Post by kalale on Aug 22, 2006 10:27:50 GMT -5
Journal of Sir Jacob
Sept 12th of the first year
Today I went into the city to train at the warrior’s guild. I overheard from one of the captains that people are moving to different lands in search of new lives and better lands.
I laughed as I parried a bleed attack from Joshua, a childhood friend of mine. “People are leaving this land for fortune and glory.” I smirked as I disarmed him and made him yield.
He yielded and started laughing as we both decided to leave before the captain threw us out. We both decided to head over to the tavern for some Ale and Wine.
“Fortune and Glory. What and utter waste. This land has always supplied us with all we need.” I slurred over my Ale. I could see Joshua was debating the issue and that worried me. So instead of arguing the point I decided to leave. Looking back on today I might of yelled at him too while I stomp out of the place in my drunken state. I really have to stop drinking so early in the day.
Sept 19th of the first year
Well a week has gone by and I still have not heard from my friend Joshua. We normally meet every morning to train in the Warriors guild but this last week no one has seen him. Even his house seems to be somewhat empty. I am getting somewhat nervous after our little argument in the tavern. But still it is not unusual for either one of us to take off for a week to do some dungeon exploring, or go out fishing, or training in different arts. I will ask his sister tomorrow if she knows where we went.
Nov 15th of the first year
Two months have passed and still no signs of Joshua. Over the last few months rumors of great wealth and open land has tempted many citizens of vesper and minoc to a land called Legends. After all this time of searching. I considered the thought that Joshua must have taken up roots and moved there to seek his own wealth and place in this new world. What a fool. I have told him and many of the citizens here, that it is not worth it, and this land has always taken care of us. Still people have not listened and they leave little by little. His sister has been very kind to me in the past month as we have both been doing our part to find information on her brother. We have been getting really close to each other. We spend every evening talking and laughing about old times and what might lay in the future.
July 22nd of the Second year
It has been many months since I last written in this journal. I have been traveling this land still in search of my friend, Joshua. Finding that all over this great nation people are leaving for new lands. Even though while some leave, some new comers are arriving in everyday. I have not wanted to believe my first assumptions that Joshua had left for the new lands. But after all these months of searching he is either dead or, on another land making a new life. So today as I walked through the sacra-brae docks I decided that I would go to the new land in search of him. Jenny his sister has agreed to be my wife and we have both decided that before we wed we must find out what has happened to him. If he is alive we want him to be there with us as we become one in name. And if he is not at the new land then we can finally put behind us the constant wondering.
Sept 11th of the Second year
A year has almost passed since Joshua disappearance. Jenny has agreed to come with me to the new land. We have spent the last month preparing for the trip I am sad to be leaving the land and home that I love. We have had to sell most of everything we had to have enough for passage for two to the new land. I will surely miss this land and its people. Jenny has been crying for the last week. I think she will miss this land too.
Oct 5th of the Second year
We arrived at the new land yesterday. It looks a lot like the land we just left. But still it just does not feel the same. Something is different and wrong about this place. But we are here to find Joshua and to try to start a life with each other. Jenny is sick today as the trip took a lot out of her. I keep reassuring her it is just a cold and it will fade away. Today I put the rest of our money into tools so I could build a nice sized home in the woods where we could live off the land for a while. The house design is quite large and Jenny says she will feel lost in it. I told her that too would pass and things would be ok.
Nov 11th of the Second year
The house is almost completed. Jenny’s cold it is still holding on. Yesterday I could hear her wheezing in the next room. I am getting worried. I am going to go for a doctor tomorrow at sunrise. Life this last month has been surprising pleasant. Well at least the days when Jenny is well and walking around the house. I am sure the doctor will take care of this cold.
Nov 13th of the Second year
Jenny died this morning in our bed. The doctor said there was nothing he could do when he was here yesterday. The fluids had built up on her lungs and she required sleep and needed to be kept warm. I kept the fire going and sat quiet all night as I watched her wheezed and coughed in her sleep. The last words through her lips were I love you as she slipped beyond.
Nov 14th of the Second year
I went into the woods to bury Jenny at a special spot today. The spot we always went for picnics and to spent time together, away from our work and worries of the house and her brother. When she was feeling good she would tell me her dreams here. She wanted children. She wanted us to live away from the busy city she grew up with. She wanted so much but now she was gone and I was alone. I knelt beside her as I lowered her into the ground. I kissed her good bye and then covered her up praying for a meaning in all this pain.
I burned our house down later. The house we built. The house we had spent the first months of our new lives in. She was gone and so must it go.
Jan 23rd of the Third year
For the last two months I have lived in the woods trying to forget about the pain of being alone without my beloved Jenny. Ever since I lost Joshua she had been my constant companion. My friend when I most needed it. But now she was gone, and I needed to find something else to give order in my life. Starting tomorrow I will take this pain. I will take this hate, and find something new to give me purpose. Perhaps even find Joshua the one who brought us her,e and brought us together. I miss her so much.
May 20th of the Third year
The last few months I have traveled city to city in search for some order and peace to my life. No one I have met has herd of Joshua or has been able to offer anything to give me some kind of purpose. I have made my living thus far as a hired hand or as a mercenary. Doing anything and everything to keep myself alive and to release me from the hate I felt. Tomorrow I have been commissioned by a wealthy trader to guard him as he travels to a community of samurai. Noble swordsmen with great powers of mind and strength. I am anxious to see these people work and to see if there skill equal the mention they received.
May 21st of the Third year
We traveled to the city of the samurai today, were we met with a nobleman of the people. Everyone referred to him as Maser, as we walked the streets with him. He had accompanied with him three of his personal guards all dressed in black. When I was checking into the hotel where me and my client were staying they referred to them as ninja. The name ninja stayed with me all day today as I watched their actions. Very assured, and very well dicaplined. If ever I thought I met my match. I think these men would be it.
May 28nd of the Third year
I have been watching the Ninja quite intently this last week. Following them when I can and doing errands for those who will let me, just to get close enough to see what made them so elite. Like all children though I guess I would try to study something long enough until, I either tried to step on it out of boredom or until I learned from it. Unfortunate I was never a patient man and decided I would go for the first.
I still think of Jenny every night as I lay in my room staring at the ceiling. The hate is still there and the urge to join her. Maybe that is why I always pick fights with those who would be the best. One of these days I guess I will get my wish. I will be with her again.
May 30th of the Third year
I have been knocked out for two days now. I have a headache and I think my nose is broken. I woke today to the smell of warm bread in a strange home. At least I think it was bread with my nose being broken and all. When I opened my eyes I saw the same ninja that I attacked two days before, trying to get him to fight me, standing above me without his hood on. He spoke clearly and directly to me, looking deep within my eyes. “My name is Jiro I am from the Tiger Claw Clan. I have spared your life and now you according to our law you own me a debt.” I saw he was dead serious. I started to say something and was instantly hit across the face. “I will not tolerate your insolence. I see you are strong and for that I have work for you.” As I thought about protesting again I quickly got it through my head he was not joking. The rest of the day passed as he let me rest off my injuries. I under estimated this Jiro man. I barely touched him and within two seconds I was out cold. I will not do that again. I will wait and see what is in store..
July 17th of the Third year
I have been under Jiro’s employment for over a month now. I see from him that he is a very honorable and proud man. When he gives his word it is done. When he sets his mind to a task nothing will stray him from that task. As I have worked with him for the last few weeks my resentment for this man has passed into respect. He is a great man and does nothing that would shame the people around him. I wish I could say the same about my own actions. For so long now I have been focused on my own pain and hate. I have not wondered or cared about those I left behind. Tomorrow if Jiro will allow me to speak I am going to ask him about the ninja.
Jan 3rd of the Fourth year
Over the last several months Jiro has begun to teach me some fighting techniques known as ninjitsu and the art of stealth. He says I am a natural learner and that I will become a fine ninja if I applied myself. More importantly Jiro has become my friend and seems to regard me now as somewhat an equal. Why I am not sure. I always balanced a man on his worth of his fighting skills. Jiro tells me. “It is one’s actions and intentions of his heart that should be judged. Not his strength or skills.”
Jan 1st of the Fifth year
This last year has brought me much humility and great wisdom. I have been working with Jiro on his farm and in his dojo. I have learned much and I have felt the pain within subside as I become something more than the hollow husk of a man I use to be. He has taught me the values of honor and pride in ones own accomplishments. Taking in those things around you and making a difference in more than just your self. Most important he has taught me how to give of myself willing to others. Still as I sit here and write my accomplishments I still feel like I have so much more to learn. So much more to do.
Jan 22nd of the eighth year
Time does pass when one gives of himself freely. I am saddened today because after all this time in the city of the Samurai. Jiro approached me today telling me that my debt is repaid and that I am now free. He quickly added before he walked away that even though there was a debt to be paid, he never saw me as a servant but as a brother.
Three years from my last entry and now I am free. At a time when Jiro taught me to be the most free I have even been. At a time when I felt like the pain had finally subsided and I could now control my hate.
Even as I write this I am not sure what to do or say.
I have always known there will be a time for me to leave. I have felt the pull to somewhere else and have always ignored it.
Jiro has often told me. ”One does not choose his own path in life. Merely he manages the choices that lead him to his final destination.” He was always the one to speak about things that made no sense to me.
Jan 23rd of the eighth year
Sunrise came early today. Almost too early. Jiro was waiting outside for me. Waiting to get the goodbyes over with before the day had passed too far. I quickly stepped to him bowing slightly. “Good bye good friend” I said as I stepped back looking for which road I should venture down. He hesitated and paused then reached out his hand to give me a package. I look at him and the package. He spoke slowly and clearly like the first day we met. “One’s path always ends, where it first begins.” Then he handed me the package and walked away.
I walked down the road a mile or two before I got the nerve to open the gift. Inside the little box was a token for passage back to my native land. A note under the package said. “Selflessness unites even the weakest among us.”
He knew all along I needed to go home and do what I could for my own land and people. He had known since we first met. He merely just showed me the qualities inside me that would allow me to live in peace, and with honor.
He was right and before I departed to go back to the land I loved I had to visit an old grove, somewhere in the middle of no where. I had to say goodbye again, to the one person who meant the most to me in all world. My Jenny. My beloved friend.
Sept 12th of the first year
Today I went into the city to train at the warrior’s guild. I overheard from one of the captains that people are moving to different lands in search of new lives and better lands.
I laughed as I parried a bleed attack from Joshua, a childhood friend of mine. “People are leaving this land for fortune and glory.” I smirked as I disarmed him and made him yield.
He yielded and started laughing as we both decided to leave before the captain threw us out. We both decided to head over to the tavern for some Ale and Wine.
“Fortune and Glory. What and utter waste. This land has always supplied us with all we need.” I slurred over my Ale. I could see Joshua was debating the issue and that worried me. So instead of arguing the point I decided to leave. Looking back on today I might of yelled at him too while I stomp out of the place in my drunken state. I really have to stop drinking so early in the day.
Sept 19th of the first year
Well a week has gone by and I still have not heard from my friend Joshua. We normally meet every morning to train in the Warriors guild but this last week no one has seen him. Even his house seems to be somewhat empty. I am getting somewhat nervous after our little argument in the tavern. But still it is not unusual for either one of us to take off for a week to do some dungeon exploring, or go out fishing, or training in different arts. I will ask his sister tomorrow if she knows where we went.
Nov 15th of the first year
Two months have passed and still no signs of Joshua. Over the last few months rumors of great wealth and open land has tempted many citizens of vesper and minoc to a land called Legends. After all this time of searching. I considered the thought that Joshua must have taken up roots and moved there to seek his own wealth and place in this new world. What a fool. I have told him and many of the citizens here, that it is not worth it, and this land has always taken care of us. Still people have not listened and they leave little by little. His sister has been very kind to me in the past month as we have both been doing our part to find information on her brother. We have been getting really close to each other. We spend every evening talking and laughing about old times and what might lay in the future.
July 22nd of the Second year
It has been many months since I last written in this journal. I have been traveling this land still in search of my friend, Joshua. Finding that all over this great nation people are leaving for new lands. Even though while some leave, some new comers are arriving in everyday. I have not wanted to believe my first assumptions that Joshua had left for the new lands. But after all these months of searching he is either dead or, on another land making a new life. So today as I walked through the sacra-brae docks I decided that I would go to the new land in search of him. Jenny his sister has agreed to be my wife and we have both decided that before we wed we must find out what has happened to him. If he is alive we want him to be there with us as we become one in name. And if he is not at the new land then we can finally put behind us the constant wondering.
Sept 11th of the Second year
A year has almost passed since Joshua disappearance. Jenny has agreed to come with me to the new land. We have spent the last month preparing for the trip I am sad to be leaving the land and home that I love. We have had to sell most of everything we had to have enough for passage for two to the new land. I will surely miss this land and its people. Jenny has been crying for the last week. I think she will miss this land too.
Oct 5th of the Second year
We arrived at the new land yesterday. It looks a lot like the land we just left. But still it just does not feel the same. Something is different and wrong about this place. But we are here to find Joshua and to try to start a life with each other. Jenny is sick today as the trip took a lot out of her. I keep reassuring her it is just a cold and it will fade away. Today I put the rest of our money into tools so I could build a nice sized home in the woods where we could live off the land for a while. The house design is quite large and Jenny says she will feel lost in it. I told her that too would pass and things would be ok.
Nov 11th of the Second year
The house is almost completed. Jenny’s cold it is still holding on. Yesterday I could hear her wheezing in the next room. I am getting worried. I am going to go for a doctor tomorrow at sunrise. Life this last month has been surprising pleasant. Well at least the days when Jenny is well and walking around the house. I am sure the doctor will take care of this cold.
Nov 13th of the Second year
Jenny died this morning in our bed. The doctor said there was nothing he could do when he was here yesterday. The fluids had built up on her lungs and she required sleep and needed to be kept warm. I kept the fire going and sat quiet all night as I watched her wheezed and coughed in her sleep. The last words through her lips were I love you as she slipped beyond.
Nov 14th of the Second year
I went into the woods to bury Jenny at a special spot today. The spot we always went for picnics and to spent time together, away from our work and worries of the house and her brother. When she was feeling good she would tell me her dreams here. She wanted children. She wanted us to live away from the busy city she grew up with. She wanted so much but now she was gone and I was alone. I knelt beside her as I lowered her into the ground. I kissed her good bye and then covered her up praying for a meaning in all this pain.
I burned our house down later. The house we built. The house we had spent the first months of our new lives in. She was gone and so must it go.
Jan 23rd of the Third year
For the last two months I have lived in the woods trying to forget about the pain of being alone without my beloved Jenny. Ever since I lost Joshua she had been my constant companion. My friend when I most needed it. But now she was gone, and I needed to find something else to give order in my life. Starting tomorrow I will take this pain. I will take this hate, and find something new to give me purpose. Perhaps even find Joshua the one who brought us her,e and brought us together. I miss her so much.
May 20th of the Third year
The last few months I have traveled city to city in search for some order and peace to my life. No one I have met has herd of Joshua or has been able to offer anything to give me some kind of purpose. I have made my living thus far as a hired hand or as a mercenary. Doing anything and everything to keep myself alive and to release me from the hate I felt. Tomorrow I have been commissioned by a wealthy trader to guard him as he travels to a community of samurai. Noble swordsmen with great powers of mind and strength. I am anxious to see these people work and to see if there skill equal the mention they received.
May 21st of the Third year
We traveled to the city of the samurai today, were we met with a nobleman of the people. Everyone referred to him as Maser, as we walked the streets with him. He had accompanied with him three of his personal guards all dressed in black. When I was checking into the hotel where me and my client were staying they referred to them as ninja. The name ninja stayed with me all day today as I watched their actions. Very assured, and very well dicaplined. If ever I thought I met my match. I think these men would be it.
May 28nd of the Third year
I have been watching the Ninja quite intently this last week. Following them when I can and doing errands for those who will let me, just to get close enough to see what made them so elite. Like all children though I guess I would try to study something long enough until, I either tried to step on it out of boredom or until I learned from it. Unfortunate I was never a patient man and decided I would go for the first.
I still think of Jenny every night as I lay in my room staring at the ceiling. The hate is still there and the urge to join her. Maybe that is why I always pick fights with those who would be the best. One of these days I guess I will get my wish. I will be with her again.
May 30th of the Third year
I have been knocked out for two days now. I have a headache and I think my nose is broken. I woke today to the smell of warm bread in a strange home. At least I think it was bread with my nose being broken and all. When I opened my eyes I saw the same ninja that I attacked two days before, trying to get him to fight me, standing above me without his hood on. He spoke clearly and directly to me, looking deep within my eyes. “My name is Jiro I am from the Tiger Claw Clan. I have spared your life and now you according to our law you own me a debt.” I saw he was dead serious. I started to say something and was instantly hit across the face. “I will not tolerate your insolence. I see you are strong and for that I have work for you.” As I thought about protesting again I quickly got it through my head he was not joking. The rest of the day passed as he let me rest off my injuries. I under estimated this Jiro man. I barely touched him and within two seconds I was out cold. I will not do that again. I will wait and see what is in store..
July 17th of the Third year
I have been under Jiro’s employment for over a month now. I see from him that he is a very honorable and proud man. When he gives his word it is done. When he sets his mind to a task nothing will stray him from that task. As I have worked with him for the last few weeks my resentment for this man has passed into respect. He is a great man and does nothing that would shame the people around him. I wish I could say the same about my own actions. For so long now I have been focused on my own pain and hate. I have not wondered or cared about those I left behind. Tomorrow if Jiro will allow me to speak I am going to ask him about the ninja.
Jan 3rd of the Fourth year
Over the last several months Jiro has begun to teach me some fighting techniques known as ninjitsu and the art of stealth. He says I am a natural learner and that I will become a fine ninja if I applied myself. More importantly Jiro has become my friend and seems to regard me now as somewhat an equal. Why I am not sure. I always balanced a man on his worth of his fighting skills. Jiro tells me. “It is one’s actions and intentions of his heart that should be judged. Not his strength or skills.”
Jan 1st of the Fifth year
This last year has brought me much humility and great wisdom. I have been working with Jiro on his farm and in his dojo. I have learned much and I have felt the pain within subside as I become something more than the hollow husk of a man I use to be. He has taught me the values of honor and pride in ones own accomplishments. Taking in those things around you and making a difference in more than just your self. Most important he has taught me how to give of myself willing to others. Still as I sit here and write my accomplishments I still feel like I have so much more to learn. So much more to do.
Jan 22nd of the eighth year
Time does pass when one gives of himself freely. I am saddened today because after all this time in the city of the Samurai. Jiro approached me today telling me that my debt is repaid and that I am now free. He quickly added before he walked away that even though there was a debt to be paid, he never saw me as a servant but as a brother.
Three years from my last entry and now I am free. At a time when Jiro taught me to be the most free I have even been. At a time when I felt like the pain had finally subsided and I could now control my hate.
Even as I write this I am not sure what to do or say.
I have always known there will be a time for me to leave. I have felt the pull to somewhere else and have always ignored it.
Jiro has often told me. ”One does not choose his own path in life. Merely he manages the choices that lead him to his final destination.” He was always the one to speak about things that made no sense to me.
Jan 23rd of the eighth year
Sunrise came early today. Almost too early. Jiro was waiting outside for me. Waiting to get the goodbyes over with before the day had passed too far. I quickly stepped to him bowing slightly. “Good bye good friend” I said as I stepped back looking for which road I should venture down. He hesitated and paused then reached out his hand to give me a package. I look at him and the package. He spoke slowly and clearly like the first day we met. “One’s path always ends, where it first begins.” Then he handed me the package and walked away.
I walked down the road a mile or two before I got the nerve to open the gift. Inside the little box was a token for passage back to my native land. A note under the package said. “Selflessness unites even the weakest among us.”
He knew all along I needed to go home and do what I could for my own land and people. He had known since we first met. He merely just showed me the qualities inside me that would allow me to live in peace, and with honor.
He was right and before I departed to go back to the land I loved I had to visit an old grove, somewhere in the middle of no where. I had to say goodbye again, to the one person who meant the most to me in all world. My Jenny. My beloved friend.