emulate the main character, and CSI... well, I have to deal with some of this in my work, but I worry about it being too much for him. I'll try not to watch too much of these, too close together with him.

I'm not sure what I'm going to name him. But... he's going to be interesting. I need to figure out one quick.

[ Placeholder Entry, Created Oct 14th, 2004]

[ Journal Entry, Sept 28th, 2004 ]

Wow, this has taken a loooong time to type up, as has the one after it... I'll add them as soon as I finish. My poor moogle and I have had quite the adventure... but we're enjoying the spoils.

My apologies to those out there who have been waiting for this, with varying degrees of patience... I'll add it very soon.

[ Journal Entry, Oct 14th, 2004 ]

Well, it's certainly been a while. I have not been idle, however, and there have been a few things of note that have occured while I was gone. The first and most important, of course, is that I finally decided on a name. For better or for worse, my moogle is now Arden.

We managed to land a fairly sizable bounty for Gambino. Yes, you heard me right, Gambino. The money's enough to keep me in the money for quite a while. But the fact that I got the bounty, for Gambino, is probably going to wind up being worth more than he paid me. We'll see.

I don't know, but Arden seems to be... changing, a bit. I haven't tested it, but I suspect that the magic within him is getting stronger.

Finally, now that I think about it, I don't remember if I've actually managed to show Arden off to Kanth, yet. I'll have to visit her while I have him in tow... And check up on Erae. Actually, I just need to check up on them, period.

It's not exactly gracious to accept a gift, and then never let the person hear about it again...

---

For the last week, we've mostly been relaxing... and, yes, catching episode after episode of Farscape on the Sci Fi. It's a good series, definitely. I've also shown him a few books. Some children's books, like Mike Mulligan, and Dr. Seuss's. I've also read to him a little from some Star Wars novels, but got the impression he wasn't interested. Which is, again, somewhat odd.

So, instead, I took out one of the older National Geographic magazines that I've had lying around, and went through that instead. Cascading waterfalls, strange creatures, and the odd cultures of Earth... And, with each picture, the stories behind them. I have the feeling that he enjoyed that more than the novel... although, perhaps I'm being foolish. I was caught up in reading the magazine myself, so, perhaps I'm projecting a bit.

I look forward to his growing up. Once he can actually *tell* me what he likes... I'll be a little better at picking activities, I think.

---

I suppose I'll end this entry with a resolution. I need... no, I resolve to visit the Toychest more often... in order to gain a better understanding of the Velveteens... and ideas for what to do with mine.

[ Journal Entry, Oct 20th, 2004 ]
I've recently taken on another bounty, this time, one offered by an entire guild. Things, however, have not been going precisely as I expected them to.

It began as something seemingly simple. This person was causing trouble for them in the greater forum, and members had begun to leave. I was supposed to take him in, not take him down. But, as I researched the members who had left, I couldn't find anywhere that they had *gone*.

They just... well... disappeared.

Trailing him more didn't get me the information that I needed. I need to find out more about him, but it seems like he's a ghost. He appeared, rich and powerful, only a month ago, and seems to have had no backgroud before that. It doesn't add up, and that seems to mean there's more to this guy than there seems.

I'm concerned about bringing Arden along on this one. While I've not seen any evidence of violence, tracking this guy... he could be dangerous. Still, it's good for Arden to see the tracking bits. As his aura has gotten stronger, I've let him see more and more of my magics.

We still watch the Dead Zone, Smallville, and Monk... but I'm afraid that may have to stop, soon. I also showed him a Knight's Tale a few weeks back, but didn't record it in the journal. I think I'm going to have to read the Canterbury Tales, however, just so I can get a better idea of Chaucer's work.

More, later.

[ Journal Entry, Oct 26, 2004 ]

I revealed myself, again, on the 24th. And, again he disappeared. This time, however, I didn't bother to track him forward.

This time, I tracked him backward. And found, unsurprisingly, a similar pattern. Scams, disappearences, and general trouble, all made by the beguiling possessor of the Staff of Rubeus... up until the point where it seems the consequences for his actions would finally catch up to him.

Then, he disappears, and a new possessor shows up elsewhere, causing the same sort of trouble. The size of the bounty on this guy has more than tripled, but on the other hand, so has the threat. Those who disappeared weren't just ill equiped n00bs... Many, it seems, were fairly capable. I still have no idea what his abilities are... only that he seems to have overcome a lot of obstacles and opponents.

He is, without a doubt, a changeling. I should ask Kanth for her help, but I wonder if she's even willing to give it to me at this point... or if I'm willing to bend far enough to ask in the first place.

I'll continue searching. I seem to have managed to identify some key similarities between his various auras... but that's troubling too. Kanth's doesn't change much when she shifts, so I could still probably find her, with some effort, regardless of what she's wearing. He can mask his aura, though, and if he's got the staff for more than decorative purposes...

He's probably stronger than me.

I still might be able to track him, without the staff, with time.

---

For all that he's still just a plush, Arden seems to have been more and more uneasy about this as we've gone on. He has a pretty distinct aura around him, now... I'm sure it's not long until he becomes a fully fledged animal. Although... given that he's a moogle... Are they truly animals, or something in between animal and human?

Will he be able to talk, or will I have to wait until he becomes a child, like Erae?

I've considered leaving him at home, setting him up with the television, or conscripting someone to care for him. But, that only seems to make him more agitated. It seems to me the best solution is to keep him with me... but it worries me more and more. Tracking this man could put me in legitimate danger.

On the other hand, I've fought a changeling before. If push comes to shove, I know a few tricks.

---

I've been reading Arden bedtime stories, lately. That seems to have a soothing effect, on both of us... but I still find myself having uneasy dreams. I wonder... Do plushes dream?