[J] Japi's Chimes

[Trio Maxwell-Chang]

Stage: Dust Devil and Stage: Dust Devil

Anna

Stats
Strength - 26
Agility - 20
Intelligence - 18
Wisdom - 28
Charisma - 7
Speed - 26
Magic - 20


Spells
Air
Wind Arrow - When caster holds two fingers on either side of lips and blows, the resultant charge of wind acts as an arrow, damaging target.
Wind Shell - Focussed wind that knocks away missiles on all sides. Size of shell dependent on Magic stat.
Levitation - Manipulate air around you to lift yourself or others off the ground and fly. Skill depends on Agility+Magic/2.
Delicate Hands - Invisible hands created by air, used to manipulate objects.
Shadow Puppet - Condensed air in the general shape of a humanoid or animal that can be used for a variety of tasks like sparring targets or Dinner Theatre actors.
Flight - Manipulate air around you to lift yourself and items you're wearing off the ground and fly. Skill depends on Agility+Magic.
Wind Shield - Focussed wind that knocks away missiles. (Works only for caster.)


Music
Chime Space - Caster can transfigure small objects into small, metal windchimes. Objects can be transfigured back when the windchime plays a particular set of notes.
Echo of the Chime - Makes anything you wish sound like a windchime.
Imbue - Caster can imbue any non-magical object with 1 ability from any single realm of magic he or she can use. Requires roleplay to be effective.
Duet - Spell that enables the caster to communicate with one other intelligent being up to 50 miles away, provided all communication is done in song.
Soothing Song - Music that, when sung or played, soothes the subject of minor wounds.
Faerie Reel - Music that, when sung or played, forces listener(s) to dance until exhaustion.
Lullaby - Music that, when sung or played, puts the listener(s) to sleep.


Ice
Ice Shard - Creates a small, sharp shard of ice about the size of a throwing dagger.
Snowfall - creates a useful amount of snow in a square foot area half your Charisma. Great for parties and games.


Earth
Earth Spirit - Summons a weak spirit of earth who can perform minor earth and stone related activities. Spirit is wise.
Grow - Make plants and animals grow significantly larger.

Nina

Stats
Strength - 29
Agility - 17
Intelligence - 11
Wisdom - 15
Charisma - 20
Speed - 15
Magic - 29


Spells
Air
Delicate Hands - Invisible hands created by air, used to manipulate objects.
Flight - Manipulate air around you to lift yourself and items you're wearing off the ground and fly. Skill depends on Agility+Magic.
Shadow Puppet - Condensed air in the general shape of a humanoid or animal that can be used for a variety of tasks like sparring targets or Dinner Theatre actors.
Wind Arrow - When caster holds two fingers on either side of lips and blows, the resultant charge of wind acts as an arrow, damaging target.
Wind Shell - Focussed wind that knocks away missiles on all sides. Size of shell dependent on Magic stat.
Levitation - Manipulate air around you to lift yourself or others off the ground and fly. Skill depends on Agility+Magic/2.
Wind Shield - Focussed wind that knocks away missiles. (Works only for caster.)


Music
Calming Tune - Calms the listener down if anxious or worried. Does not work on anger or hatred.
Dinner Theatre - For a very hefty energy expense, the caster can create a feast complete with song and stories performed by shadow-puppets.
Soothing Song - Music that, when sung or played, soothes the subject of minor wounds.
Duet - Spell that enables the caster to communicate with one other intelligent being up to 50 miles away, provided all communication is done in song.
Enchant - Caster can imbue any magical object with 1 ability from any single realm of magic he or she can use. Requires roleplay to be effective.
Drum and Fife - Music that, when sung or played, grants an additional 20 points to Strength, Agility, and Speed. (Effect ends 1 hour after song's end)
Tabor and Pipe - Music that, when sung or played, grants an additional 20 points to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. (Effect ends 1 hour after song's end)


Ice
Frozen Blade - Creates a one-handed sword out of ice. Holding will not freeze caster's hand, but all others take damage from the cold as well as the blade itself.
Frozen Shield - Creates a sturdy shield of ice. Holding will not freeze caster's hand, but shield is weak against fire or heat attacks.


Earth
Granite Shell - Hardens skin to a stone-like material, resistant to physical damage and some magical attacks.
Stone Grasp - A giant immobile hand of earth rises from the ground to grab anything above it.

Don't know what a Chime Spirit is? Visit the Main Shop.

 

[FemStranger]

About the Owner

Japi is a mystic who lives in midpoint. Her home is small, but cosy, even though she has the power to make it whatever she wants. She creates daughters (and sometimes sons) with special powers she has obtained and places them into scenarios in different dimensions. While Japi is quite powerful powerful when it comes to creating things, she cannot change anything once it has been created, by her or anyone else.

People to Know

Tanya, one of the oldest of Japi's daughters, lives in the dimension related to the anime Gundam Wing. Tanya is a member of the current resistance against her foster father, Dr. Tomoe and has the Zero system installed into her brain. She has a daughter, Solo, with another resistance member, Duo Maxwell.

Ariel is the adopted princess of the Moon Kingdom now protected by Sailor Moon and the sailor scouts. She ran off with an elf named Damien, against the wishes of both her adopted mother and Japi. She is one of the few actually born from Japi directly.

Janet is Janet Starwind, sister to Gene Starwind of the Outlaw Star, a ship in an anime with the same name. Little is really known about her, since Japi lost track of her for a while in all the chaos their family went though.

Amber is a clone of Hitomi, in the world of Gaia (not this Gaia) in the dimension where the Guymlef(sp?) Escaflowne is located. Nobody knows who cloned her, but there are several clones already. Even Japi does not know who the mysterious "significant other" is yet.

Terms to Know

Midpoint - A world between worlds, where time, space and the laws of physics have no hold.

The Mirror - Japi's mirror, used to contact any of her daughters. Each of them also has a mirror, connected to Japi's mirror. It's like a really large network of walkie-talkies.  

[FemStranger]

While antique-shopping one day, Japi stumbled upon a little shop she'd never seen before. This was slightly unusual because she loved to look at the strange things that most people overlook and had scoured the entire town for every junk-shop, antique store, thrift store, and specialty shop in search of such treasures. This little shop happened to be having an auction out front. Japi decided to take a closer look.

The display showed two very colorful and very beautiful metal wind chimes. Her eyes widened and her ears percked as the sound of the beautful music reached her ears. The two chimes were in almost perfect harmony. There was a woman taking bids from a sizeable crowd.

She heard the auctioneer say, "7k going once..." Instinctively, she raised up her hand, "8k!" she said. "8k," repeated the auctioneer. There was another bid from the crowd, "8.5k!" Japi raised her hand again, compelled by the music of the rainbow chimes. "9k!" The auctioneer repeated her new bid and asked for more, but there were no more bids. Japi was still staring at the chimes when the auctioneer came up to collect the money. She fumbled around in her purse a bit, scrounging up the gold she needed, and paid the woman.

Another attendant was taking the chimes down from their hooks and placing them in identical boxes. She wrapped them up, placed them in a bag, and handed them to Japi.

"Thank you," said Japi, and before she knew it, she was the owner of twin chimes.

~~

The chimes weren't exactly twins. They were actually slightly different. Once shined with a more oily texture, while the other one was more a flat rainbow. Each had a base made of the material of it's sister. Japi had no idea why she had decided they were female, but she had. She had even given them names, as was an odd habit of hers. She had called them Nina and Anna. Nina was the oily one, while Anna the flat colored.

Japi placed Anna on the eastern front porch, where she sat to watch the sun rise, and Nina on the western back porch, where she watched the sun set.

Japi loved the soft tinkling of the chimes and listened to it whenever she got the chance to be away from her work, tending to other people's problems. She liked to sit in the kitchen, which had one window to the front porch and one to the back.

She noticed one day that the chimes were in perfect harmony, which had not happened before, at least not for such an extended period of time. She went to check on each one respectively, but there was nothing there but the chimes. She decided to bring Anna to the back porch for the sunset that night.

~~

Not only was it the most beautiful sunset that night, but the chimes sang strongly to her as well. She went to bed, deciding to leave the two together on the back porch for good now.  

[FemStranger]

The next day was a Saturday, and saturday meant chores.

Japi rolled over in bed as the bright light shined in her eyes. While it was unusual for Japi to sleep in on most days, Saturday was the one day she allowed herself to sleep in. She covered her head with Winter, her wolf-patterned blanket, and snuggled into place. Then Spike--the gargoyle alarm--went off. 8:00. Grumbling, she slid out from under the covers and walked across the room to her clock, smacked it hard on the gargoyle shaped top, and trudged back to bed.

She was almost there when suddenly, she heard the sound of metal striking metal with a lot of force from the back porch. Startled, she ran outside, still in her PJs. She looked around frantically, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. She walked back inside, and sat down at the kitchen table.

She was shaken up, and explanations for the sound were running through her head like mad. She thought maybe some guy had tried to bash down her chain link fence with a bat. Maybe somebody threw something that hit the metal of her rocking chair. She worried until 8:30, when her stomach growled. She got up to make breakfast--a cheese, ham, sausage and mushroom omlet--and soon forgot about the strange occurance.

After breakfast, she began her chores. She cleaned the kitchen, the bathroom, her bedroom, and then proceeded to the back porch to sweep. The wind was blowing softly and the breeze felt nice. The chimes seemed happy too. They played their soft melodies, and danced and shimmered. Japi hummed along with them.

When she was finally done sweeping, Japi looked up to say goodbye to the chimes, but she noticed that one of Nina long tubes had a little dent. Japi reached up and turned her, looking at the other tubes. They were fine. She examined Anna too, and discovered another small dent. It was strange. Luckily the metal wasn't that hard, so it could be easily fixed. Japi was glad she had the foresight to create a daughter who could work metal.

Japi brought the chimes inside and proceeded to call up Tanya, her metal-working daughter, on her mirror. Since she lived in midpoint, it was necessary to use a magical mirror rather than a telephone to contact most of her daughters. Her daughter appeared after a while. Tanya said she was busy at the moment modifying a couple of guns for the resistance, but she would come over on Sunday to fix the chimes.

That night the wind blew hard, and Japi was glad she had not left the chimes outside.  

[FemStranger]

The following day, Tanya arrived. She worked quickly, since she was unable to stay long. After she had repaired the chimes, which took little time, she left and Japi returned the two to their spot on the back porch and sat down to relax. She listened to their whistful music in the light breeze and let her mind wander. She found herself staring off into the distance as Anna and Nina played their harmonies. Her vision began to blur as her eyes were less and less able to focus and slowly the lids closed. The music still played softly, calmly, serenely.

Japi fell asleep.

~~

Should we wake her?

Japi thought she heard a voice, but knew there was no one there. Tanya had already gone back home. It must have been the wind. She didn't even open her eyes.

No. Leave her alone. She might not let us play with the chimes.

Japi figured she was still dreaming, so she fell further asleep.

The two little whisps continued to talk.

But she's sweet. She'll let us play. I know it, said the first little whisp.

The second whisp was a bit more wary about the large mystic sitting in the chair beside them. But she took them away earlier.

The first whisp giggled to herself. No she didn't. She just went and fixed the mistake you made.

The second whisp went to examine the chimes. She turned around, shocked. You're right! Then, she looked down at the ground, a little ashamed.

Japi turned in her chair, trying to roll onto her side, and fell out of the chair with a thud. Of course, this woke her up.

The two little whisps were startled, but since Japi was looking strait at them, there was no reason to run.

Japi blinked, looking at the little whisps. She rubbed her eyes. "Hello there," she said.

Hi! said the first little whisp. My name is Nina. She pulled the other whisp over, which was an interesting feat, since they were both made of air.

Anna, said the other one. It was her name.

Japi looked at her chimes. "Those are the names I gave to the chimes I bought the other day!"

Nina nodded. Of course they are, she said. We liked those names, so we took them. I Her expression changed to worry. hope you don't mind.

Japi was startled. "Of course I don't mind. You can pick whatever names you want. In fact, I'm honored." Japi realized she'd been sitting on the floor the entire time and stood up. She bowed to the two whisps, since shaking hands probably wouldn't work.

Do we have to leave now? asked Anna. She looked very worried.

"Why would you leave?" Japi asked her. "We just met. I want to learn more about you." Japi was pleased to see that the whisp perked up a bit. "Please, come inside."

That was how the whole thing started.  

[FemStranger]

For days after she met the two little air spirits, Japi would join them every day as the sun rose and set. The three would talk for hours. Actually, Nina did most of the talking, and Anna almost none.

Japi soon learned that her new friends were not the chimes themselves, but rather took the same interest in the enchanting chimes when they first saw them. Being partially spirit herself, Japi assumed that it might have such an effect on all spirits. Tanya--fully flesh--was not effected by their beauty like they were.

~~

One day, Anna stepped out of her comfort zone a bit, to ask Japi something.

I want you to forgive me, she said slowly, unsure of herself. For messing up the chimes that day. She paused for a second, breathed deeply, and went on. I'm really really sorry. She bowed low. Do you... forgive me? When Anna looked up, her deep eyes were filled with tears.

Japi reached out to hug the now sobbing whisp, but touched nothing. She began to tear up herself at the sight of the poor little creature. "If it's that important to you to apologize, of course I forgive you," she replied "even though, there was never anything to forgive in the first place." She smiled warmly at the little spirit.

Anna smiled back weakly, but began to trust her new friend more.  

[FemStranger]

Japi learned much about her new friends in the days that passed, like their abilities. The two spirits could manipulate the wind in small ways which was how they were able to influence the chimes. But just as their personalities were very different, they were not exactly the same in their abilities.

~~

Anna had the ability to move things as a hand would, operate things with more controlled air than the simple gusts her companion could use.

My skill is limited, she explained. I must practice to command full control of this skill. She said this as she demonstrated. She conjured up her invisible hand of air and turned the nob of the back door to Japi's house. My sister is unable to do this, she explained, but as it is now, we may enter your house without your permission. She looked paused, as though realizing something, then turned to Japi to appologise. I'm sorry if this unnerves you.

"Actually," Japi replied cheerfully. "there is a way I can prevent you from opening the door." She ran inside and closed the door behind her. "Now try," she said through the glass of the door.

The chime spirit attempted to use her ability again, but it failed. The nob turned, but the door did not open. Japi came back outside.

"I locked it," she explained to a very confused spirit. "But don't worry," she assured her. "I'm glad you can open the door for yourself. I'll try to remember to keep it unlocked at all times." Japi smiled warmly, and Nina smiled back.

~~

Anna was outside the next day, and Japi was watching her from the kitchen window while she was making breakfast. Japi looked up at the shy little spirit, and saw a very interesting sight. Anna had moved a small branch of a tree into a hanging form, and it had suddenly changed shape, and evidently material as well. The new chime made metal clinging sounds as Anna played with it.

Japi turned to Nina who was inside with her, because she had been interested in meeting the inside of Japi's house. "Nina, what is Anna doing?"

Nina turned to observe her sister spirit and then back to Japi. She's chiming the space, the little whisp explained. It is one of her abilities. She plays music with anything. She says they make good company. The last comment seemed a little sad. Nina looked away from Japi into the rest of the house. Japi got the feeling Anna liked to be alone with herself, while Nina thrived on companionship. The little whisp was saddened that her sister would choose a chime for company before herself.

~~

"I saw your little chime the other day."

It was a rare moment that Nina was occupied with something else and Anna could be spoken to alone.

"You know, Nina and I would have liked your company." Japi coaxed. "You don't have to stay out here alone."

The chime spirit looked nervous--possibly even embarrased--but nodded.

Japi tried to change the subject. "The both of you have such wonderful abilities. I'm amazed by it." Her eyes showed the enthusiasm of a child with a new toy. "Do you have any other abilities? I would like to see them! If you don't mind showing off a little." She winked.

Anna smiled weakly and nodded. She seemed to loosen up a little.

I can make a wind arrow, she said. It's a single point of air pressure, like this. She demonstrated, leaving a small indentation on a tree nearby. If my sister and I are attacked by an evil spirit. I have to protect her, since I am the eldest. She was lost in thought soon after, which happened quite often.

Japi was a little confused about the conversation. She had always assumed the sisters were twins. Now, she new differently. She decided to ask Nina later.  

[FemStranger]

Days later, Anna was playing with the chimes while Nina was investigating a catarpillar that had taken residence in Japi's garden, when Japi burst through the door, slammed it behind her, and kicked the side of the house. She rubbed at her temples and began walking around in circles mumbling to herself, only half aware that the others were there. The sound of the door had scared Anna away, but Nina came to investigate her friend's sudden violent entrance.

What's wrong? she asked.

"Ariel has dissappeared with her lover," Japi began. "Of whom I do NOT approve." she shook her finger wildly. "I can't find her anywhere! And she hasn't contacted me at all!"

I'm sorry. I do not understand. Nina replied. Should you not be happy for her? She is your daughter, yes?

"I should, but I would prefer her to choose someone less evil!" she burned. "You see, where she is right now, there are the good and the evil 'elves'. She has fallen in love with an evil one!" She made a gutteral grunt of frustration. "I'm just so mad at her!"

Just calm down, said Nina and we'll find a way to sort it out. You can't be that angry at her can you?

Japi continued to brood. But soon a soft sound penetrated her anger and found it's way into her heart, softening it. She felt like a burden had been lifted. She turned to the little chime spirit and saw her singing. She sang a beautiful melody that seemed to be capable of calming any soul--at least that's the way Japi felt at the time.

"You're pretty amazing," said Japi, in an almost drugged sort of voice. "To be able to calm anger by singing."

Nina smiled, but continued to sing. It seemed the words of the song had no effect on it's effect. I did not calm any anger. she explained in her song. My ability does not extend to that emotion. I calmed your worry and your pain in thinking that your daughter might be in trouble. She assured her, You were not angry, any more than any other mother when their child walks out into the street. She was right. Good luck with your daughter. I hope she turns around, or at least shows you why she has done what she has. Either way, I hope you come to an understanding. She continued to sing and eventually, because she was already exausted Japi was calmed into sleep.

Japi was glad to have such a wise friend.  

[FemStranger]

Japi was busy cooking breakfast again one Saturday morning, when she noticed that the chime spirits were not outside the window playing with the chimes as they normally would this early in the day.

She looked out the door and saw no sign of the little whisps. "Nina! Anna! Where are you guys?" she called.

We're right here. The voice belonged to Nina, but it sounded as timid as Anna.

"What's the matter?" Japi implored as she moved around the side of the house to see where the sound was coming from.

Japi was shocked to see two human looking girls there with clothes the same color as the chimes and the spirits. Their skin even showed a little bit of the swirling color where it was close to clothing or hair.

The girls looked back at Japi with worried faces. Would she accept them? Even Nina was unsure.

"What happened to you guys?" Japi asked.

We've made a transformation because we've been with you, Nina tried to explain. You've given us human form.

Please don't make us go away! Anna blurted out, her face filled with a mixture of fear and worry.

Now that their faces were more distinct, so were their expressions. The both of them looked more worried than Japi imagined could have been expressed on their old faces. But that was another topic.

Japi was completely overcome by the strangeness of the situation that she stared at the two whisps--or rather, now there were people--for what seemed like forever to the spirits. It was actually little under five minutes.

"So," Japi finally started getting her bearings. "You're still Nina and Anna, right?"

The two nodded vigorously. Yes! We are!

Japi's expression then changed from confusion to cheer. "Can you eat food?" she asked them.

The two looked at each other. I think so. Anna said turning back to Japi. Nina turned back as well and said I don't see why not.

"Then I better go and get more food for you guys." She ran back in the house to finish breakfast, motioning for the newly transformed chime spirits to follow her.

Anna and Nina were relieved that Japi did not reject their new appearances and both held a new level of respect for her openmindedness.

See. I told you she'd still like us!

You did not! You were just as afraid as I was!  

[FemStranger]

For the next year or so, the three lived in happiness with each other, but nothing really eventful happened. The twins enjoyed meeting Japi's many daughters.

Nina really liked Janet, an outlaw in a dimesion of space colonies and pirates. She would listen to Janet's descriptions of close calls she's had with dangers only possible in her world and near death experiences that make you more careful who you trust in life. Her wild jestures made Nina gasp at all the right times and it was quite entertaining to watch the two, even if you had no idea what they were saying. Japi knew most of it was exagerated, but since Nina enjoyed it so much, she didn't object. Janet's visits were becoming fewer and farther between however, because of the war that was brewing among the different alien species. A war which she planned to gain much profit from.

Anna was partial to the more quiet ones. Amber, who was not actually human, but one of several clones of a girl whom a general in an army had been facinated with. She had been discarded as a failure because she did not have the personality of the girl she was cloned from. Needless to say, this had led her to believe her purpose was meaningless in that realm, so Japi brought her to stay with them often in an attempt to keep her sane. She was very realistic about her existance in that if it weren't for people who care about you, you'll never really feel like you have a reason for existing. Luckily, there is always someone who cares about you and for anyone who is wondering, Amber did finally find that person, but that is another story entirely, and it's hardly on topic.

As for the twins, they were beginning to get a bit restless. Nina especially--because of all the adventures Janet had told her about--was trying to find adventures around the house. She tried exploring the backyard one day, but of course that was all the time it took, and she found little of interest besides seven lizards and three garden snakes and a scorpion. Even Anna was beginning to feel the lack of excitement getting to her, but moreover she longed for the love Amber had recently attained in her wanderings around her world. She knew nothing would happen if she simply stayed there.

And so the planning began, each of the girls making their own separate plans to say farewell to Japi (as hard as it would be for the two to leave her, they couldn't ask her to go with them) and each other (not realizing they were both planning on leaving) and leave on their own respective journeys.