Phew! What a twist!

Last night, we finally finished what we started 20 years (and a week) ago. We finally got to confront the evil behind that whole Bastok Assassinations saga. And man, what a pain that was! Just thinking back on last week...... yeesh......

So our journey had us first finding out what were the latest developments from alpha team, only to learn that the object of our interests was located at the Throne Room... Golly... So we needed a key to enter in there, and we were told to ambush some gargoyle warden to obtain said key. As luck would have it, another group was on the same endeavour as us, so we joined forces to put an end to this long-winded charade.

...We later learned that, not only was that group composed in the exact same setup as ours (WHM/PLD/MNK/SAM/BRD)... but they were also all from the alternate universe of Midgarstrom as it was fused with Quetzalcoatl a while back!

STAR-CROSSED ADVENTURERS, HO!!!

Thankfully, we were able to put an end to the endless, pain-ridden charade behind those presidential killings, and saved the day yet again. Of course, that wouldn't have been an Akai-Tenshi event with my usual lolfail moment: as Meilin was casting Teleport-Jugner, I thought of using my Bastok retrace staff to speed up my report to the president about our successful mission...

...yeah, My staff activated as I was swooshed away to Jugner. I felt torn between two voids, but thankfully landed unsundered in the tall grasses. ...I told Meilin she won't be getting Mazurkas anymore from me. At least for a month.

Oh, and before I forget, I have a new battlecry!

"IT'S EAR BLEEDING TIME!!!" :3

Ties of Blood : Chapter 1 - Part 2

The morning buzz in the residential area was oddly comforting. Though I lacked again a full night's worth of rest, I was glad the night was over. As per personnal custom, I simply turned in my bed, my back facing the sun, shying my eyes from the window and what was happening outside. Were I to look out, I'd see adventurers wandering back and forth, heading do different corners of Windurst, seeking business to do, whether by accepting quests from the townsfolks, accomplishing missions for our nation's glory, improving on a craft, or simply gearing up for a session of training. Mingling amongst them, Tarutaru children heading out for the Academy, looking forward to learn their first spell one day at a time.

Thirty minutes passed before I resigned to stepping out of my bed. It was hard to return to the land of slumber once the streets of Windurst stirred awake. I almost expected Mogri to greet me, before I remembered Moogles didn't accept working from actual households, only in residences appointed to adventurers. However, that was not entirely without its perks, as I smelled grilled newt coming from the kitchen. My adoptive mother, Illu Bohjaa, prepared a meal for both me and Rosaly, as it was rare enough both of us were back in town at the same time. Such flagrance helped me through my morning routine, from dressing up to applying my makeup.

"Mornin' sweetie! Yer up late."

"Heyas little sister!"

"...Hello mother, hi sis."

Rosaly had already started gnawing happily on her kabob'ed newts, mine still cooking above the fire pit, under mother's watchful eyes. If anything, she had a talent for cooking. If people knew about here dhalmel steaks, she'd have to leave the corral for a kitchen so much she would be asked for seconds and thirds.

...I didn't realized I was drooling over the ambiant smell until it wetted my chin. I embarassingly wiped my face, hoping I wasn't noticed.

"Soooo..." mother started, all the whine grinning at me, "whatcha my gurls up to 'tis fine day?"

"I w-"

"I'm gonna go smash up some bunnies in the dunes! Wanna come little sis?"

"I... uh..." I kept staggering, not knowing what to answer to Rosaly.

"Sounds fun hunney, but I think she's gut sumthin' already planned. So sweetie, what's yer poison?"

"Umm... I was thinking of working on my Dark Knight skills a bit today."

Tried as she would, Rosaly wasn't able to hold back her laughter, as she spat it through the hand covering her mouth.

"What's so funny sis?"

"Sorry! Sorry little sis, it's just, well..." She snickered again against her best wishes, or so I hope she was. "You know, last week it was Dragoon, and a month ago you were playing Samurai."

"...training. I took it to heart."

"Yeah, well, you got a lotta heart, jumping from one job to the next."

"Oh really... and who took up the ways of the Monk not two weeks ago?"

"Heyhey! It's kinda new, I got tired of being a Beastmaster, thought I'd take a break. Once I'm done, it's back to being oh so charming with the beasts."

"C'm'on gurls, dun fight like dat! Ye both got mah blessin'! Here sweetie, yer newts' ready."

I accepted the stick with the two skewered, blackened newts, and did a courtesy to my mother to show my appreciation. Rosaly was already licking her fingers clean of the bits of charcoal that stained her fuzz.

"You got someone to watch your back sis?"

The question surprised me. Rosaly and I were always loners in nature when it came to our training, and we never bothered the other about what company she might have on her adventures.

"As a matter of fact, I was thinking on calling out Sahyu to help out."

"Oh, that far-eastern chick?"

"Well, she says she's from the far east. The way she behaves, she sounds more like she came from a well-endowed San d'Orian family."

"...like your grand'pa?"

Rarely issues of my biological family tree were brought up by my adoptive family. Not by mother, nor my younger 'big sister', and even less by me. They were all I needed ever since the war orphaned me, though I always wear my mother's locket close to my heart.

"He was discharged of his title and estate, due to his involvement with a foreigner from the mithran homeland."

"Yeah, I remember, but still... He was raised in a sheltered world, he must have been pretty snobby an' all."

"Well... not really, he's just extremely serious about every matter he stumbles upon. But yeah, now that you mention it, Sahyu kinda reminds me of him. ...Wish I knew what befell him after the last war..."

"Aww, don't worry 'bout that little sis, you'll find him someday."

"...hopefully not with his name engraved in a tombstone..."

"I certainly hope not, sweetie. I'm rootin' fer a pleasurable reunion sum'day."

"Me too..."

Ties of Blood : Chapter 1 - Part 1

"The blood... stirs..."

I looked around wildly, unable to pinpoint the source of the voice. Darkness... all I could make out were shadows hiding more shadows. There was nary a thing within sight, everything was clouded in the deepest shades of black.

"...it calls... ...burns..."

All of a sudden, I could feel my body tensing up, all the while heating up. My brain was pressured to the brink of madness, and through it all, I couldn't even scream.

"...you... legacy..."

My mind raced as all my senses went haywire. Light spewed out of the darkness like a painter would throw paint to a canvas without a single care. High-pitched shrieks deafened me. My skin, not content with feeling the constant rise of temperature now told me it was under the assault of a thousand needles. My mouth went entirely dry, tasting the acrid dust in the air. And I smelled... I smelled...

...death.

"...no time..."

My time had come, so I thought. Out of the darkness, I was thrown into a chaotic blankness. I couldn't endure this anymore, I was ready to succumb in Altana's arms. It was my dearest wish. And it was realized, though not as fatally as I had wanted.

My body felt damp all of a sudden, my skin brushed a soft, airy cloth. My nose smelled the damp soil and grass, my ears heard the crickets chirping. And my mouth tasted of milk. I looked outside, as to seek salvation from the ordeal I went through. A waxing moon stared down at me, as though the night kept a watchful eye for Altana's children. My breathing, erratic at first, calmed from the panicked rhythm, trying to force my heart to follow suite.

Around me, I looked for comforting thoughts. My fishing rod, which I used as a kitten to get the occasionnal crayfish. My strength was barely enough to get my bite out of the water and onto the docks of Windurst Waters. Many a day I spent there with Rosaly, my adoptive sister, at the back of the Rhinostery, enjoying the sometimes sweet, sometimes wild fragrances stemming from the Tarutaru ministery studying the various flora of the world.

Then, I looked at a small bow, made of willow lumber, which at first was a mere toy in my hands. But as I aged, it fulfilled its purpose as a hunting tool, as I learned to hunt down small game as I grew up. I swore on that bow that someday I'd be a great Ranger.

I know, that never happened, but the thought helped me steady my hands, as my mind started focusing like if I was trying to keep a steady aim at some prey. My body started cooling back down, the rushing nervousness fading away progressively.

That nightmare again... It has been slightly over two months since its first occurence. Ever since, the frequency and intensity of the feelings of dread had intensified, making each time after waking up a tougher ordeal to recover from. It has been so grave I moved back to the family house three weeks ago. Mother was more than understanding, and Rosaly came to check on me regularely ever since she caught wind of my... condition. I tried to assure them both this was nothing to worry about, but they were not so easily fooled.

I groggily pulled back on my sheets, the coolness of the sweat refreshing in the gruely hot summer savanah night doing well in comforting my heating body, but serving only as a reminder of how scarred my soul has become. It has become hard steeling myself for slumber, ever dreading the return to that hellish assault on my nerves. My heart didn't thump as hardly anymore, calmed down as after a small sprint. I could only hope tomorrow would help bring my mind off those disturbing nights.

Currents : a blog for my "Currents" posts

Quick note : I started a new blog to relate ongoing events in my life as an adventuress. That way, I can go on random ramblings without breaking the ongoing storyline. That more current blog can be found here :

http://smashymashy.blogspot.com/

Feel free to drop by!

Exterminators #2

More Creeping Crawlies

I was kinda saddened to hear we were heading back to Crawler's Nest for more of the same as last week. I was much apprehensive at the prospect of having to deal with yet another crawler train upon arriving on location. Thankfully, such wasn't the case. That also meant the basement had its normal flow of parties, thus we were heading towards what is known as the "secret room".

Coeurl >> How can there be a secret room?
Coeurl >> Not like crawlers are smart enough
Coeurl >> to build a hidden passageway or something...
Kinah >> That's the thing, it's man-made.
Coeurl >> Still, who'd want to have a secret room
Coeurl >> in a stinky dump like this?
Miliel >> It's an ancient civilization's doing.
Miliel >> They were trying to hide a device of sorts.
Ruff >> And now everyone knows about the place!
Coeurl >> ...well I don't...

Ruff lets out a roaring laughter.
Ruff slaps Coeurl's back.
Coeurl stumbles and falls forward.

Ruff >> You ain't gonna be a virgin after we're through!
Miliel >> Advice : run.
Coeurl >> =O.O=!!!
Kinah >> Hehehe! They're just kidding Coeurl!
Cirdek >> With Mil's straight face, sometimes I wonder...
Shad >> ...Sneak.

We made it to the entrance of the racetrack room, where we partied last week. Alas, a group was already fighting valiantly a crawler at that location. Shad's order was quickly followed with a few casting of Sneak spells and consumption of Silent Oils. Since my trips to Yhoator Jungle, I grew wise enough to keep stealth meds on me at all times. A vial of oil later, and my every footstep was padded so not a single squeawk would be heard even at a full run. We walked straight for a while and I was taken aghast at the number of Exorays I'd have to navigate around to pull properly.

Kinah >> Where's Coeurl?
Cirdek >> Wasn't she following Ruff?
Ruff >> Uh, I wouldn't know, I didn't keep an eye on her.
Miliel >> Hard to believe, unless...
Miliel >> You were staring at my ass again, weren't you?
Ruff >> If you mean "general tail area"... maybe?
Coeurl >> I'm right... huh?
Coeurl >> Where did you guys disappear to?

Coeurl stops and looks around

Ruff >> To your left!
Coeurl >> Uh... I don't see anything...
Ruff >> A bit more... ok, straight forward now!
Coeurl >> I don't know what you're talking about, there's no-

Ruff's head ghastly emerges from the wall.
Coeurl shrieks in disbelief!!!

Ruff >> I found a Coeurl!
Coeurl >> Wha- What the hell?!?
Ruff >> Come one, we're waiting on you!

Ruff's arm emerges from the wall to grasp Coeurl's hand
Coeurl is pulled into the wall

Coeurl >> Wh-what was that?!?
Kinah >> It's an illusionary wall!
Coeurl >> An... illusion?
Miliel >> Yes, put there by some ancient civilization
Miliel >> It fools all the senses : sight, hearing, smell...
Coeurl >> ...now why would they put a wall there?
Miliel >> Look in the back.

Coeurl stares at the end of the tunnel

Coeurl >> ...a cermet door?
Cirdek >> Yah, and behind that door's a strange device.
Coeurl >> ...ok, and what does that thing do?

Cirdek shrugs

Cirdek >> Who knows. I ain't gonna try to find out.
Ruff >> What, afraid to lose an arm?
Cirdek >> Not just that. It could be deadly.
Kinah >> Aw! Where's your sense of adventure?
Cirdek >> Set on staying alive, that's where.

Kinah >> Ok! Let's get this party started!
Kinah >> Coeurl, you know what to do!
Coeurl >> Uh... sure, I guess...
Ruff >> What's wrong kitty?
Coeurl >> Well... I'm not used to this place.
Coeurl >> What if I forget where the fake wall is?
Ruff >> Oh, is that all?
Ruff >> Don't worry, I'll stick my head out of the wall.
Miliel >> Not sure that's a good idea,
Miliel >> being greeted by an ugly mug on every pull.
Ruff >> Well then, I can always stick my tail out.
Coeurl >> ...head it is... Pulling now...

For the first half an hour, things went smoothly. I ran out, shot a crawler with an acid bolt, then darted back to the camp hidden behind the illusionary wall, Ruff's head sticking out like a sore thumb from it. After a few pulls, he stopped adjusting himself and stood right outside the wall, probably his back being sore from bending over while waiting for my return. Kinah kept laughing and Shad smirking each time I came back through the walls, feeling my way through making sure I wasn't walking into the real thing. Eventually, I used the hanging sack of crawler eggs as a marker for where the opening was, so Ruff could stay with the party, cheering the mages with his ballads.

It was an hour in when we finished our umpteenth crawler.

Coeurl sets out to get another crawler.
A burly arm grabs Coeurl's tail and yanks hard.
Coeurl clearly loses the tug'o'war and lands flat on her toosh.

Coeurl >> =O.O=!!!!
Coeurl >> WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA!!!

Coeurl twists around on her knees and stares wildly at Ruff.

Ruff >> Trouble.

Ruff points to right outside the tunnel

Had he not pulled my spine back, I would have ran head first into an Exoray. Those creepy mushrooms are known to turn a perfectly good Crawler's Nest party into a waiting game.

Coeurl >> Grrreat... we're stuck now.
Cirdek >> Can't you pull something over yonder that 'shroom?
Coeurl >> Nope, nothing close enough to shoot past the bugger.
Cirdek >> That's it, we're done. Let's head home.
Kinah >> Bah, it'll move eventually! Let's wait it down.

Everyone waited for the Exoray to move...
The Exoray moved in closer to the tunnel's entrance.
Everyone waited for the Exoray to move again...
The Exoray moved slightly away, but not enough.
Everyone waited for the Exoray to move yet again...
The Exoray moved back to its previous spot.
Everyone waited again for 10 more minutes...
The Exoray disappointed eveyrone's hopes.

Cirdek >> Now can we go home?

Shad shakes his head.

Cirdek >> What? It's made its home right in our path.
Cirdek >> Face it, we're done here.

Shad points at Ruff.

Cirdek >> What? Him? Sleep the 'shroom? Are you mad?
Miliel >> I admit, Galkas aren't known for singing good lullabies.
Ruff >> Hey, if Coeurl had a few more bad pulls, I'd prove otherwise.
Miliel >> Yah, thanks Coeurl, my enfeebling skills are lacking now.
Coeurl >> Huh? Why?
Miliel >> Not enough mobs to put to sleep because of your pulling.
Coeurl >> ...Sorry, didn't knew-

Ruff slaps Coeurl's back, laughing

Ruff >> She was being sarcastic, don't take it hard!
Ruff >> She meant to say your pulling's amazing!
Coeurl >> Erm... thanks?
Ruff >> Anyways, I think I know what Shaddy wants me to do.
Ruff >> You take a break, I'll start pulling.
Coeurl >> WHAT?!?
Cirdek >> That's it, we're gonna wipe.
Cirdek >> Your reraise's up Shad?

Shad sighs dejectedly.

Ruff >> Bah, a bit more confidence, will ya?
Kinah >> Certainly! Do your thing Ruffy!
Ruff >> Ok! Sit back and enjoy the show!

Ruff casts Sneak on himself.
Ruff gains the effect of Sneak.

Kinah >> Need help?
Ruff >> Nah, you guys get ready to do your SATA thingy.

Ruff leaves the camp.

Cirdek >> Damn, Galkas are dumb.
Cirdek >> He's going to aggro the Exoray on the way back.
Miliel >> Have a bit more faith in him,
Miliel >> I think I know what he's gonna do.
Cirdek >> Yeah, right, and I'm two feet tall.

Ruff comes back to camp, not making a sound.

Cirdek >> ...okay, you came back empty handed.
Cirdek >> I knew you couldn't pull anything.
Ruff >> Hehehe, you sure about that?
Cirdek >> Come on, a bard, pull a mob?
Cirdek >> That's a death sentence for-what the heck?!?

A crawler runs in the tunnel, past the Exoray.
Kinah provokes the Crawler.

Cirdek >> Where did it come from?
Coeurl >> Ruff? How?
Kinah >> Stop standing there and start SATA'ing!
Kinah >> The bugger's killing me!

...a fight later...

Cirdek >> What in tarnation just happened?
Ruff >> That, old friend, is a Bard's secret!
Coeurl >> That's amazing? What kind of ability...
Miliel >> He slept the crawler.
Coeurl >> ...did you-huh?
Miliel >> ...You guys are hopeless.
Kinah >> ...oh! I get it! Amazing!
Coeurl >> ...mind someone explaining it to me?
Ruff >> Aw! Mil, you're ruining the magic!
Miliel >> Come on Ruffy, it's not like ancient magiks.
Miliel >> All he did was sleep the crawler before coming back.
Miliel >> That gave him the leisure to Sneak back to camp.
Coeurl >> ...wow!
Cirdek >> ...heh... that's pretty lame.
Kinah >> No it's not! We can pull while the Exoray's there!
Kinah >> Ok Ruffy! Bring another one back!
Ruff >> My pleasure!

And so we were able to keep on getting experience until lunch was upon us. By the time our picnic was over, the Exoray had found a new spot to wander in, so I was back on the pulling roster. We came out of that party session with enough experience under our belt to not come back there the next week. I was surprised to learn that Bards had such tricks hidden in their musical repertoire, a trick I later used myself as I undertook Ruff's career, long after our static disbanded.