Getting there is half the battle

A few days later, I finally made it to THF15! Treasure Hunter and Sneak Attack time! I was overjoyed at being able to stick it up someone's back, putting beastmen's lives on the brink of death. Not only that, but I also learned new salvaging techniques which net me with a bit more chance preserving the goods on a monster's rotting hide. Alas, my fun was short-lived, as I found that my usual targets were all considered too low in strength to be considered as part of my training program. I asked my training supervisor for advice.

Kapiru-Bakapiru >> You could go train in Tahrongi Canyon...
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> or join a training party in...

Kapiru-Bakapiru uses a Festive Fan
Kapiru-Bakapiru uses a Papillion
Kapiru-Bakapiru uses a Popstar
Kapiru-Bakapiru trades a brochure with Coeurl

Kapiru-Bakapiru >> SOOTHING VALKURM DUNES!!!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> YES!!! Valkurm Dunes!!!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> Where dhamsels fly and goblins gamble!!!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> It is a wonderful resort for a vacation
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> and all that is made easily accessible to...
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> YOU!! THE ADVENTURER!!!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> and do we have a special for YOU!!!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> For an easy payment of 500 Gil,
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> you get a ticket for a cruise to Selbina
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> where you'll meet fellow adventurers
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> and have a relaxing good time!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> You'll also get a free gift
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> upon presenting your voucher
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> to our representative in sweet Selbina!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> So what do you say?

...In retrospect, I can't help but think that tarutaru was short a few feathers of a chicken coop. But at the time, I felt excited to have a trip at a "rebate" price. So I signed up, forked the Gil, and...

Coeurl >> ...This ticket says "departing in Mhaura"...
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> Yep. We do not have the comodities here in Windurst
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> so you'll have to travel to Mhaura to get on the ship
Coeurl >> ...Isn't that a bit far?
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> Not so much, but be careful on the way
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> it's such an extravagant cruise
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> that even Goblins would kill to get your ticket.

Coeurl panics!!!

Kapiru-Bakapiru >> Oh! Look at the time!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> I have another suck... err... trainee coming in!
Kapiru-Bakapiru >> So be on your way! Have fun! Ta-taaaa-ru!!!

He pushed me so hard out of the room that it felt like being warped from one end of Windurst to another. Oh well... Ticket in one hand, maps in the other, I plotted a course from Windurst to Mhaura. From the looks of it, I would have to travel through Eastern Sarutabaruta, then Tahrongi Canyon, and finally Buburimu Penninsula to get to destination. I geared up for the adventure, and set out on foot for what seemed at the time like a vacation. I expected taking some sun on the cruise, then lay down on the white beaches shown on the brochure. It sure looked promising from a newbie's perspective.

But we all know no amount of foreshadowing can hide what's coming up, right?

So off I ran through Sarutabaruta without a hitch. Obviously, word has spreaded amongst the lower Yagudo ranks that I take pleasure in seeing them squirm under my mighty dagger, killing them simply because they have nifty necklaces that Nanaa Mihgo finds interesting to own. Making through Tahrongi Canyon wasn't much harder, though I saw a few tougher Goblins on the way, but nothing too hard to avoid. Next was Buburimu Penninsula...

...oh boy...

First, I asserted that bunnies, mandies and birdies do not attack unless provoked. Goblins however... they scared me. From the looks of it, just one was enough to give me a good whooping back to my Home Point in Windurst. So I threaded VERY carefully, which really wasn't easy with all those huge rocks spreaded all over the path. I was sure that a Goblin was laying in wait behind each and every one of them to ambush me. Somehow, I got lucky and made it to the final stretch between me and the beginning of good times.

Coeurl >> [...Guys?]
Mayatriplesixx >> [Hey! What's up Coeurl?]
Terrania >> [Oh, hey there!]
Coeurl >> [I need to know something...]
Coeurl >> [I know dhalmels have been domesticated in Windurst]
Coeurl >> [but what about those in the wild?]
Terrania >> [...obviously, they are not domesticated.] :P
Maya >> [Hehehe... What Terra said.]
Coeurl >> [Eh... that's not what I meant.]
Coeurl >> [I want to know, are those ones aggressive?]
Maya >> [Nope!]
Coeurl >> [Oh, ok... holy sh...]

Coeurl is stabbed in the back by a Goblin Mugger
Coeurl is defeated by her lack of attention
Coeurl lost a level

Maya >> [What's wrong?]
Coeurl >> [Got unexpectedly hit by a roaming Goblin.]
Maya >> [Heh... Those suckers can be annoying.]
Coeurl >> [W-wait! How come I can still communicate with you?]
Terrania >> [You're wearing your crystal, right?]
Coeurl >> [...Yah?]
Terrania >> [That keeps your consciousness aware,]
Terrania >> [even when you get knocked down.]
Terrania >> [That's why you can still talk through your linkshell]
Terrania >> [but can't say or shout anything physically.]
Maya >> [...Wow, never thought about that, really...]
Coeurl >> [Ok, Home Pointing...]

That really sucked for me... That meant walking from Windurst to Mhaura all over again! The trip was a bit less lonely that time around, as I found better company in chatting with my LS through the trip.

Maya >> [Off to the dunes for the first time?]
Coeurl >> [Yah!]
Maya >> [My condolensces.] :P
Coeurl >> [Huh?]
Terrania >> [Oh... nothing!]

I could have sworn hearing Terrania whispering in a low voice, then her and Maya chuckling a bit, though I couldn't quite make out what she might have said.

Second attempt was fruitful at reaching Mhaura without dying. Finding the ferry's dock wasn't that hard in such a small port town. I handed my ticket to the clerk, which gave me a polite smile as I was allowed onto the dock. Seven long minutes later, the ship finally arrived.

Coeurl >> ...is that it?
Dieh Yamilsiah >> Is what it?
Coeurl >> That ship, is that the ferry?
Dieh >> Yup.
Coeurl >> That's a freight ship!!!
Dieh >> Yup, that too.
Coeurl >> That's can't be right...
Coeurl >> I was promised a cruise to Selbia
Dieh >> I assure you, that ship can cruise no problem.
Coeurl >> B-but..!
Dieh >> C'mon, on you go!
Dieh >> Unless you want to wait another 15 minutes?
Dieh >> I assure you, the next ship won't be any prettier.

I reluctantly walked into the hull of the ship, the same place the merchandise was taken aboard. I felt like I was nothing more than cargo... I took out my pamphlet, still left to grab the dream I had of spending a few days out in the sun, with the occasionnal training session.

The ferry finally departed once the hull was completely charged up with Windurstian produce and products from the Bonecraft and Weaver guilds. The mixed smell of cherries, oranges and other products I didn't dare identify pushed me up on deck. Sadly, the day was rainy as well, but staying in the open did beat the cargo hull and engine room combined. I watched as fishermen did their thing, but was a bit surprised to see them cast and recast Sneak as needed. I didn't understand why, the few crabs and pugils showing up on deck idled away.

I'm sure you guessed what happened next. 'cause I sure didn't on the dot. I mean, when things go from "standing calmly on top of a freight ship" to "total blackout with an aftertaste of extreme pain", you ask yourself some questions about what happened.

Coeurl >> [Whoa!]
Maya >> [Hey girl, what's up?]
Coeurl >> [Not me anymore, that's for sure...]
Coeurl >> [Something wacked me down in one shot.]
Terrania >> [..Oh dear...]
Terrania >> [We really should have warned you.]
Coeurl >> [About what?]
Maya >> [The Sea Horror.]
Coeurl >> [...I got killed by some ghost?!?]
Terrania >> [No, but that thing's much worse.]
Maya >> [Terrible beast of the seas.]
Terrania >> [Most notorious monster around.]
Maya >> [I'm so glad I don't need to board the ferry anymore.]
Coeurl >> [...that bad?]
Maya >> [Yah... I'll have to get my revenge on that beast someday.]
Terrania >> [Same here.]

Home pointed... Travelled back to Mhaura... ...Home pointed YET AGAIN, damn Goblin Ambusher... Made it to Mhaura, and set my Home Point there this time, in case that Sea Horror would show up again.

Terrania >> [You should be safe if you stay in the hull of the ship]
Maya >> [That is, if no one's stupid enough to drag the best there...]
Coeurl >> [Gosh, I'm oozing in confidence right now...]
Maya >> [It's still the best option until you can ride chocobos.]
Coeurl >> [Thanks for the condolences earlier.]
Coeurl >> [They sure are appropriate for what happened so far.]
Maya >> ...
Terrania >> ...

And thus I steltwartly held my ground in the cargo hull, thinking the stench was more than worth avoiding another painful memory to be added to my so far short career as an adventuress. As we reached the open sea, I started hearing screams up on deck about pirates, but decided to make very little of the cackling, bone-rattling noises and shrieks of agony. Nu-huh, I'm not getting curious about that, enough xp lost in a single day.

And to say I still held onto the hope that Valkurm Dunes would be worth all that trouble...