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...