Princes, Allegiances and Annoying Pink Birds

Sweet Altana, I’ve been so busy I can’t even keep track. The past week or so has been filled with long hours of training, rounds among the Temple Knights in San d’oria, treasure hunting, fishing giant monsters who eat shoes … more than I can remember. So many things.

I’m so behind on keeping you up to date I’m not sure where to start. Oh, Gafgarion and I have reached our fifty-fifth season. Most of that was gotten in one very long day in Kuftal Tunnel but last night we hunted the funniest looking little pink birds outside of Al Zahbi. Cute, but annoying. They kept snatching things from me, food included! And it was nearly impossible to get a weaponskill off because of how they distracted me.

Oh of course, one of the most exciting points of the week … I got to meet Prince Trion. Yup, you heard me. Trion. I was as giddy as a school girl, he’s so dashing and handsome. I was terrified I would fall all over my feet. It started with going fishing for my little friend who gave me the nice old sword and somehow ended with me reporting a pair of Royal Knights boots being found in it’s belly. I’m not sure what that was all about but Prince Trion gave me a pair of beautiful boots as a reward. I admit it. I swooned.

I finally brought up my thoughts of changing allegiance to Gafgarion after defending Al Zabhi last night. I invited him to the teahouse for a cup of chi and introduced the idea to him. He was less than pleased. I know he worries about me, I understand, I worry about him to. I’ve done such a good job of hiding my lineage though, my own brother doesn’t know who I am! I feel safe and I very much wish to advance both in my investigation and in my training. Chances are that I will be leaving Windurst for San d’oria but Garion was so against it that I’ll give it a few days more thought. And a few days for him to calm down before I trade in my Federation Aketon for a Kingdom one.

((By the way, since I’ve been asked a few times now, yes please feel free to post out of character comments even on in character posts. I don’t mind ^^))

 

Short and OOC: My first 50

(OOC:

I’m still too tired to write this all out in character so a brief out of character moment to say: I got my first level 50! Yes yes, I’m wee. Deal with it.

Party in the basement of Garliage yesterday, Gafgarion got 50 I was 49 and roughly 2.3k away when my party decides to split. Exp at that point was terrible anyway but still, yeesh.

I’ve got a bomb coal and exo mold, maaaaany thanks to Marathon the previous night so I’m all ready to hit 50 but of course there are no healers in range seeking to make another party. I see that Besieged is happening so rush to take part. 600xp there, woo hoo! Gaf and I took our npcs into Crawler’s Nest to level off of things that were EP or DC to us (even took an EM) and scratched out a little bit more.

Marathon being the doll that he is (big doll … but doll) took us to Eldieme late last night for our papyrus and I think we were 2/16 on drops, not bad at all. Looking at my status I’m 1.4k away. Ok I think, I’ll try to do one of those stupid chocobo races that I always suck at. Hour and half wasted there on two fail attempts before I made the claim that “No one can run from Bastok to Windurst in 32 minutes. Ever” -.-

Sigh. Ten hours after my party originally broke up, it’s 1 am and I’m 1.4k away from 50. Self, I said to myself, it’s time to do it old style.

One 50PLD/25BST. Thank you Rumble Crawlers. I look just as cute in IM as I thought I would. )

 

When All Goes Insane

All of Vana’diel is trapsing about in the past it seems. Without a care, it would appear. From what I’ve asked no one has given me a reason they are all doing this. I fear it’s because they can, which is a terrible reason. Altana preserve us, I’m more afraid of my fellow adventurer than I am of the mysterious maws.

Whenever you look around and wonder if you’re whole world has lost it’s everloving mind I find it best to focus on purely mundane tasks until everything makes sense to you, or people figure out where they have misplaced their sense.

Do you remember little book, that I mentioned seeing a dance troupe performing in Jeuno? I finally got up the courage to speak with their leader. She was as I expected less than welcoming. She wanted me to get her a stone, a stardust pebble but gave me clue where to find one. I ask one of the mithra in the trouble, I have a way with the cats, to help me. She refused unless I could prove that I was serious about learning. Her test? A performance. At the Lion’s Pride of all places. Why not the Timbre Timbers? I would have been a hit there.

San d’orians are notoriously picky, of course it went terribly and I was very happy that no one I knew was there. But I did it, and I think that was the test. Returning to the mithra she commended my bravery and described the stone Mistress Laillia wanted, warning that it would be near impossible to find in this day and age. I realized from her description that it sounded a lot like a pretty stone I’d idly picked up while I was errr… through the maw. Sure enough, when handed to Laillia she was very surprised and grudgingly agreed to teach me their style and allow me to perform with them. Garion will be surprised.

Also yesterday I was asked to go on a “field trip” with Marathon, along with Garion. Unsure of exactly what was in store for me we met up at Mara’s moghouse in Bastok and headed for Movopolis of all places. From what I gathered we were there to take some sort of Dark Knight vengence against a goblin who dared to call himself a Dark Knight. I … suppose I can understand. Those Quadav who claim to be paladin ruffle my feathers. We were also joined by Fishy and Aydann, who I am always pleased to see.

(Why does Fishy always dodge out of every screenshot I try to take? -.- )

After luring this goblin out a handful of times the Dark Knight’s got their mark and I got a very nice necklace as a prize.

We tried to get one for Garion but ran out of the drink we were using to lure him out of his hiding place before he had time to replace his neck piece. Hopefully we can go again soon, I always have so much fun hunting with my friends. Maybe next time I’ll have even learned enough dances to be useful along with my paladin skills.

 

Travels of Another Sort

(Warning! Very mild spoilers. I was careful in my screenshot selections, shouldn’t be too bad.)

I’m not even sure where to begin.

Life as an adventurer in Vana’diel is often rather strange, I’ve done some very bizarre things in my life but nothing … nothing like this.

Garion told me he’d seen something strange in Batallia, something adventurers were gathering around. Alright I thought, it’s been a tame day I’d love to see something new. When we arived at this … thing I was taken aback. It was like a cave, or a plant … only alive. We looked at each other and gathering my courage I drew closer.

I landed in Rolanberry, only … not Rolanberry. I was unconcious, my head fuzzy with odd images when I awoke to humes, Jeunoian guards I think. I had no idea where Garion was. For that matter, I had no idea where -I- was. It was hard not to panic looking at this place that was so familiar but so not at the same time. The humes told me that Jueno was off limit to civilians. Off limits? To civilians?

I headed toward the city to see for myself, over hills I’ve traveled a hundred times but didn’t recognize. I passed a few people who looked at me oddly but at the gates I blessedly saw a familiar face. Garion looked just as confused as I did. He apparently landed in Batallia. We hugged and compared confused notes. He’d had much the same experience a flash of light, some odd images and a giant head ache. He’d met some humes who told him to seek the safety of Eldaime Necropolis. Allow me to write that again, the -safety- of Eldaime Necropolis. At this point we started to think the same thing though neither of us said it, it was too bizarre. But I believe it was true.

Our concern, was getting back. We sat against the clean, whole walls of the Jeuno gates and discussed what we were going to do. He wished to chase down the other ‘maws’ that the humes had mentioned, I just wanted to get out of there. I don’t adventure in places where I do not have an escape. He agreed to my plan, an attempt at the Warp spell and if we returned to our own home … our own time, we would learn what we could about these maws and if need be come back more prepared.

I was terrified as the familiar black and purple ether swirled before my eyes, the usual tug at my center that means “Going home”. Where would I end up? Would Garion be able to follow? We landed safely in Jeuno. Our Jeuno, the sane Jeuno.

Neither of us slept very well that night. The city was full of rumors, adventurers reporting things much like we’d seen and those who hadn’t ventured to the maws believing them all insane. I felt insane. It was too much to handle, just too much to handle.

 

OOC:

(Having trouble with the Wings related things I’ve been doing and posting without spoilers or stepping on other people’s storylines. So, big post coming up later today probably with mad spoilers and making no timeline sense to my LS members since everything happened in spacial and party and I never mentioned it >.> I figure, we travel in time now. You all can deal with a little time paradox.

So far I’m loving WoTG. There’s plenty I can’t do as is always the case since I’m one of four or five people in the world that doesn’t have a level 75 but getting dancer was fun, I looooved the cut scenes and I plan on going as far as I can in the content by sneak/invis and lots of death. Plans are to get PLD to 50 and DNC to 25 so I can sub it for the super nice MP less AoE sneak and invis combo. I’m going to have to go through allll the limit breaks too so pausing at 50 shouldn’t be a problem. My poor LS -.-)

 

Cermet Chocobos

Yesterday was so quiet, such a change from the last week or two. We spent some more time in the nest, I’m so close to being able train alongside Garion when he’s using his best skills. I really thought I’d never get here. All the training I’ve done with the Knights these past few months have actually paid off. He tells me many times a day how strong I’ve become … I still find it hard to believe though.

Our party was short, everyone seemed to have other things to do. As Garion was warping our comrades back to their home points I wondered through the cermet door near where we’d been hunting. Garion and I explored a little, and talked. Again we avoided any serious conversation, instead joking that the strange apparatus in the room must be an ancient choco egg hatchery. A good enough way to fill the silence.

Crabbie did a little better in tonight’s Pankration matches. He only fought twice but he won both. As soon a he’s a little stronger I hope to invite some friends to the Pit to watch him fight. I think he needs to learn a bit more offensive moves … that and to listen to orders even when there’s no promise of Crabbie Cookies.

I saw the most wonderful group of dancers in Upper Jeuno this morning. I’ve always wanted to dance … the mithra have seasonal festivals in Windurst a few times a year that involve lots of dancing. I’ve always taken part. Perhaps if I speak with the troop leader she’d teach me a few of their steps?

OOC: ( Oh my gourd such a day of frustration. Odd errors with FFXI trying to look for it’s install file every time it launched have made me want to pull my hair out. Four hours of fussing and I finally ended up uninstalling. I have no idea when I’ll make it back in game or if reinstalling will actually fix the problem. That paired with watching Gaf do WoTG content on his PS2 while I sit here and curse SE and their shipping issues makes for a grumpy Ama -.- So very eager to get into dancer. I’ve wanted that class since before I even bought the game all those years ago.

Oh, and yes. Ama’s dressed a little skimpy. Elvaan dats are seriously lacking compared to mithra. Lowtech’s models are a bit … over the top for my tastes. But gods it’s nice to look at Ama and not groan about how she has no waist and she feels gigantic.

Edit: Oh frelling goody. 7 and a half hours of updates. Blarglemrrrgle! ; ;)

 

Angry Elemental Day?

Quite an adventure last night.

Gafgarion needed to travel Xarcabard, of all places, and had asked Marathon to guide him. I’d originally not planned on going along, I hate being a burden. I didn’t like the idea of him going somewhere so dangerous even with Marathon’s worthy guidance. As I thought about it and as Fishy and Aydann decided to come along I remembered that I needed to find a stone in Ordelle’s.
As much as I hate to ask for help I took the excuse to watch over Garion and tagged along.

We first went to Ordelle’s where Fishy said he knew just where to look for a good sharping stone. I was glad I brought such strong help along because just as I found the perfect sharping stone for little Ailbeche a nasty looking earth elemental attacked us! Who knew elementals collected stones?

After that ordeal we head back towards the Glacier and then into Xarcabard. I’ve been there once before but spent most of the trip hiding behind a rock … it was both beautiful and frightening at the same time.

I was thankful for Fishy and Aydann’s sneak and invisble spells as I weaved among the undead and demons. I swear, the crazy things Garion gets into his head …

It must have been Big Angry Elemental Day since as Gafgarion threw the stone over the edge we were attacked by another of a sort I’d never seen. It was a fun fight, and I left with a healthy collection of soulplates that I didn’t enter with. Gafgarion got out with nary a scratch so it was a great success.

Back in San d’oria I gave Ailbeche the stone he’d asked me for and in return he gave me quite a nice old sword.

((My very first AF! Many thanks to my wonderful LS for the help.

 

Question of Alligiance

Earthsday 1035-3-30

I’m considering something a bit unusual.

I’ve been Windurstian for most of my life, my family was exiled from San d’oria when I was just a baby. I only very vague memories of my original home, more feelings than images. I was raised here, most of my friends are mithra or taru. I’ve been, “the tailless mithra” my whole life. The woman I’ve always called mother, Tia is a mithra. I hadn’t even set foot in San d’oria until I started adventuring.

And yet, here I am considering changing my allegiance. Since Garion left those many months ago I’ve spent a lot of time in San d’oria. I by chance met General Curilla who knew my father so long ago. The situation that lead to my families exile is still unknown to me but she and that city are the only way I will ever find out. My brother still resides there, he’s a Royal Knight. I’ve caught glimpses of him about the city but haven’t approached him. What he did to be allowed to stay within San d’oria when my mother and father were forced to flee leads me to be wary of him and keep my identity a secret.

For the past eight months or so I’ve been training as a Temple Knight, as my father was. Using Garion’s last name and shortening my given name to what I prefer to be called anyway Amarith Til’Ordos and Amarithia Lysias haven’t yet been discovered by most to be the same person.

I’m hitting barriers in finding out my history, because I’m Windurstian and San d’orian’s have such distrust of foreigners. I’m hoping that if I fight under the flag of my people they’ll trust me more and I can continue my efforts to clear my family’s name. But … it’s such a bit move. I mean no ill will toward Windurst, of course not it’s my home. I’m afraid of how my switch will be perceived by my friends here. It’s something that requires more thought, maybe I should talk to Garion. He was San d’orian until he moved to Windurst to be near me. Wouldn’t he be surprised if he knew what I was considering. Though to be surprised I suppose we’d actually have to be talking …

 

Pets, Moogles and Love

Firesday 1035-3-29

Hello again book,

Still haven’t found my old journal, Mooglet must have ate it.

There aren’t words for how happy I am to have Garion back, he remains distracted as if he’s looking over his shoulder every other minute. We had a pleasant dinner at my moghouse yesterday, followed by a very pleasant night there as well. Whenever we’re safe behind doors he seems to loosen up.

Things seem tense, though that could just be me worrying. We haven’t talked very much, about what either of us have been up to or if … well, if we’ve been faithful. I have, but what if he hasn’t? Are we even still engaged? I feel like a school girl with all this uncertainty.

I sent Mooglet over to Garion’s to help his moogle organize. Mooglet, as much as I love him, is a pain in the behind about neatness and organization (which begs the question, where did my rings and journal go to?) and Gaf’s Moogle is decidedly not. I’m sure Mooglet enjoyed getting to order someone other than me around.

The last few days have been very busy, I’ve started raising a baby chocobo. He’s an adorable little ball of yellow fluff named Matsukaze Ayu. Garion says that I’m spoiling him and I likely am. His choco follows orders, walks at his heel and such. Matsu just falls all over himself and kweh’s pitifully but I think he’s adorable.

Crabbie is doing great as well, I recently earned my own pass to Aht Urghan and a place with a mercenary troop there. Exploring the city I finally got to see this pankration thing I’ve heard so much about. As a former beastmaster I felt I’d have an advantage and I believe I was right. Crabbie seemed happy to be fighting again, he does a delightful little dance and spin whenever he wins. I believe I’ll move him out of my mog house fountain and into the pankration pens to train more intensely in the next few days. That is, if I can tempt him out of said fountain. It would be worth it just to finally have Mooglet stop hounding me about ‘Crabs don’t go in the fountain!”.

 

Starting Again

Lightsday 1035-3-27


It’s been so long since I’ve written in a journal I’m not sure how to start off anymore. I’m wondering where I misplaced my old one … I haven’t written in it since just before Gafgarion left for “Aht Urghan”, which would mean that it should be somewhere in my moghouse but Mooglet can’t find it. It’s probably in the same place with my opal rings.

I guess I should start with the most important, Gaf finally returned. It’s been so long I thought … well, was starting think perhaps he wasn’t going to come back as he promised. He showed up while I was practicing a new recipe at the guild, I dropped nearly a dozen lizard eggs and almost stepped on a taru in my rush to throw myself into his arms. He seems very tired, stretched thin and worried. He still won’t elaborate on exactly what he needed to do… I’m just happy he’s back. A few days at home, some of his favorite meals and cuddling and hopefully he’ll feel better.