Coeurl's Murrs and Purrs

Name:

I'm just another Mithra in Vana'diel, trying to make some room for herself in an already too small a world.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Currents : PLD AF @ 50%

HOLLY MOLLY!!!

So sorry! Completely forgot about my Earth-time Monday update!!! Between the Festival of Lights, Paladin Artifact questing, and enduring Flaru-Wuru's stories on his recent adventures at Ifrit's Chauldron, I totally forgot about it! Okay, time for another Currents I guess, those are easier to relate since they do not require plundging back into long lost memories.

Recently, I've finally attained the 50th level in my career as a Paladin. That's my third job I've taken up to the point I can quest my Artifact armor, the other two being Thief and Monk, in that order. A friend of mine told me how lucky I was to be a Thief, even if retired, as it allowed me to open some of the coffers I needed as a Paladin. I asked him why, and he explained how only fully powered artifact pieces will only respond to someone with the proper active job. Those would be my Beadeaux and Garlaige coffers. Was I glad I saved up my Garlaige key from that time I thought I'd go for my Monk's head artifact.

That left me with two coffers: the classic Old Gloves in The Eldieme Necropolis, and a magical paintbrush deep within Castle Zvahl's Bailey. So I ventured forth to those two places, wearing nothing but my Thief artifact armor (if I'm to die, at least I do it in style), a Warp Cudgel, and my Thief Tools. I got lucky on my Eldieme coffer, second place I went to look was in the lower level near the Hume Bones, and there it was, guarded by two shades. I took out my tools, took a deep breath, knowing if I didn't die to a mimic, might as well be those shades, and picked the look.

Coeurl obtains a pair of Old Gloves

Coeurl braces herself for her imminent doom...

...

Coeurl turns around...

Coeurl casts Sneak in a hurry!!!


Figures those two shades hung back in the far corners of the room. That gave me ample opportunity to render myself undetectable, then safely warp out of that undead riddled tomb. Phew! What a relief that was! Next was the coffer at Castle Zvahl. I hate that place with a passion, but also knew it pretty well, as I had a coffer to pick as a Thief there as well. Sadly, I still didn't have a map, and all I had to ride on was the knowledge there were three different levels to drop down to in each of the holes. Last time, a linkshell mate told me to look at the rings along the walls of the drop-down. Each ring corresponds with a level, two of which led to the central area, and the third to an isolated room. Problem was, I didn't remember which level leads to which location anymore!

My first attempt was to drop to the level that lead to the coffers in the middle area. I decided to take a chance and drop to the middle level. I was half right, for instead of taking me on the level of the coffers, I landed on the level above it. That meant I could drop down from where I was to two coffer spawns. Nice discovery! Moreover, from my vantage point, I saw there was no coffer in the middle area, so I started venturing to each corner of the Bailey.

First corner I explored, no go. Second corner... Oops! I fell down the wrong side, and ended up in the middle area again. Talk about a long way to go... back... up... ...

Coeurl shakes her head in disbelief

Yes! Yes!!!

HELL YEAH!!!

The coffer was across where I stood! However, it was on the southmost edge, and I was standing on the north-western platform. Ok, time to go back up, but this time, I knew where to come back down! I was thanking my stars I didn't have to venture in the corner where the Goblins roam, those are a pain in the neck, seeing how some have pets that detect by sound. Quickly, I made to the south-western chute, dropped down, and...

The effect of Sneak is about to wear off...

DAMN YOU!!! I didn't have time to backtrack from the demon-filled platform, past the Ahriman in the hallway, and recast there, so I stood there, contemplating my options, with the coffer close by. I knew that I was safe as long as I stood on the platform, as I could recast Invisible without the demons taking notice of the Too Weak prey that I was. Ahrimans detect by sound as well as by sight, and I knew I had to drop my invisibility before being able to tweak the lock on the coffer. Even then, failure to disarm the trap meant a mimic biting off my tail. So, all I had to do was to wait for the Ahrimans to move away from the coffer, and look away as well.

...Waiting...

...Waiting...

...Wai...

Coeurl recasts Invisible

...Waiting...

...NOW!!!

I jumped down, revealed myself while I had a window of opportunity, fiddled a bit with my gobbie bag looking for my Thief Tools, finally found them, nervously picked the lock...

Coeurl obtains Mique's Paintbrush

Coeurl casts Sneak

Coeurl casts Invisible

Coeurl motions joyfully

Coeurl uses a Warp Cudgel

Woo-hoo!!! That totally rocked!!! Not a single death!!! Who da Thief! I'm da Thief! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

...A crowd stares blankly at the "So you think you can Tarutaru dance" failure in Lower Jeuno.

Coeurl flushes with embarassment.

...Yah, I've been lucky so far. Even with my Garlaige coffer. Zero deaths on my Paladin artifact quests so far.

...I think I just jinxed myself.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Currents : Great... He's back(aru)...

I had a sight for sore eyes a few days ago... Something that I haven't seen for the longest time.

I was strolling about Windurst, catching a breath after a hard-working training party as a Paladin in the Quicksand Caves. Gosh, I hate it whenever I get a fistful of sand falling down my back. Anyways... I was wandering about, ressourcing myself in my hometown, when I saw little Flaru-Wuru run towards me.

Wait... There's something different about him... He looks awfully... white.

...He's sporting his Beastmaster Artifact armor set. Grrrreat... I've had some peace while he was on his fishing venture. Now I won't hear the end of his daily activities.

Flaru >> Heyataru Coeurly!
Coeurl >> Hey Flaru, how's it hanging?
Flaru >> Pretty sweet-aru! Guess what?
Coeurl >> ...You're off on an adventure, right?
Flaru >> Nope! I'm... Hey! How did you know?
Coeurl >> ...Your outfit.
Flaru >> Oh? It shows that much, does it?
Coeurl >> For the last 6 months, I saw you in your fishing gear full time.
Flaru >> Oh yah, that's true...
Flaru >> But I'm pretty-wetty sure you don't know where I'm going!
Coeurl >> I am dying of anticipation...
Flaru >> I'm off to Cape Terrigan!
Coeurl >> Nice... nice...
Flaru >> Care to try guessing what I'll be doing there?
Coeurl >> ...Flaru... Honestly, I don't feel like playing that kind of game.
Flaru >> Come on! Pwetty Pweaaaaase?

Flaru does his misty-eyed routine

Coeurl >> Ok... ok... You're getting xp there?
Flaru >> No, silly kitty! Cape Terrigan sucks at my level for training!
Coeurl >> Hey, I'm not the Beastmaster here, how should I know?
Flaru >> How 'bout a hint?
Coeurl >> How about you just tell me?
Flaru >> Where's the fun in that?
Coeurl >> Still loads better than you having fun at my expense.
Flaru >> Oh, you're no fun!
Coeurl >> Glad that's cleared out.

Flaru stares at Coeurl, confused

Coeurl >> Now if you'll excuse me...
Flaru >> Wai-wai-wait!!! I still didn't tell you what I'll be doing!

Coeurl sighs dejectedly

Coeurl >> Okay... So why are you off to Cape Terrigan, pray tell?
Flaru >> I'm off to get my Testimony-mony!
Coeurl >> Wait... You're getting yourself a Testimony...
Flaru >> Uh-huh!
Coeurl >> ...To fight Maat?
Flaru >> Uh-huh!
Coeurl >> But I thought you swore off your Beastmaster days...
Flaru >> Well, I'm not too inclined in pursuing my training
Flaru >> but I thought "what the hey, why not have some fun with the old man?"
Coeurl >> ...You're seriously considering sparring with the "Asuran Master"?
Flaru >> Yuh-huh! That's going to be fun!
Coeurl >> ...You're as weird as ever, you know that?
Flaru >> What? You sure went after the avatars on your own.
Flaru >> Now why did you want to do that? You don't like being a Summoner!
Coeurl >> ...I did it for the challenge.
Flaru >> See? What I'm doing is not very different from what you did!
Flaru >> Call it weird all you want, it's something I plain want to do!
Coeurl >> ...Okay. In any case, good luck with Maat. I heard he's a toughie.
Flaru >> Thank-ar-you!

Gotta say, I admire him a bit. He's off to the final challenge any adventurer who's willing to push himself to his furthest reaches have to undertake. And he doesn't even have to do it, seeing how he cares very little about leveling and so much about fishing. I can't help but feel a bit jealous as well, seeing I'm still not getting close to facing that challenge myself. Though once I do, it'll be a beeline to the famed L75 prestige past that. So far, I'm having a blast wielding the sword and shield, and it's something I like to believe I'm doing pretty swell. Even complimented once for saving a Warrior from losing his shadows when I Covered him. Sure, there was a bit of sarcasm in there, seeing how that little prowess saved him from using up a whole Shihei, but we laughed it off nonetheless.

Yah... Some day, I'll face the old man myself. But right now, I have to think of acquiring my Artifact armor set. Only 4k xp left to go before I can get started...

Monday, December 04, 2006

Currents : I need a break

Sorry for the lack of a story this week, I need a small break.