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Sunset - A Brief History of Rurutani (Closed - But comment and critiques are welcome)


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Pre-Calamity: The Bow

It was a brisk morning outside of Horizon as Rurutani journed toward the encampment. As the sun was still low, the lighting was pleasing to the young Lalafell as he gazed around at the shadows engulfing the landscape. The small brush that decorated the parched land swayed ever-so-gently with the morning breeze. Rurutani knew that the cool was deceptive, though, as it would be a scorching day once the sun decided to unleash its full wrath on the region. Thanalan was always hot on days like this, and so he was dressed lightly, to try and battle the heat that would come.

 

He smiled, in spite of himself. This trip, as per usual, was for business purposes, so he should have maintained a more serious demeanor. The weather was just too perfect, though, and the silence around him made the trip especially perfect. His father might have scolded him for having his mind wander, but Rurutani was imaging the world elsewhere. He wondered what others were doing at that very moment, as he walked slowly through the desert.

 

His mission that day was acquire small goods, supplies, and materials to bring home to his family in Ul'dah. They ran a small junkmonger shop within the city, and while they were not wealthy, they were able to make ends meet. Rurutani's father, Nanabesu, had everyone in the family working to help run the shop. His mother, Luluna, helped sell goods and took care of the home, as did his older sister, Zezeri. His elder brother, Nonotano, was the smartest of the children and thus was the liaison to the region and was responsible for getting new customers and clients to work with the small store. Rurutani was, for the most part, happy with his role in going to gather goods and materials through trade or purchase among the encampments in the areas outside of Ul'dah. His job allowed him to get outside and see some of the land around. And it also let him get away from his dour older brother, who at times could be too coarse for his own good. And even then, that didn't work, as his brother had to accompany him at times. Outside of Nonotano, he got along well with everyone in the family, though his father would often scold him for not being focused on the family business.

 

And so it was, on this brisk morning as he entered Horizon and descended the stone walkway into the encircled camp and walked past the early morning shops and customers, that he laid eyes on the most beautiful weapon he had seen in his young life: a wooden bow. He had always had a fascination with weapons and the bow looked as if it had been waiting there for him all along. He glanced up at the trader on the other side of the table and asked how much for the bow. The trader chuckled and responded "Depends on what you've got for trade, m'boy. That there's a fine item." Rurutani considered it for a moment and thought to himself "Maybe father doesn't need to know..."

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Post - Calamity: Flee!

Rurutani's mind was racing as he packed a few articles of clothing, some money for any emergencies, and a few morsels to eat on the road. And of course he could not....COULD NOT...forget his weapon. He would need it now more than ever. He glanced around his small room and roughly wiped the tears from his eyes with his gloved hand. "How could I have been so blind?" he thought to himself as he slung the small bag with his belongings over his left shoulder. He sighed heavily, his breath catching in shakes as he was still trying to control his emotions and weeping. The bustle of people outside in Ul'dah did not ease his fears any.

 

As he left the room with one last glance back, he prepared himself mentally for the sight he would encounter as he crossed the main room of his home, and sure enough, that preparation did no good. He paused for a brief second as the bodies of his mother and sister lay dead on the floor before him. A fresh wave of tears flooded forth and he bit his lip to hold back cries that were threatening to come forth. He knelt down and laid a soft kiss on his mother's forehead and the same for his sister and as he stood and looked down on them he thought "I will make sure whoever did this does not get away with it. I am so sorry..." He again wiped away the tears, took a deep breath and prepared to leave his home, praying to the Twelve that whoever had done this was not lurking outside of the home.

 

He was able to get outside of his home and headed to the gate toward Central Thanalan and Black Brush Station. He had hoped mightily that if he could reach there, he could arrange some travel with people he had met there to get out of Thanalan altogether and as soon as possible. As he was preparing to cross the bridge over Nophica's Wells, he heard a voice that stopped him cold.  

"Hold there, brother!" Nonotano called. As Rurutani stopped and glanced to the west at the edge of the cliffs, as the sun was setting, he saw his brother standing, glaring at him. Nonotano smiled a wicked grin and gestured to Rurutani. "Where are you headed in such a hurry, Ruru?"

 

"Nono...." his breath caught as he spied small spatters of blood on Nonotano's clothes. "Oh, Nono.....what have you done....?" As he said this the tears welled up again, he dropped his bag to the ground and turned to face his brother.

 

"I did what had to be done, brother. Maybe if they'd had a clearer vision of the storm that's coming, they might still be with us." Nonotano said, coldly.

 

"The Garleans? Oh Nono...." he sighed heavily as he said this. Tears dropped from his eyes as he momentarily looked to the ground. "...Mother knew exactly the type of storm that was coming. That was why she wanted nothing to do with them."

 

"She was a fool, and Zezeri as well. They were weak and had no vision." Nonotano slowly moved his right arm away from his side, revealing, through the shadows and sunlight, the dagger he was holding. He motioned slightly toward Rurutani and narrowed his eyes to cold, menacing slits. ""How about you, Ruru....do you have the vision they lacked?"

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Post-Calamity: Sunset

 

Rurutani felt his blood go cold at the menace being emitted from Nonotano. He stepped back a bit as his brother glared at him. "Stay back, Nono..." he said with an edge of tension in his voice. The breeze coming across the rocky desert and setting sun gave the scene an atmosphere of dread.

 

It happened in the snap of one's fingers; Nonotano leapt at his brother, with the dagger extended toward him, as he seemingly was moving for a quick kill. Rurutani gasped and leapt to the side as fast as he could, but not before the dagger scratched his left arm deeply. As he scrambled in the dirt to get his senses together quickly, he heard Nonotano roar with rage as he started to move to his feet. In anticipation of a second attack, Rurutani lunged at his brother and engulfed him with both arms, throwing him to the ground again. As Nonotano struggled, Rurutani deftly smacked the dagger out of the struggling hands.

 

As the two grappled on the ground, Rurutani managed to land a few quick strikes to the face of Nonotano, while the elder brother kicked wildly and landed a few blows of his own. The two were dusty and bloody after a few minutes of fighting and both had hoarse breathing as they finally managed to separate themselves and stand again.

 

"Why? Why did you do it?" Rurutani said through painful breath. He could feel the blood flowing down his left arm and wondered quickly how much longer he could stand. The wound wasn't painful but the bloodflow concerned him.

 

Nonotano glared at him and replied "Mother did the impossible....she nearly single-handedly dismantled everything Father had worked so hard to accomplish. And she allowed her ignorance of the world blind her to the reality that we are going to lose. When the Garleans come, at least I will be safe."

 

Rurutani uttered a broken laugh which was followed by a coughing fit. "Safe? So you give them what...information? Goods? And they just leave you alone....how long do you think that would last?"

 

"Longer than you think, brother. And Mother, fool that she was, would have spoiled it! Her mouth always got her in trouble and I merely took preventive measures this time," Nonotano said with a smile. He stretched a bit and moved toward the dagger near the cliff edge. He leaned down, groaned and picked it up and turned to face his brother -

 

**THUNK**

 

The arrow slammed into Nonotano's chest so quickly, he hadn't even had time to react. He glanced down and saw the wooden shaft sticking out in front of him and he gasped for air that wouldn't come. He looked up and saw Rurutani, glaring at him, holding his bow tightly with another arrow notched and ready. The dagger fell from Nonotano's hands as he reached down to try and pull the arrow from his chest. But by that point it was too late and one of his feet had gotten too close to the edge of the Nophica's Wells cliffside and with one last desparate, enraged look on his face, stumbled over the edge of the cliffside.

 

Rurutani sighed and lowered the bow to his side. He realized he was still bleeding and needed help quickly as the Garleans may not appreciate one of their informants being killed. He took a second and sighed heavily as he realized he was alone for the first time in his life. "I'm sorry Mother...Zezeri....Father....I failed you." He hung his head, picked his bag up with a groan and began to walk toward Black Brush Station. He wept silently as he glanced to the west and saw the sun had finally set, leaving him in the welcome arms of dusk.

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