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A tale of how I came to be here you ask?
**Frowns delicately, her forehead furrowed in thought**
I suppose I could do this, but why in Jujak's fiery breath would it matter?
**laughs softly and idly touches upon the jujak rings**
You're not used to seeing one such as myself. Devoted to the Jujak with such adoration and if I do say so a bit of flair.
**smiles quite warmly and pats the ground next to her**
Come and sit, the tale is long but I'll do my best to make it interesting at least. You see, I was born in a jungle village, near the boarders of Shilla. It was peaceful enough, devoted to our ancestors and ancient ways. The village was quaint, with large trees holding our homes in their very wombs, protecting us from rain or even the odd vandal that would stumble upon our village. The huts were made of the jungle and we made a fair livelyhood within the swelting folliage. Despite the mere simplicity of the scene, it had a well structured society that saw that everyone had a place and a purpose they could fulfill and be useful. There were two things that were never in short supply in our village; happiness and a depth of spirituality that breathed new life even into the dead.
There was a couple that lived there, Soe'yong and Cho-Duk. They were a hard working couple, while Cho-Duk spent the days fishing and scaling, Soe'yong would spend her days picking and mixing herbs for the village healers to use. Though they had a rather joyous life together, their lives enriched by their four children and a fifth along the way, Soe'yong was never quite content. Call it a restlessness of spirit that called to her as the sun reached its peak each day. A whisper that tugged at her ear, promising her such sweet rewards if she merely followed it to its end. Resisting the whisper to stay with her husband, family and village she seemed to grow more distant. Almost locked within her own mind.
It was then the deluge came. Torrents of rain pouring down onto the jungle floor, raising the water levels until the rivers crested and broke their banks. Their raging rapids eating away at the trees and rocks, threatening to eradicate the very jungle floor. It is sad to say that more then one fisherman lost their lives to a storm that seemed so mild when it began. If you could not guess, Soe'yong's gentle husband, Cho-Duk was taken in that great storm. His life force claimed by a falling tree, whos roots had pulled from the mud soaked earth, just as he had made it safely ashore.
The story becomes a bit muddled here, as the madness that called to Soe'yong absorbed her recollections. She passed through the depths of the world, her very own underworld. Through the icy winter, she tread, ever onward, ever focused on the whisper that grew stronger with every step. She died through the coldness, and was reborn in the scorching desert. As her skin burned and sloughed off, shedding and being renewed as if she were a snake.
Slowly, Soe'yong began to come back to herself. The sorrow that had shattered her alread strained mind, finally releasing her carefully. Allowing bits and pieces of her recollection to return, to allow her a chance to realize her surroundings. It was then she noticed the paved ways that she stood upon, the great walls that stood in her way, offering a door into her new life perhaps? She saw the grand gates that led into the city of Koguryo. Soe'yong marvelled at the buildings that stood proof to a civilization that had triumphed over the world. That had laid open passage ways into the other worlds, and conquered them with the strength of its citizens and armies. A city that could truly be called a jewel of revolution, of perfection. Wide-eyed she stared until the whispers tugged again, and she followed meekly marveling at the sights. Through the city, she tread on weary feet until she passed through the other side, back into wilderness. A truly marvelous sight she had never known in her years. It consumed her heart with a new found zest for the life that could build such great things.
A sudden pain lanced her from her musings, as she felt the life in her own body ripening to burst free. Soe'yong stumbled forward, falling against a giant statue as she groaned in pain. Clutching at the fiery stone that burned into her palm, as she let lose a scream that shook the very trees themselves. As she lost conciousness, she saw the great Jujak's statue above her, and realized she had finally found the origin of the whispers.
If you could not guess, I am the child of Soe'yong, born at the temple of Jujak. My mother still resides there, a priestess that takes the devotions to Jujak and acts as his conduit to this world. I have the honor of being one of his handmaidens, a priestess in training perhaps.
Though it is in the endless rituals of training, running between the Masters guilds, that I literally ran into a young rogue named Jikoku Jeong-Kim. I was in a hurry between lessons from the buyan Master Mage, when I realized I had not done my quest for the day. I ran to Maso's and ran straight into the most dashing and handsome rogue I had ever lain eyes on. Dark-haired cropped short wearing those silly community rogue garments that Guild students have to wear. He was quite ... well, I'm sure my point is made on that. He was a little brash as young men can be, but I can say little except that I fell head over heels in love with him. In fact, it wasn't long after we met that we became engaged.
It was after we had our whirlwind courtship that I met his parents, Diskord and Lashalla. They are an middle-aged couple, Lashalla being the older of them, but they are both prime examples of the Jeong-Kim family. They welcomed me warmly and we had a lovely meal as we were getting to know each other. I had expected something much more conservative from them, but they accepted me as a daughter from the moment they realized I truly loved their son. They even went so far as to offer me a place in their clan hall to stay with my husband.
Being the daughter of a temple priestess, and a rather mad one at that, I find the warmth of my new extended family ... well, enchanting. I have seen Jikoku's aunts, Saera and Forrestb, drop anything they were doing if he, or I, needed help. Or if I would just stop by to visit with Jikoku's mother, Lashalla, she would set aside her business to make tea or a meal. Even Uncle Gimpy has helped to train me in arts of defense, as well as strategy. They have offered me a wealth of comfort and knowledge, letting me become a true part of their family.
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Ashyari Jeong-Kim Wife of Jikoku
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