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This is the journal of the would be Summoner, Junkan (aka Arcturus Highwind). Please do not post unless you are given permission by the owner of this journal. Otherwise feel free to take a look around.

To go back to Turtle's Paradise, click here:

Junkan's Elysian:
Name:
Spirit:
Element:
Gender:
Summoned:
Natural Abilities:

Level:
Experience:
Next Level:

Feats____.
N/A

Spell List___.
N/A





Junkan's Familiars:

Familiar: Lilith
Type: Moomba
Special: --
Abilities Learned: None

Familiar: Glop
Type: Cave Toad
Special: Feral
Abilities Learned: None

Break them, and die. Or at least, I'll complain, and probably ask one of the mods to do something.

1) Since the summoner is, well, illiterate. This thread will not be a 'Journal' per se, but rather, the stories the man speaks around the campfire at night, both to help him remember, and to pass along the knowledge to anyone who might listen. Of course, right now that's just his familiars.

2) As this is a 'campfire' and not a book, people are welcome to come and listen. Though I wish no RPing in this thread, UNLESS, you are traveling in the company of the man within the confines of the RP in the guild. If you do, I suppose you could consider all the entries here IC information you might have, as he will talk around the fire, every night just about. OF course the mods might have a problem with it, just saying I don't.

2A) A note on the above rule. Junkan is not fluent with the common language. Thus to intrepret his stories, your character would need to be skilled in the language of ogres.

3) Because it might not be clear, I ment no RPing in here, except on special occasions. Just that if you're traveling with him, you could use the stories in here, in your own RP in whatever thread we are resting in.

4) Gifts to the familars, Junkan, and the eventual Elysian, are welcome. Just pop in with a short 'dropping by' sort of RP post, your offering, and then dash off. I would prefer only people I RP with do this, but hell, I'm not picky.

5) For those special events which I might let people RP in here, I do expect people to follow the rules of good RPing. If you don't know what they are, there are tons of threads on Gaia to help explain it, and quite a few people that could explain it better than me. A good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn't get to do it in Project Nexus, don't bother trying to do it here.

6) And as I always say, have fun. The G in RPG does stand for Game, does it not? No matter if you're just reading this, or perhaps RPing with Junkan, I hope you all have fun.

-- First Visit to the Crystal Temple, at the Masquerade Ball. Ate himself into a stupor, and passed out, missing all the excitement over the stealing of the crystal.

-- Acquired his first familiar, a small, cute little creature, named Lilith. Feels a special bond with the tiny thing, takes it along as a pet/animal companion.

-- And coming soon... the familiar Glop...



Junkan and Lilith meet Odilen and her familiar BoCo. First contact with another familiar, they seemed to get along well.

Project Nexus event completed, somewhat. Well, he was there, though sick, to see the end of it.

Recieved the familiar Glop, the Cavetoad... of DOOM!

Found Turtle's Paradise.

First off, I have to thank Miss Teki, for this awesome banners, which she did for free.

I had been hungry, starving. The shade of the forest, wilder lands, had promised game and food. Once there, I found nothing, life scared off by the fires, unnatural fires of war, turning life and wood into the ashes of renewal.

There was nothing there, it had been days, but I had to trust, had to trust in my training, and in the blessing of Filare. Her gracious arms came down, wrapping gently around me, filling me with the warm, soft, rejuvinating heat that gave me the strength to hold out, to carry on, and keep moving.

Soon, I saw it, this ugly citadel in the middle of death. It seemed to gleam like white hot fire among the charred crater, standing out, a beacon. It called me forth, I could feel the nudge, a faint pulling in the corner of my mind. Filare called to me, showing the way.

The cliff seemed nothing, I can't even remember how I got passed the fall. The charred forest, dead wood crunched under my heavy feet into a shower of ash and soot. My eyes remained dead set on the temple, when finally, Filare's grace showed me the way. Over the hot air, something drifted, a scent, picked out of the air. The scent of grease and fire, of smoke and blood. The smell of cooked meat.

Nothing could have held me back at that. Tired feet were given new life. I could feel the saliva building, my teeth gnashing, just thinking about crushing those bones. The temple was closer, I could see in the open doorway. There were tables, with food, all manner of food.

One last burst came to me, as I bounded up the steps with a single stride. I burst through the door, but then, Filare's sister must have come, for the floor was smooth, cold, slippery as winter's trap. My feet came out from under me, my speed carried me, and right into the food with an almighty clatter. Even in my shock and pain, the hunger was too much, my jaws reaching out, snapping at the food that went flying, letting little escape, and those that did, were caught in my powerful grip.

These strange folks, they did not understand. They think themselves civilized, because they resist the urges that come natural. They looked upon me as though I was a plague. Still I did not care but continued to eat anything I could grab, savoring the meat, crunching bones, swallowing drinks.

Finally, my stomach was satisfied, my needs were met, I would continue to live, and not be taken to the great furnace. Filare blessed me, still there was work to be done. I whispered a prayer in thanks, before I drifted off to sleep, headless of those foolish, pointless men and women with thier odd little rituals.

There I came into the vision. Filare appeared before me, taking the form of the Flame of Passion, a woman crafted of flame, alluring yet dangerous to touch. She walked through my dreamscape, her steps searing the ground where she traveled, but soon, life and growth returned from the ashes in her wake.

She called out my name, her voice soft, gentle, the Aspect of life giving warmth, as she garnered my attention. Closer I came to her, wrapping the warmth around my soul, feeling the favor of the goddess upon me. I would have continued on, drawing closer to that form, until eventually the heat destroyed me.

Filare's hand came up, flashing with the heat of the inferno, bringing me to a cold stop where I was, before the Aspect of life giving warmth called out again, "Junkan, my servant, heed my words, keep them burning in your mind," came the gentle whisper, reverberating through my soul.

"Much is to happen, soon. A test, a servant of flame, and much confusion and doubt shall surround you, as men and women seek the heart of the inferno. A man will come to you, clad in the symbols of my sister Fasali. Go with this man, help those he travels with. Seek the center, the spark of it all."

Filare's hand swept upwards and around, leaving a blazing trail behind it, which grew larger and larger, eventually, shapes, colors appeared within the flame, dazzling, brilliant, and showing something important.

There was a creature, with the colors of the natural flame, staring directly at me. It grew taller, wider, more defined in the wavering flames. Growing, or perhaps drawing closer. Filare's form smiled, a dazzling shine, which caused my heart to burn, feel on the verge of exploding.

The creature came, and broke the plane of the flame, leaping out, paws spread wide towards me. It grew smaller, and smaller, even as it closed. Soon, it was covering my face, clawing it's way up on top of my head, a small creature of fierce determination. I could feel something, something strange. Only before have I gotten it before Filare, this strange, odd feeling. My lips curled up, showing my teeth, but I was not baring my fangs. A strange, deep, rich sound came from my throat, but I do not know what it ment. I know only, that I liked this feeling.

The creature finally made it, setting on top of my head, facing Filare as did I, even as it nestled down in my hair.

Filare seemed to be feeling what I was as well, a strange, similar sound coming from her, something I had never heard, something I couldnt' identify. Finally the sky picture vanished, and Filare started to drift away.

"Keep her close, guard her as you would me. And in doing so, learn from her, become closer to the heart of the flame."

And then she was gone, my dreamscape dark and bleary in her leaving, except for that one, tiny creature upon my head.

The even the dreamscape faded.

Light returned, searing my eyes, a boot slammed into my tough skin, doing no real damage, but bringing my attention. There he was, the man wearing the symbols of Fisali. He leaned over, offering gold for some 'mission' he was on. That all I had to do was follow him, do as he says.

So simple, I nodded, standing up, ready to follow the man as he was already leaving.

Then I noticed it... a small creature, watching me from this newly grown forest. So many odd things. It wasn't there when I came in. Perhaps Filare really did visit here with her sisters, righting the wrong of that destruction. But then, my eyes went back to the small, grey eyes watching me from behind one of the bushes. Slowly I took a step forward. The eyes did not retreat, did not blink. They felt so, familiar.

Then it came, a fiery bolt, launching from where those beady eyes were. It came a blur, and before I knew it, it ws latched onto my leg, just below the knee, and slowly climbing upwards.

My heart paused, chilling my body and soul, as I recognized it. The creature of fire, the one I was to watch for, the one I was supposed to learn from. The creature with no name that Filare granted upon me. Slowly, carefully I reached down, plucking it up in my hand. It struggled not, it merely watched me, it's eyes locked onto mine as I brought it up to my face. Together we sniffed the air, memorizing the scent of the other. A strange mirror as our faces both went through the same expressions, the same strange baring of fangs, and even the same, strange noise coming up to us. Mine deep and from the mountain tops, her's soft and gentle.

"Lilith," the creature spoke, her voice the voice of Filare's warmth, striking me with all the shock and power of a thosand volcanoes.

Slowly, all I could whisper back was, "Junkan."

And that, was how it started, how the Aspect of Filare, came upon her favored son.

Glop.

A Cavetoad, or so he says. I've never seen a toad that lives in a cave, but he swears they're quite common. Though he is of course, vastly superior to any other mere cavetoad.

And it's been like that, from day one. I cannot tell if he is supposed to be a servant for Fasali, or perhaps Fernai. What I do know however is that I am stuck wit him, and that he was sent to help me. Perhaps Filare wants me to become more than a Druid of Flame? Perhaps to cover all aspects of all the goddesses?

But there is no telling, at least, not for now.

....

It was in the aftermath of the quest. There was lots to reflect about. The nature of those I traveled with. The Druid I saved. Things I saw. Especially the Flame beneath the Earth.

That thing, it called to me. It made me sick, just being near it. But surely such a thing had to be a marvel of Fire and Nature. It had to be why Filare sent me.

I spent those next days looking for the Flame that burned beneath the Earth.

But I couldn't find the way back, no matter what I tried. So much time had I been ill upon that trip because of Fasali's cold touch. Hours turned to days, days to a week. I had not found anything, I had not time to eat, time to sleep. Everytime I closed my eyes or left to hunt, I would be tormented by the image of the Flame.

Lilith left me, to go hunt and fill her belly. Somehow, she seemed, different, as I looked, did not speak to me as often, did not play around me.

Finally, a crack in the earth was revealed to me. It was not the crack I had traveled down before, but I hoped somehow, it would lead back to the Flame.

The crack widened, and Filare surely must have blessed this route. A strange thing grew upon the ceiling, shedding a pale, faint light down over everything. It clouded my dark vision, and was low enough I could not normally see, but in my fevered state, I did not realize it.

A small form, broke from the foggy light, hopping towards me. Yellow it blended in well with the rocks in that half light. I didnt' see him coming until he was right on top of my foot.

And with a haunty voice he stared up at me evilly, hundreds of times his size and said, "FROG!" and gave my boot a lick.

I stared down at him, confused, hungry, tired, and not knowing what the hell to make of it.

The cavetoad frowned at me, and gave another lick. Nothing happened. Nothing at all. He huffed, and started stamping around me, croaking and throwing a fit. He talked more than, than anything else I ever knew, and he talked loud, for being so small. Cursing mostly, from what I got of it. Cursing me, cursing magic, cursing the caves, anything, other than himself. For as he said several times, he was perfect, it couldn't be his fault.

About that time, I started thinking about eating it.

The Flame was out of mind in the presense of that creature. Soon however, the peace would be interrupted.

Out of the half light it came. Four legs, covered in bony shells, pincers clacking loudly. It was easily a match for my own size, and might have killed me, if not for Glop.

Frustrated, it hopped up on it's face, giving it a lick, calling "FROG" again, and cursing. Nothing happened. Nothing at all.

But that was enough, I brought the War club out, called out Filare's name, and slammed it home with all the power I could muster, snapping the hulk's left arm, shattering the bone armor, and revealing a tasty, fleshy inside.

It gave a shill scream, tossing the toad off his face, and thrashing about as I brought the club back to a guard.

The toad, saved me, for surely without it, I would have died beneath bony claws and hard muscle. Instead, as the hulk charged in rage and pain, I slammed it time and time again, hitting that weak spot from before, causing it to reel with pain, and eventually collapse.

That night, Lilith returned.

Glop told me his name. We took the oath, and dined upon Umber Hulk. Afterwards, Lilith and Glop fought.

The Flame was out of my mind now, I looked, and had not found it. I shall never find it again, I think. And I'm at peace with that, for now. The company of my living flame Lilith, and my cavetoad, have filled that hole in my heart.