Pulling Ethics Lesson #1

I regret not having a lot of juicy stories about my days as a Ranger. Everything went smoothly through Qufim, and only one event did hit the mark during my training at the jungles. In Yhoator to be more precise.

This was back in the days where Goblin Smithies were notorious for rumbling through the usual camps whenever someone got unlucky enough to be spotted by one and ran for the zoneline between the uplands and lowlands of Elshimo. However, that was my first time going all the way out there, seeing how I halted my progress as a Thief on the Smithies hanging out in Yuhtunga.

So that story begins back in Kazham, as I was preparing my stuff before putting out that LFG flag. I double-checked everything, from food to arrows, and stayed amazed at how those Nomad Moogles had full and immediate access to all my stuff. Once I was satisfied with the preparations, I changed my availability status on the Crystal Network and waited...

...for 10 seconds.

Leader >> Party?
Coeurl >> Delighted!
Leader >> Ok, come to Yhoator Jungle
Coeurl >> ...ok?
Leader >> What seems to be the problem?
Coeurl >> Well... I don't have a map of the jungles.
Leader >> Okay... I'll try to guide you.
Leader >> Get on a chocobo, I'll check your position on the map.

So I paid the stables master, hopped outside of the village, and stood there, waiting for help.

Leader invites you to his party.

Warrior >> Hello!
Ninja >> Hey!
Coeurl >> Hiya!
Leader >> Okay, I see where you are now.
Leader >> First, head south and take two lefts...

Took a while to get there. Didn't like the fact that I had to drop down a hole to make it through the jungle. I really hated the jungles for all those tunnels. Even when I got the map, it was still very confusing, and especially stressful for me to navigate through those tunnels. At least with a chocobo, I was able to zip through those moments of rising panic.

Once I neared the second jungle, I was dumbfounded by the number of people sitting by the zoneline. There must have been a whole two parties mending wounds right outside the Yhoator side of the tunnel. Immediately, my mind raced with possible scenarios.

Coeurl >> ...Please d-don't tell me there's b-been a cave-in?
Warrior >> Whoa, didn't pick the smartest Ranger, did you?
Leader >> What makes you think that Coe?
Coeurl >> Well, there's l-lots of people here...
Leader >> Oh, that's people who had to run away from a Smithy.
Leader >> You still on that chocobo?
Coeurl >> Y-yes...
Leader >> Then come on through, you'll be safe.
Coeurl >> O-okay...

I crossed the zoneline into Yhoator, and started assessing the situation once the daze of zoning was gone. In front of me, a long tunnel, with a wrathful goblin walking his way back towards the jungle. Thanking the stars I was safe on my mount, I raced past it, out of the tunnel, and quickly spotted my intended group to the left side of the T-branch. A quick round of /waves followed.

Coeurl >> Is it safe to dismount here?
Warrior >> No. We're just waiting to be preyed upon the goblin.
Warrior >> OF COURSE IT'S SAFE!!! DUMBNUT!!!

Coeurl's face flushes red in embarassment.
Coeurl dismounts from her chocobo.

The party setup was pretty casual.

Warrior
Ninja
Dragoon (leader)
Ranger (me)
Red Mage
Black Mage

Leader >> Ok, you're pulling Coeurl.
Coeurl >> Ok... ...um...
Warrior >> ...What now...
Coeurl >> Well... this is my first time here...
Warrior >> So?
Coeurl >> Well... ...what are we fighting?
Warrior >> If she suggests lizards, I'll strangle her.
Leader >> C'mon, calm down. She obviously means well.
Leader >> It's better she asks than she pulls random stuff.
Warrior >> Hey, if she doesn't know we're fighting mandies,
Warrior >> she obviously has no business with us.
Warrior >> I mean, why did you invite a Rank 2 newb?
Warrior >> The rest of us are Rank 6 or better.

Coeurl seems shaken by the Warrior's comments
Leader sighs dejectedly

Leader >> Are you forgetting you used to be Rank 2?
Warrior >> No. But I'm past those days.
Warrior >> I thought we were trying to build a solid team here.

Leader examines Coeurl

Leader >> I think she's got solid gear.

Warrior examines Coeurl
Red Mage examines Coeurl

...Coeurl feels examined

Warrior >> Hmpf... That means nothing.
Coeurl >> Er....
Warrior >> What now?

Coeurl points at the Yhoator Mandragora

Coeurl >> ...are we ready?
Warrior >> We've been ready since you got here!
Warrior >> What have you been waiting for?!? PULL!!!
Coeurl >> erl... euh... okay...

Coeurl shoots at the Yhoator Mandragora

Yah... not the most comfortable parties I've ever been in. Most people besides the leader remained contempt in their silence, while the Warrior kept at it. Too often, would he complain that I wasn't pulling fast enough, in spite of having a few other parties in the area. That's one moment. The next, he would yell at me for pulling too fast, not taking enough consideration for the mages' regenerating mana pools. At some point in the evening, pulling became even harder, having me stare at the map and my Widescan for an eventual pop.

Leader >> POP!!!
Warrior >> Get back here you twerpy Ranger!
Coeurl >> Hey!
Leader >> Come on, she's trying her best.
Warrior >> Obviously, that ain't good enough.
Warrior >> Why not get that other Ranger?
Warrior >> He's sitting in Jeuno, and Rank 7

I grumpily got back to camp, and helped dispatch that mandragora they grabbed.

Warrior >> Took your damn time getting back.
Coeurl >> I was looking for prey.
Warrior >> And you didn't find anything.
Warrior >> Shows how little experience you have pulling.
Coeurl >> If I'm that bad, why don't you go out pulling?
Warrior >> Because I'm the tank, dumbwit.
Warrior >> And why are you still standing there?!?
Warrior >> GO GET SOMETHING, YOU RETARDED CATGIRL!!!
Coeurl >> You know, those mandies don't grow on trees...
Warrior >> THEY SPROUT FROM THE GROUND, BOTANIC REJECT!!!
Warrior >> PULL AN ONION NOW!!!

I headed out toward the jungle, even grumpier. I was determined in getting some prey fast, so I did head a bit further than usual. Yes, I went into Smithy country. Knowing goblins have the hearing prowess of a rock, I tried sneaking behind one before letting loose an arrow on a mandragora, then ran back to camp.

The Goblin Smithy lets out an agressive grunt.

Coeurl >> Oh dear...
Warrior >> What now...
Coeurl >> Got a goblin on my tail.
Warrior >> STAY PUT, YOU BITCH!!!
Coeurl >> ...WHAT?!?

To be noted, I kept running towards the zoneline.

Warrior >> Don't bring that goblin back here!
Coeurl >> Don't worry, I'll zone it!
Warrior >> NO YOU BITCH!!! YOU STAY PUT AND DIE!!!
Coeurl >> If you really expect me to...
Warrior >> JUST GO BACK IN THE JUNGLE AND DIE!!!

I didn't listen from that point on at the rest of profanities coming from the Warrior as I made it safely back to the Lowlands part of Elshimo.

Warrior >> YOU F***ING DUMBNUT!!!
Warrior >> NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!!!
Warrior >> NO WONDER YOU'RE A RANK 2 NOOBLET!!!
Coeurl >> Hey, if you think I'll just lay down and die...
Warrior >> NOW NO ONE CAN GET EXPERIENCE!!!
Leader >> Hey, calm down there...
Warrior >> IT'S IDIOTS LIKE YOU THAT MAKE TRAINING A CHORE!!!
Leader >> Come on, just take a deep...
Warrior >> Oh, don't take her side now!
Warrior >> Would you have trained the goblin to the zoneline?
Leader >> Well, I would have...
Warrior >> Of course you wouldn't! You are smarter than that!
Warrior >> You would have taken the hit and waited on a raise!
Warrior >> That's why I think they shouldn't give airship passes
Warrior >> to anyone that hasn't achieved Rank 5.
Warrior >> Why they allow newbies in the outlands is a wonder to me.
Coeurl >> ...was it that bad?
Warrior >> Geez, I don't know... YES, YOU SCREWED UP THE ZONE!!!
Leader >> Now now, there's an easy way to deal with this.
Warrior >> Indeed. Kick her from the party.
Leader >> That won't solve anything.
Warrior >> ...you're right. Another stupid party will pick her up.
Warrior >> and then she'll train more goblins to the zoneline.
Leader >> Ok... let me handle this...
Warrior >> Yeah, you tell her.

Leader strikes the Goblin Smithy

Warrior >> What the hell?!? Are you bonkers?!?

Leader calls for help on the Goblin Smithy

Warrior >> If you think I'll try tanking that...

It wasn't long before I joined in the fight, as well as the ninja, the red mage and the black mage from our party. We held it as best as we could, but were obviously no match for it. Thankfully, 30 seconds into the fight, another party came around and added their strength to our own. the fight ended with the goblin dropping the bomb, killing itself off as well as a few other participants in this royal melee, including our leader and ninja. We didn't need to beg the other party's white mage for a raise. Heck, a third party came about and complained they didn't have a chance to fight the Smithy, and also threw a raise in the mix of casualties.

Warrior >> See what happened? Didn't I tell you?
Warrior >> If you died in the jungle, we'd only have one death.
Warrior >> But you just had to make it everyone's problem.
Warrior >> Now you have three deaths on your hands.
Coeurl >> And I should feel guilty about this?
Warrior >> HECK YES!!!
Leader >> Please, both of you, calm down.
Coeurl >> But I am calm!
Warrior >> DON'T YOU LIE, YOU BITCHING WENCH!!!
Coeurl >> Will you... WILL YOU QUIT IT ALREADY?!?
Leader >> PLEASE!!!
Coeurl >> Let's rest it up and then pick it back up again.
Warrior >> If you think I'll put up with that moronic Ranger...
Coeurl >> SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!
Warrior >> See! No self-control!
Coeurl >> LET ME AT HIM!!! I'LL SHOVE AN ARROW UP HIS ARSE!!!
Leader >> ...this is rather awkward...
Warrior >> No professionalism. No ethical fiber.

Coeurl huffs and pants in growing anger

Warrior >> No concentration. Can't pull right.
Coeurl >> THAT'S IT!!!

Coeurl disbands from the party

Coeurl >> YOU FIND SOMEONE ELSE, I'VE HAD IT FOR TONIGHT!!!

And I ran back towards Yuhtunga Jungle, leaving that party with a rooster of five instead of the usual six. It didn't take long however for two things to happen. First, realizing that I was screwed, there was no way I could get back to Kazham without getting a goblin on my tail. How irony loved to piss me off that day. The second...

Leader >> Why didn't you stay?
Coeurl >> You heard your pal, I'm no good as a Ranger.
Leader >> Well... hey, he's not my pal.
Leader >> In fact, I was about to boot him from the party.
Leader >> If I did that, would you be willing to come back?
Coeurl >> ...I'm sorry...
Coeurl >> But all that really has put me off for tonight.
Leader >> Okay.
Leader >> By the way, you handled your duties pretty well.
Coeurl >> Oh, don't try to comfort me.
Leader >> But I assure you! You should see some Rangers.
Leader >> Using cheap bows and arrows, not eating any food...
Leader >> It shows you've invested yourself in your job.
Coeurl >> ...thanks. Sorry again for leaving you dry like that.
Leader >> Oh, no worries, I found someone else for pulling duties.
Leader >> I only hope the Warrior won't persecute him too.
Coeurl >> Hehe... I wish that for you and for him.

Yah... a rather distasteful experience in the jungles that was. Only made fighting Smithies all that sweeter a bit later. That evening did put a turn on my career as an adventuress. That was the first time I ever let my primitive impulsed get the best of me. And you know what? ...that felt good. I'm not saying that from that day on I always spoke my mind. However, I was much harder to be pushed around by pricks who think everyone should follow their rules. His advice had some value to it, but the way he imposed it on me was more than distasteful.

Like I would lay down my life for someone who gave me no respect at all.

Lil' Bugger

And so it was then that I spent my time between my Ranger class and my woodworking craving for carving lumber. Incidentally, I've set my homepoint back in San d'Oria, seeing how that was a pivotal point between both occupations, as the Valkurm Dunes was close enough for a walk from there. However, I was told that the chocobo stables in San d'Oria accepted applicants as low as L15. I came to the quick conclusion that maybe, just maybe, I could level my Ranger far enough to benefit from a quicker ride to Selbina if I just put myself into it a bit more.

Especially since my arrows of justice brought the forces of evil doers to their knees in no time flat.

That is when I was suggested to head over to La Theine Plateau as a L12 Ranger, to a place next to two lakes and a ravine. I was told that was an extraordinary place for a Ranger to have at it. Yes, I discovered the fun of hunting worms. I also discovered another thing while at it.

The pain of competing over said worms.

I learned to hone my skills at spotting the enemy and shooting them down as quickly as I could. I also discovered the joys of using Wide Scan, which was plenty helpful in my cause. However, sometimes I was too busy surveying the map overlay projected by my crystal shard to notice the worm that unburrowed itself right behind me. In short, I got a crash course in pulling in a highly competitive area. Once I've hit L14, I moved onto bigger preys as well, leaving the worms behind so I could really lay down the hurt on more xp-worthy pawns. I settled into L15 when I ran out of arrows and walked back to town.

Coeurl >> Alright, game's on!

The game being crafting arrows. I just got out of a long haul of crafting Yew Lumber and Yew Wands. Damn stuff doesn't sell. So after looking up a list of possible recipes, I saw what the next logical step would be: Iron Arrows. I kinda hated myself to not be able to craft something even more potent at that time, that being Fang Arrows. But with my finances being split between gear, ammunition and woodworking supplies, I figured that was good enough, not only was I getting better at woodworking, I was also going to shoot stuff with what I made myself. Talk about a sense of personnal pride, every shot signed with my name. Well, not litterally, but you get the idea.

Once I double-checked my inventory to make sure I had everything, from food to a scroll of Instant Warp, without forgetting my precious arrows, I hitched a ride on a chocobo and rode out for the dunes, my LFG flag set next to my name in the Crystal Network's Adventurers Listing service. I barely had time to ride outside of the city's walls that I was already offered an invitation.

Peepskweek >> Hey! Wanna party?
Coeurl >> Well yah, sure, but I'm still in Ronfaure as it is.
Coeurl >> It'll take me a while to get there.
Peeps>> Oh, no problem'ethy! Still looking for other members.
Coeurl >> Alright, I'll be there shortly.

I rode out, and made a quick search as my chocobo led me south. Strange... there are plenty of other people who are also looking for a group to train. Even another Ranger. I had a hard time figuring out why he didn't ask any of them to fill up the reportedly empty spots. Maybe he has a bad rep? Or maybe he's looking for a very specific party formation? Anyways, I was getting an invitation, might as well take up on it.

I finally crossed the path leaving the Plateau and into Valkurm. Got the invitation, and I registered to it. Party setup so far was this:

White Mage (Peepskweek)
Red Mage
Warrior
Ranger (yours truly)
Ninja

Peeps >> Okay, got a Thief coming!
Peeps >> She's already on her way here.
Peeps >> Everyone gather up where I am!

It wasn't hard travelling through the goblin-infested, bleach-sanded grounds, and into the intended camp : the 'Oasis'. As I dismounted, I saw the others running in from Selbina. Not too long afterwards, the Thief appears on the roster.

Peeps >> Woot'ethy! This is going to be fun!

So far, I was in agreement with our leader.

Peeps >> Too bad the Ranger and Warrior are wearing full scale.

Coeurl looks questioningly at the leader.
So does the Warrior

Warrior >> Uh... What do you mean?
Peeps >> It's just a shame... covering such a beautiful body...
Coeurl >> ...what?

Peepskweek starts to drool.

Then I noticed... everyone on the team besides the leader are female. And not just that. Oh no, something else that made him pick us instead of some other females already looking for a group.

We were all Mithras.

Peepskweek slaps the Ninja's cheeks

...you know which.

Peepskweek serves a wide grin to the Ninja.

Ninja >> YOU PERV!!!

...That Ninja's good. I never saw someone that good at a game of PTT. Or "Punt the Tarutaru" for short.

Peeps >> HEY!!! You can't kick me! I'm the leader'ethy!
Peeps >> I'M THE ONE KICKING YOU!

The Ninja has been kicked from the party.

Warrior >> What's the deal with you?
Warrior >> Do you think we'll stick around a pervert like you?
Peeps >> HA! I'm the leader! AND a White Mage!
Peeps >> Admit it ladies, you *NEED* me!
Peeps >> We'll get a replacement and get started!
Warrior >> Better get two replacements then.
Warrior >> I'm done here.
Peeps >> FINE!! You leave! I'll get a better dressed Warrior!

The Warrior leaves the party.
The Thief leaves the party.

Red Mage >> Sorry honey, I gotta go too.
Peeps >> ...you bunch of ungrateful wenches!
Red Mage >> I'm serious, I have an emergency...
Red Mage >> Got a call from my Moogle...
Red Mage >> ...my fish is on fire.

The Red Mage leaves the party.

Peeps >> ...well, it's just'ethy you and me toots.
Coeurl >> ...
Peeps >> Come on, you can take off that scale mail.
Coeurl >> ...you're serious, aren't you.
Peeps >> Come to daddy...

Coeurl leaves the party.

The Ninja invites Coeurl to her party.

Red Mage >> I can't believe I finally got to use that excuse.
Warrior >> What did you tell him?
Red Mage >> That my fish at home was on fire?

Everyone burst into laughter.

Thief >> I still can't believe he slapped you.
Ninja >> Yeah. And you should have seen how he leered at me.
Warrior >> That was one hell of a kick off, how did you do that?
Ninja >> Oh that? It's all in the selection of footware.
Thief >> Let me guess. Leaping Boots?
Ninja >> Yuppers!
Thief >> ...I'm so jealous of you right now!

Ninja >> Think we can do with a Black Mage to fill in the last spot?
Red Mage >> I suppose I'm taking healing duties?
Ninja >> ...if you don't mind?
Red Mage >> Shouldn't be. I have experience as a White Mage.
Warrior >> Not like you'll be distracted by the front line's backs.
Black Mage >> Uh... Hello? What's that means?
Ninja >> Oh, hi there. You wouldn't believe what we came across.
Coeurl >> Wait... you're a Mithra too?
Black Mage >> Well yes... why?
Ninja >> I didn't want to risk inviting another pervert.
Ninja >> Besides, there were already five of us.
Ninja >> So I thought an all-Mithra team would be nice for a change.
Black Mage >> ...Don't tell me you met Peepskweek?
Ninja >> You had a run-in with him previously?
Black Mage >> Yes... I'm currently in the legal process
Black Mage >> of getting a restraining order on him.
Warrior >> ...Don't look, but he's heading this way.

That was awkward... he kept on slapping all of us. For the better part of 10 minutes, with intermitent cheers for whatever we were fighting. He even shouted something about slapping our dead corpses' asses. After those 10 minutes, he stopped. Not only that, he was nowhere to be seen.

Black Mage >> ...Good news, the restraining order is now in effect.
Black Mage >> His recent actions accelerated the process.
Coeurl >> ...how did they know?
Black Mage >> I placed a call to the Grand Marshalls.
Black Mage >> They were only too glad to take care of this issue.

And then the fun times rolled. Well, as much fun as the Dunes can ever be. At least we were able to have a chat in between tougher kills. You know how some of those flies and goblins like to shower adventurers with Cursed Spheres and Bomb Tosses. Besides that, it was fun talking about lots of stuff, from the Ninja's already having two jobs maxed out, to the Black Mage's political opinion about the truce with the Yagudos, passing through the Red Mage's being raised in Bastok, and including my recent love for anything related to woodworking. The Ninja made a great leader, and gave tips without sounding bossy about it.

Yah... It was a wonderfuly party. The first and last time I ever got into an all-Mithra team. I wonder how they are doing nowadays...