Revisting the Past

It wasn't long before I rushed around Windurst, gathering all that I needed for my first excursion as a Ranger. Had a linkmate purchase some bronze armor in San d'Oria, got my bow and arrows, added a low level sword, and I was ready to try out shooting first and salvaging the goods later.

Ah... the satisfaction of depleting almost completely my prey's vitality in one single shot, leading them right into melee range, one swing of my blade being all that was missing before they fell before me. Ah-hahahahaha! At such a fast pace, I was able to reach my 8th level in my new profession with haste I never imagined. Sadly, that was also when I ran out of arrows. Thus a trip back to the city was in order. I figured I might as well get twice as many arrows for my next run out in the wild. And make it the better quality ones at that.

I figured wrong, as someone grabbed me by the arm as I ran in the gates of the city.

Well... more like by the tail. Tarutarus try to grab what they can.

Guard >> Halt-aru!
Coeurl >> W-what? What did I do?
Guard >> Are you not a citizen of Windurst?
Coeurl >> Y-yeah... Why?
Guard >> Your nation needs you.
Coeurl >> Huh?
Guard >> We are in need of an adventurer for a mission.
Coeurl >> B-b-but!!! I'm too young to die!!!
Guard >> Nonsense. You are an adventurer.
Guard >> The Crystal Network can Home Point you if you face danger.
Coeurl >> B-b-but you s-said
Guard >> We do not require you to face deadly perils.
Guard >> Our request is a simple errand.

Coeurl >> ...
Coeurl >> Then why can't you take care of that?
Guard >> Our forces are spread thinly due to the beastman problem.
Guard >> We often request citizens of our nation into service.
Guard >> Seeing you are currently a Rank 1 adventuress,
Guard >> we tend to give light assignments as a result.
Coeurl >> ...and if I refuse?
Guard >> We'll ask someone else.
Coeurl >> Fine then, I refuse.
Guard >> You do not wish to upgrade your rank?
Coeurl >> What good would that do?
Coeurl >> I've been a Rank 1 for a while now.
Guard >> Better ranks means your conquest efforts are more significant.
Coeurl >> ...Conquest?
Guard >> You mean you are not aware of our nation's Conquest efforts?
Coeurl >> I didn't knew we were out for world domination...

The guard stares at Coeurl befuzzled.

Guard >> You did ask for Signet in the past, did you not?
Coeurl >> Sure. Getting crystals is a nice way to fund my gear.
Guard >> ...and you never asked why we thanked you in participating
Guard >> in our nation's conquest efforts?

The guard explained to me in details what conquest actually entailed. Mainly, after the Crystal War, the nations of Windurst, Bastok and San d'Oria started to split on multiple issues, including who actually controlled what territory. Old feuds were resurfacing, and it wasn't pretty. At the same time, adventurers started travelling the land, in search of many things, from thrills to wealth. The Duchy of Jeuno initiated discussions with the three nations on a possible solution regarding both the territorial feuds, and the growing beastmand problem. They named the solution "Conquest". That is when the Crystal Network was created by none other than the Archduke of Jeuno.

Its purpose was dual in nature. First, it provided a primal tool for adventurers, which allowed them to communicate over long distances, display their status if they desired to group up with other adventurers, and let's not forget the obvious Home Pointing service. Then, it was to be used as a means to keep a tally of the adventurers's actions in Vana'diel. The more an adventurer did in servicing the post-war effort, the more points were awarded to their home nation for the region in which the deeds were held. At set intervals, a tally of those points would be made to decide which nation would control it. Perks went from having control of the produce coming from that area, to the ability to set a teleportation route from one's home nation to the outpost in that region. And obviously, the more an adventurer would rank, the more his efforts would be significant. But instead of assigning more points for a higher ranked adventurer, it was decreed that signet would simply last longer for them.

So, getting a higher rank had the advantages of a longer Signet, access to better Conquest gear which is bought using personnal Conquest Points, and of course, the prestige of having a higher rank next to one's name on the Crystal Network.

Coeurl >> And I thought Signet was just about extracting crystals...
Guard >> That is another reward from participating in the Conquest effort.
Coeurl >> ...So...
Coeurl >> ...If I get a better rank...
Coeurl >> ...that means my Signet will last for a longer time?
Guard >> Yes.
Coeurl >> ...That would mean I could gather crystals for a while longer...
Coeurl >> ...
Coeurl >> ...How hard is that errand you need me to do?
Guard >> We need you to deliver this message to the Orastery's minister.
Coeurl >> ...isn't that like, in town?
Guard >> That is the problem, he is nowhere to be found.
Coeurl >> ...oh, okay. Any idea who to ask for his whereabouts?
Guard >> We believe the other members of the Orastery might know something.
Guard >> Might I suggest you inquire for information over there?
Coeurl >> Okay, I'll do it.
Guard >> Thank you for your service, miss..?
Coeurl >> de Lionne. Coeurl de Lionne.
Guard >> Thank you, miss de Lionne.

So, a little headhunting, then deliver the message. How hard could that be? I'm sure someone as high-profiled as a minister would no doubt have left news of his whereabouts before leaving the city. So I made haste to the Orastery, and found two rather important-looking Tarutarus, discussing vividly about stuff I can't understand. Something about how mana conversion is different between White and Black magic.

Hakkuru-Rinkuru >> But you must admit, Slow and Bind are quite similar.
Kuroido-Moido >> Not so much.
Kuroido >> They each can be clearly defined as White and Black magics.
Hakkuru >> But those effects are quite the same!
Coeurl >> Excuse me...
Kuroido >> Not so. One hinders reaction speed,
Kuroido >> while the other simply enroots the target in place.
Kuroido >> It would be fairer to compare Bind to Gravaity,
Kuroido >> which are both Black magics, incidentally.
Coeurl >> ...Please, I'm sorry to disturb you...
Hakkuru >> Alright-aru, how about Blind and Flash?
Kuroido >> One clouds the monster's eyes,
Kuroido >> While the other produces a bright light.
Kuroido >> Again, the actual effects are quite different.

Coeurl >> HEY!!!!

Hakkuru >> Can't you see we're busy?
Kuroido >> I doubt a Mithra has any important business with us.

Coeurl's boiling blood starts to show through her face.

Hakkuru >> Seriously, why would Mithras bother with matters of magic?
Hakkuru >> We both know they are inapt to cast the simplest Cure spell.

Note to self: take up White Mage as a job at some point.

Coeurl >> I'm here to deliver a message to your boss.
Hakkuru >> Ah, that's more like it.
Hakkuru >> Not like you can expect-aru much out of a cat lady.

The air around Coeurl seems to shift from an unseen heat source.

Kuroido >> Sadly, Ajido-Marujido hasn't come back from his excursion.
Coeurl >> Excursion?
Hakkuru >> He left for the Horutoto Ruins,
Hakkuru >> said he had some ancient runes to study there.
Coeurl >> The ru-ru... the ru-ru-ruins?!?
Kuroido >> I swear, Humes have better hearing than that Mithra.
Kuroido >> Yes, you can deliver your message to him at the norteastern tower.
Hakkuru >> Now, you will excuse us, we were having an important conversation.

Why oh why does it have to be the freaking ruins?!? That place brings about foul memories of my childhood. During one of my training sessions as a huntress, our group got ambushed by a troupe of Yagudos. We were forced to run inside the ruins while our teachers and their escort fended off the attack. Little did we know that such was their plan all along, as another pack of birdbrains waited for us to run for cover. A bunk to my head and I was unconscious. Me and a few classmates were kitnapped, as I woke up in what seemed to be a remote location deeply within the maze that is the ruins. Those pesky birds took great joy in torturing us, pecking at our cages, ravelling themselves in our terrified faces and shrieks of panic.

It must have been two days before we got rescued. However, not all went well during that fight. The intensity grew as far as to make the walls shake. Sadly, our cage was in a small recess of the room, a small cave created by a wall's wearing out to the tests of time. And as luck would have it... the wall collapsed. Me and my two companions lost it at that moment. We all knew we were going to die. I can't remember a time when I cried so much in my whole life. We could barely see what happened within the room, the light of torches barely making its way through the debris hiding us from the wrath of battle. Hissing and crowing battlecries were ushered over the blistering clenches of steel over steel. Slowly, the noise of the skirmish died down. However, I can't assertain if it was because the battle was winding down to a conclusion, since that's when I slowly passed out, as the air ran thin in our little cove.

...I woke up in Rosaly's house. My parents being out at war, they cared for me while I was unconscious. Apparently, we only suffered two casualties in the assault, but all the kittens were safe and sound. Even the other two classmates who were trapped with me. If only I could have given a sigh of relief... I've been reliving that nightmare over and over again in my slumber. Rarely did I get a good night of sleep in the following months. I swore that someday, I'd make those birdbrains pay for what they did to me.

...But to return to those ruins... Even today... The idea didn't sit well at all with me. ...But like Sinner told me, I had to do it at some point in time. A quick chocobo ride took me to the tower. However, dismounting was hardly recomforting. Even though that wasn't the tower in which I was ambushed, it still bore strong ressemblance to all the other towers. It took me the best of five minutes walking in place before stepping in. I tried to fill my head with the idea that it's like entering a mog house.

There's no place like home... there's no place... like...

EEEEEEK!!! BATS!!!!

C'mon... just imagine it's a moogle... there's no place like...

That's when I came to regret two things. First, not having switched to my Thief job, as I wouldn't have two goblins on my tail. And two, not having purchased new ammo while I was in town. I ran out and collapsed on all fours at the base of the tower, breathing heavily, checking again if the gobbies gave up pursuit. Thanking the Star Sybil, I made a run back to town, my knees almost giving up on my weight a couple of times on the way. A quick trip to my Mog House... really, no place like home. I felt a bit more confident geared up as a Thief, as at least I wouldn't have to worry about the monsters in the tower anymore. ...only the underground ruins were still enough of a burden to bear for me.

There's no place like home...

Looking around the place brought back those painful memories. The place felt colder than it already was. Only comfort was seeing no Yags around the place, yet that was hardly helping me feeling extremely anxious about being underground. My stare went more often to the walls and ceilings, as I examined carefully if there was anything that could collapse on top of me. The larger room wasn't all that bad once I got there, but as I ran around looking for the Orastery minister, I found there were four hallways in the four corner of the rooms. I swear I could see the room at the end of those hallways spinning as I stared down that way. I really didn't like the idea of having to walk that far in such a tight corridor.

I inhaled and exhaled outloud, as I tested every step I took into and back out of those hallways, each time furthermore disappointed by knowing I'd have to do that all over again with the next one. I nearly fainted as I explored the fourth smaller room out of hyperventilation. A goblin stared at me funny, so in all my turmoiling emotions, I attacked it. And its friend who wasn't strolling too far off in that small room. After that short fight, realizing the purpose of my facing up my claustrophobia wasn't anywhere to be found, I screamed out of panic, and fled all the way back out.

...There was no way I could do this...

Sama-Gohjima >> Whoa... Ya dun look so good.
Coeurl >> *pant* ...damn... *pant* ...ruins...
Sama >> Wha'z troublin' ya?
Coeurl >> ...minister... ...not here...
Sama >> Oh, yer talkin' 'bout that Ajido folk?
Coeurl >> ...Aji... ...who?
Sama >> Ajido-Marujido. Der minister of maygicks
Coeurl >> ...he's here..?
Sama >> Sure thang!
Sama >> He's been waitin' on somefolk fer a while now.
Coeurl >> Could you... deliver him... a message for me?
Sama >> Aw shucks. Sorry, can't help ya with dat.
Sama >> I've just been returnin' from me break, I did.
Sama >> I be needin' to stand watch here for strange folks.
Sama >> Guard's duty, ya know?
Coeurl >> Oh... any chance... he left while you were gone?
Sama >> Nay, I dun think so.
Sama >> I'm pretty sure he'd still be tinkerin' in that weird room.
Coeurl >> ...Huh?
Coeurl >> What weird room?
Sama >> Ya know, da one in da back?
Coeurl >> ...
Sama >> ...Oh! Were are my manners!
Sama >> Ya need to be fiddlin' with sum' device it da back.
Sama >> It'd be openin' sum' secret doorway.
Sama >> Ye should be findin' him thar.
Coeurl >> ...I have to go back in there?
Sama >> Sure! Or ye could be waitin' on him here.
Coeurl >> I guess I'll wait then...

And wait I did. For a full hour. Less and less I contemplated my fear of the ruins, as more and more frustration came from having to wait out on that guy. Surely my message was in no way an emergency. However, I've been given a mission to accomplish. What to do, what to do...

...My pride won against my fear in a game of rock/paper/scissors apparently, as I decided to venture yet again into the ruins.

Down the flight of stairs and into the big room. Not too much trouble that way. Still that cold shiver down my spine, how annoying... I made my way to where Sama-Gohjima told me I should find the mechanism, and I probed the wall in search of whatever should be opening the path beyond this point. It didn't take long for me to find a knob that seemed much more worn out than the rest of the patterns on the wall. As I pressed on it, a doorway opened right in front of me. That was so sudden I fell back on my tail. Damn, now I have to add physical pain to my general unease of being in such a place. Looking into the door before it closed up, I saw yet another corridor to walk down. Damn it all...

I pushed the knob a second time, and this time walked past the door before it closed again. I sure didn't like the stale smell of the air in this place. The slamming of the door behind me not only startled me, but also provoked yet another panic, as I turned around, shrieking as I feared I was now trapped in this room. Little did I pay attention at the worn out state of the different parts of the pattern in the wall, I just wanted to get out of there! Per chance, I finally stumbled upon a similar knob on this side, which again slid open the door, and after a short while closed with clockwork precision. My breathing eased up sufficiently for me not to lose consciousness.

Ajido-Marujido >> Is someone there?

The voice came as a muffled echoing shout, as though the person was in another nearby room. Looking in the direction it came from, I saw a great gate with intricate designs. That must be the "weird room" the guard outside talked about.

Ajido >> You'd better not be one of those Orastery jerks,
Ajido >> elseway it shows you do not value your life!
Coeurl >> W-w-w-wait!!!
Coeurl >> I'm here t-to deliver a m-m-message!
Ajido >> Oh! Finally! Took your damn time, did you?
Ajido >> Come on in, I've been needing some help.

As I passed into the door, I made my way in a gigantic room. In the center of it stood a monument that must have served a purpose, but made no sense to me on its inner workings. A strange glow was emanating from it though, and in the back of that room, a large shadow appeared. That looked like the motherlode of all goblins! I drew my weapon at ready, looking around quickly for two things: possible escape routes, and...

Coeurl >> Minister!!! Where are you!!!

The shadow showed it was moving around the machine. I darted my eyes about in a frenzy, trying to figure out where the minister could be. Damn Tarutarus and their small stature, they're hard to spot! As the shadow's owner came around in sight, I let a sigh of relief. How could I have confounded a Tarutaru with a goblin?

Ajido >> Finally, I can finish my task at hand with your help.
Coeurl >> Mi-minister? I... I have a letter for you.
Ajido >> Oh, that? I don't have any need for it.
Coeurl >> B-but sir! This is what I was sent to do!
Ajido >> No. That is what you were told to do.
Ajido >> I sent that letter to myself so I can get an aide.
Coeurl >> ...huh?
Ajido >> If I asked for help directly,
Ajido >> it would have aroused the suspicion of other ministers.
Ajido >> Go on, open the letter and see for yourself.

Coeurl opens the letter and reads it.

Coeurl >> ...
Coeurl >> ...
Coeurl >> ..."I.O.U. : 1 Aide"?
Coeurl >> ...signed, Ajido-Marujido?!?
Ajido >> Here's what I need you to do.
Coeurl >> But this isn't what I signed up for!
Ajido >> Oh, stop complaining already.
Ajido >> I'm not asking for much either.
Ajido >> One of the orbs I've used in my experiment is broken.
Ajido >> But I can't tell which one if this machine is turned off.
Ajido >> And since I can't leave this machine without supervision,
Ajido >> I need an extra set of hands and eyes
Ajido >> to find and bring back the broken orb.
Coeurl >> o-okay... but where are those orbs?
Ajido >> Surely you saw those pedestrals on your way here?
Coeurl >> Uh... I think so.
Ajido >> There's an orb within each pedestral.
Ajido >> Find the one that doesn't glow and bring it back.
Coeurl >> ...
Ajido >> What is it now?
Coeurl >> ...Can I go once I found that orb?
Ajido >> Once you brought it back to me, yes.
Ajido >> That is all I need for today.
Ajido >> I'll be starting the machine now
Ajido >> So get to it!
Coeurl >> O-okay...

It was weird. It's like I just couldn't say no to a Tarutaru of such affirmative stature. I left the room as a low humming noise showed sign that the machine was being activated. I looked left and right, trying to regain my sense of direction in spite of the ruin's simple layout. I made my way back to the large room, my arms feeling terribly weak as they shook when I pressed on the mechanism of the hidden doorway. First thing I did was check the two pedestrals in the large room. No sense having to go down the tunnels if I can avoid them. ...sadly, the broken orb was in neither receptacle.

Coeurl takes in a deep breath...

...That leaves me with the four damn corner rooms. I kept reassuring myself by thinking that these ruins are in far better state than the place where I was held captive in my youth. I was thankful no one else was around, I wasn't a pretty sight, talking to myself outloud, humming tunes under my breath, trying to forget where I was, even momentaneously... and cursing each time I failed to find the defective goods. In the end, the 5th time was the charm. I returned to the machine's room, orb in my hands, and a huge feeling of relief.

Ajido >> Hmm....
Coeurl >> ...
Ajido >> ...
Coeurl >> ...
Coeurl >> Is it ok? Can I go now?
Ajido >> You are not even a bit curious at my experiments?
Coeurl >> ...maybe another time?
Coeurl >> I just want to get out of here...
Ajido >> I am afraid there will not be another time.
Ajido >> In fact, you must not mention anything
Ajido >> on what has transpired here to anyone.

Coeurl nods sheepishly

Coeurl >> ...Can I go now?
Ajido >> Fine... fine... you are dismissed.

I flew out of those ruins like a bat out of hell. Seriously, I hardly felt the floor as I ran for the exit. Outside the tower, it was a bewildered Sama-Gohjima that didn't have the time to even say two words as I rushed back towards Windurst. I could have sworn my Flee lasted double the usual time that day. All I wanted was to get back somewhere I felt comfortable, as well as my reward for a task completed. Thankfully, the little run through the savannah helped me get this whole ordeal out of my system. My heart wasn't racing due to my ever increasing paranoïa of being trapped underground, but rather by the long-winded dash I made for the city's gates. It was a panting yours-truly that spoke to the guard who assigned this "light task" to me.

Guard >> I take you have completed your mission?
Coeurl >> Y... Yes... It's... done now...
Guard >> You know, this was not an express delivery.
Coeurl >> I'm... just glad it's... over now.
Guard >> Okay, we will call on you if we need your services again.
Coeurl >> What about... my rank?
Guard >> You will need to accomplish more missions before it gets upgraded.
Coeurl >> WHAT?!?!?
Guard >> Surely you didn't think you'd get a new rank for delivering a letter?
Guard >> Be assured that it will still count towards your rank upgrade.
Guard >> You will need to do a few more tasks before you attain it however.
Coeurl >> You... YOU!!!!

Too bad I was too winded to pounce that guard... That, and two of his small Tarutaru buddies pinned me down with a Bind spell. Of course he looked at me as though I was crazy. But did he knew what I had to go through? Sure, for someone else, that mission would have been a walk in the park no doubt. But I'd like to know his take if he did spend a few days in capture, being starved to death in a small cage, only to have the ceiling collapse on you the moment you thought you were rescued, in those Altana-forsaken ruins. I'm sure he would have hated being fined for aggressing a city official for no apparently good reason.