CURRENTS : Operation 'Maat Masher'

Why the heck didn't I post that story a few weeks ago? Gosh, I'm getting old. Speaking of which...

Maat >> Oh-ho-ho! The kitten has matured!
Coeurl >> Yah... this is it old man.

Note be made, in spite of his challenges being a pain in the tail, I've grown a bit affectionated with the geezer. Thanks to him, I've been able to push myself further after each challenge he issued me. So when I heard I would be some day fighting him... I was passionate about it after the 2nd challenge (those fragicites were a bitch), but I mellowed out with time. I mean, how old exactly is he? Wouldn't that be like picking on a Tarutaru child?

I mean, Tarutaru adults are already easy to pick on as they are. So being a L70 adventuress picking on the elderly...

Coeurl >> Um... you sure I can bring all this stuff?
Coeurl >> I mean, isn't that overkill?
Maat >> No, not at all!
Maat >> I sometimes have trouble holding back.
Maat >> So it's all good with me.
Coeurl >> You sure?
Maat >> Sure I'm sure!
Coeurl >> ...the Opo-Opo necklace?
Maat >> Hey, if I didn't want adventurers to use that,
Maat >> I would have petitionned the Jeunoan authorities
Maat >> to give it a L71 requirement.
Coeurl >> ...the Icarus Wing?
Maat >> Not a problem!
Coeurl >> ...all my Yaggie drinks and Hi-Potions?
Maat >> Oh-ho-ho! One would think you're overcautious!
Coeurl >> ...so it's too much?
Maat >> Oh-ho no!
Maat >> Like I said, sometimes I get carried away.
Maat >> Bring all you think you'll need.

Maat >> Oh! Before I forget...

Maat wishes to trade with Coeurl

Coeurl obtains a piece of paper and a quill

Coeurl >> What's this?
Coeurl >> ...
Coeurl >> ... =O.O=?!?
Coeurl >> "...will not be held responsible for loss of limb"?!?
Maat >> Yes... had an adventurer ask me to pay his medical bills.
Maat >> If only he invested as much as you before the fight...
Coeurl >> ...you serious?
Maat >> Yes, I need all legal documents in order before we go on.

Coeurl reluctantly signs the waver.

Maat >> Okay! Just trade the testimony to the burning circle,
Maat >> and we'll begin your last trial!
Coeurl >> Which bur...

== Qu'bim Arena ==

Coeurl >> ...ning cir-ooooooh!

That was the moment I was waiting for. My final limit breaker. The end-all of Maat's challenges. The greatest challenge thus far.

Coeurl hyperventilates

Okay... Okay... Calm down sis... Take in a deeeeeeeeeeep breath..... Just remember all you've been told... You rehearsed this routine countless times. You have all your stuff in inventory. Gear, potions, MP recovery drinks... OH SNAP! Forgot my STR rings! ...oh heck, I'm here, better try it anyways. I mean, he's old, how hard can it be?

Enter the burning circle. Protect. Shell. Melon Drink. Four Sleeping Potions while wearing Opo-Opo necklace. Down a mithkabob. Run in. Yagudo Drink. Engage. Vorpal Blade. Icarus Wing. Wait for Flash to wear. Vorpal Blade.

Maat >> Ugh... that'll hurt in the morning.

Okay... now it's up to fate. And a bit of luck.

Thankfully, as expected, he wasn't hitting me too quickly. Unthankfully, he was damned precise with his blows. Each attack was craftily launched with the intent of taking me down. Not only that, the old man had the stamina of five Galkas. If I were on the receiving end of my blows, I'd already be near my downfall. I was glad he didn't bring as much stuff as I did for the fight.

The rest of the battle went on without too much trouble. I drunk a second Yaggie when the buzz of the first one was gone, and used a few Hi-Potions to pace out my Cure IVs a bit. When Maat went Invincible, I kept my ground, knowing that I would have a greater chance at survival if I was able to block some of his blows rather than give him an open back to strike at. Sentinel and my own Invincible helped with that as well.

Maat >> Take this you whipper-snapper!

He was coming back with a revenge after my fourth flurry of Vorpal Blades. First, he knocked the wind out of me with an incredibly accurate jumping high-kick straight at my lower jaw. Then, I felt an intense rush of sound tearing my skull apart as he threw a Howling Fist at me. I was down to 360 HPs. I threw a quick Cure IV to recuperate part of the damage, and entered alternating Hi-Potions with sword slashes, waiting for my TP to be ready for another... NOW!!!

Coeurl readies Vorpal Blade

Maat catches Coeurl's sword with his bare hand.

Coeurl >> =O_O= !!!
Maat >> Hmm... That was a mighty fine display of skill there.
Maat >> You've come a long way...
Coeurl >> WHOA!!!
Coeurl >> HOW'D YOU DO THAT?!?
Maat >> Heh... Told you I was holding back.
Maat >> Why don't we finish our talk back in Ru'lude Gardens?
Coeurl >> Err... sure...

Coeurl receives a Scroll of Instant Warp

I was glad this was over. My heart was still racing with exhiliration. Though this wasn't as close as that battle I fought alongside Sahyu against Vassago, this fight was much harder on my nerves. Maybe it's all because of being pitted alone against the very man that have taught me how to exhert myself to my full potential. One scroll of instant warp and a warp from Aht Urghan to Jeuno, and I was ready for the conclusion of my biggest trial to that day.

I know Maat made an elaborate speech of some sorts, but I was just too thrilled to pay any attention to it. Finally, the way to the fabled L75 was paved away. Heck, today, I'm a proud L72 Paladin, which means...

I'M ONE LEVEL BETTER THAN FLARU-WURU!!!

Currents : Love Me, Hate Me

I love Lion. No, it's not a lesbian thing. But her charisma is hard to pass by. That woman has a lot of presence, which ends in most other people respecting her. Maybe the only ones hating her are Jeunonian officials, due to her ties with the Tenshodo. Otherwise, she's quite discreet when it comes to Jeuno. She knows when to hide in the shadows and when to let her presence known.

When I visited her hometown of Norg after we defeated the Shadow Lord, I was quite startled when she asked me what I intended to do with the "Arch-Duke Problem". I asked her when he became a problem, and the more she detailed what she meant, the more my memories were being rattled. I pondered more and more about our last encounter at Castle Zvhal. So much that a migraine pounded my head into submission as I collapsed to the floor.

Apparently, I got knocked unconscious so hard I plain forgot about everything that transpired back there. And as I relived the episode, I understood why I forgot. I wasn't exactly thrilled to re-experience the whole ordeal. Big old Shadow's gone, someone else takes up the slack. And that someone else has powers. ...political powers, amongst other things.

Lion asked us to meet with her father and leader of Norg, Gilgamesh. That's when I understood where all that charisma came from. He might be old, and a bit rowdy, but gawd he knows how to convince people to get themselves thrown into a world shaking conflict, at the peril of their own lives. He asked us to investigate something at the Temple of Uggalepih, but first to ask the leader of Kazham for more details on the ruins deeper inside the Tonberry stronghold.

Once all was said by all parties, the investigation was put on hold for a while, until recently that is.

Gaarah >> Hey Coeurl! Wanna stick it to the Tonberries?

It wasn't long a full party was organized to investigate the ruins. Setup was as follows :

PLD75 - Gaarah
BLM75 - Sbec
BST74 - Criminalz
PLD70 - Coeurl
RDM70 - Harald
RDM70 - Rectorz

Thankfully, a lot of information goes around about those famed ruins and how to access them. Problem was only Criminalz had an unlit tonberry torch. We still needed three more torches, and an Uggalepih key so we can pass through the paintings room.

Joy oh joy...

On the plus side, we had no trouble dispatching wave after wave of Tonberries coming back to replace the guards we've slain in the previous batch. Sadly, not all of them carried torches, so it took a while to have the prerequisite for lighting the way to the depths of the ruins. Next, we hoped getting the key would be easier, considering we only needed one. How wrong we were...

I knew that so much slaying would continuously increase the amount of global enmity the tonberries would have against us. Towards the end, Everyone's Grude was hitting me for around 400 damage. That's not exactly fun, even with 1,200 HPs. It's still not as aggravating as a Throat Stab, but still... So yah, we finally got the key... two actually. Having split in two teams, we got two keys simultaneously. After a bit of confusion as to where to use that key to get a Paintbrush of Souls, we were finally ready to head out for the final challenge of the investigation.

Rectorz >> Wait, someone's lost his connection.

Indeed. Gaarah fell asleep, and he showed no sign of waking up, so he was transported into a limbus state, for safety's sake. We waited, in the hope he would shake himself back up, but sadly, after five minutes of anticipation, we decided to not expect his return anymore. We lost our star tank for the upcoming battle.

Rectorz >> Mind if I ask a friend to come?
Rectorz >> He already has a torch too.

Thankfully lots of people get around to gathering torches, but fall short of getting the four needed for the latter part. So instead of a PLD75, we got Antarah, a THF7X to come pick the last spot in our team. All I hoped was for the notorious tonberries to not be exceptionally strong. I thought that an Everyone's Grudge of 400 should be manageable if we're all pulling our weight.

And yes, I'm aware of the irony of having a Thief come along after having to gather all those items.

Our descent into the Den of Rancor was interesting. First, we had to find the blazier which held the flames that would light up the way into the depths of the ruins. It was fun to try and fight a bat and a bomb at the same time, when only half the team found the place. Sadly, Criminalz wasn't in that half, so I had to tank a bat that didn't go down easy, and a bomb that might go boom-boom at any second. Thank goodness that wasn't the case. We all lit a torch, and found our way down a hole to the doorway sporting the four pedestrals needing some flaming. However, the whole place stunk of tonberries and bats.

...and someone's Sneak wore of.

Thank goodness Criminalz was there to mind the bats, and the rest to Stun or Sleep ancient magicks. Elseway I would have probably taken a dirt nap there. We finally cleared enough room for the ceremony. As we opened the door, another group of adventurers arrived and followed us through. They were the same group who were killing tonberries at the entrance of the Den of Rancor. Did they stalk us through the gate? Did they simply coincide their arrival with our passage through the gate? I don't know. I felt a bit cheated though, we almost died killing the guards on the ceremonial grounds, where were they when they could have helped us? I was too busy paying attention to my surroundings and tanking whatever unslept monsters with my back to the gate to know whether or not they were in a position to help us out.

Anyways, my concerns were more centered on the fight beyond the final door. We all briefed ourselves on the data collected by past adventurers who went this far into the ruins. Three Tonberries. One Thief, one Summoner, one Black Mage. Only the Thief would be highly resistant to spells, so we'd be killing it first. Other than that, the strategy was to rely on each of our acquired skills. So we went in, and went to work.

First thing that set me off was Grav'iton, the THF tonberry. Damn, he was big. Second detail was its wearing a crown. Ooookay... That didn't bode too well. My concerns were qualmed quickly though, as it took only an instant to get the big daddy of 'em Tonberries halfway to its doom. However, that's when it hit me.

Grav'iton uses Everyone's Rancor
Coeurldelionne takes 4345 damage

Coeurl >> =O.O= !!!
Sbec >> Whoa...
Criminalz >> Kill it quick!

Thankfully, that's the only move it was able to pull off. I was given a Raise and I asked them to try keeping the other two tonberries slept, or to kite them until I recovered.

Sbec >> Let's take on the Summoner.

I didn't feel too confident for our chances of survival. That is until I saw Courrier Carrie go to work on it. I felt humiliated. A crab was tanking the others' attacks pretty well, and was dealing more damage than I could have ever hoped to do. Besides getting up to do a Rampart as the Black Mage tonberry woke and cast a Firaga II on the crew, I stayed back with my measly 340 HPs.

However, it apparently wasn't far enough.

Tungs'iton uses Astral Flow
Tungs'iton's Avatar uses Diamond Dust

Coeurl takes 390 damage
Coeurl collapes again on the floor

Coeurl >> erm... Medic!

Honestly, what use would I be? I could have waited until we were out of the sacrificial chamber. But heh, heat of the action. Got raised, Cure III, did a Warcry, then got the hell back. It wasn't long everyone else wasted the two remaining tonberries. That's when we got to learn a lot about Tonberries, the Zilart and everything else in between. We all laughed at the ease of the fight, which we thought would be a real pain in the butt. I laughed too, looking at my records and seeing how I practically broke even between my two deaths and the experience we got killing all those tonberries earlier. We got the hell out and too a well deserved rest.

The next day, first thing I did was to look for a man in Norg that I heard knew the secret of dispelling all that accumulated hatred tonberries gathered over my commiting a genocide in their midst. Sure, that cost me 3 Gold Beastcoins and 1,500G, but hey, might as well be ready if I'm asked to return there. For giggles, I killed a Tonberry Cutter with my reset hate, praying it wouldn't Throat Stab me and follow through with some hard hitting attack, but the fight went well, and...

Coeurl obtains an Uggalepih key

Coeurl >> WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT?!?!?

Now, I have an unlit torch in my storage and a paintbrush of souls in my back pocket, in souvenir of that trip. I also told Gaarah about the fight, so he could avoid what I had to go through. Blood-soaked dirt leaves a terrible aftertaste.

Jailbird

As I finally got through the hell of the jungles, a.k.a. Smithy Central, I've set out for the next logical step in progression when it came to training camps : Garlaige Citadel.

All I knew at that time was the name of the place, that it was somewhere in Sauromugue Champain, and that it had a dreaded basement. I've ran through that place quite a few times on a chocobo's back. It's not true that I'd be walking through there when I can easily be taken down by pretty much everything in that place. So I've seen the ruins spreaded through that place. I came to the conclusion that the Garlaige Citadel would be like a fort, and that since I'm not going into the basement, that I'd be on the ground level, or maybe even fight high atop the ramparts of the place.

...Most readers (if I dare use the plural form) know very well that ain't how the place is like. In actuality, the 'Citadel' is in fact a prison of sorts, built within the confines of an underground cave. So yah, it's more like a dungeon than a fort.

And dare I say it again? It's underground...

So imagine my surprise when I was indicated by my linkmates to travel to the southwestern area of Sauromugue in order to find the citadel.

Coeurl >> Erm... it's not there.
Sinner >> You're in the southwestern corner of the map?
Coeurl >> Um, yah. And I don't see any citadel.
Sinner >> It should be there, don't you see any entrance?
Coeurl >> Maybe you're thinking of something else,
Coeurl >> All I see is an entrance to some sort of mine.
Sinner >> That's the place. Garlaige Citadel.
Coeurl >> ...wait. You're telling me it's not a citadel?
Sinner >> Well, sort of. It's a fortification.
Coeurl >> ...underground?!?
Sinner >> Yah... didn't I tell you you'd start having
Sinner >> to deal with your claustrophobia in Garlaige?
Coeurl >> Um... not really.
Sinner >> C'mon, that's when we hunted for your Kazham keys.
Coeurl >> Honestly...
Coeurl >> That episode is still kinda fuzzy in my memories.
Sinner >> Oh well... If it's any comfort,
Sinner >> you'll be camping near the zoneline.
Coeurl >> ...not helping...
Sinner >> Just be careful not to fall down in the basement.
Coeurl >> ...

It must have been 15 minutes before I felt able to say a word again. It felt like 15 minutes, anyways. The idea of the floor collapsing and me falling into the basement wasn't a pretty thought. All I needed, more chances of being entrapped beneath the surface.

So there I stood, barely inside the gaping entrance, the wind refusing to enter the accursed place. I took careful steps inside the facility... I quickly realized the place was old and worn out. There were debris scattered all over the place. That's a bad sign... I moved a bit further, and finally saw people there. They had to be more than a dozen and a half, some sitting idly against the walls. I couldn't stand their confidence, so I standed a bit behind the groups, in the middle of the corridor, hugging my own arms in hopes I could comfort myself.

I probably didn't look the part of a confident puller. I mean, with the discomfort I was feeling for this place, who'd pick someone who looks like they can be spooked by the slightest of signs of a potential collapse? ...I guess the group I was standing next to was interested.

Coeurl >> Um, hello...
Omegamon >> Hey! How's it been?

Took me a few seconds to figure out who that was. Heck, it took me a while to register who half of the people of that party were. I was surprised to see that most members were linkmates.

The group was :

Omegamon - Galka Summoner and leader
Cinera - Elvann Dragoon
Tidusoftantalas - Hume Paladin
Coeurldelionne - Claustrophobic Mithra Ranger
a Black Mage and a Monk to close.

Coeurl >> ...oh! Hey Omega! You doing alright?
Omega >> Sure! How 'bout you?
Omega >> You look like the sky's about to fall!
Coeurl >> ...uh...
Tidus >> You mean you don't know Omega?
Omega >> Know what?
Tidus >> About Coeurl's condition?
Omega >> Not really?
Tidus >> Just so you know, Coeurl's not too comfortable here.
Omega >> Umm... Not sure I'm following you.
Tidus >> Well, she's...
Cinera >> She's claustrophobic.
Cinera >> How hard is it to call it as it is?
Tidus >> I'm trying to be sensible here.
Omega >> Oh? ...Oh! I'm terribly sorry Coeurl!
Omega >> I didn't mean to make such an awful joke!
Coeurl >> ...it's okay... you didn't knew...

Omegamon gives a comforting pat in Coeurl's back

That pat felt like the ceiling collapsing on my shoulders. Considering how Omegamon's a highly enthusiast Galka, I can understand how he didn't measure his strength.

Omega >> So... Mind pulling for us Coeurl?
Coeurl >> Um...
Tidus >> Could someone else pull?
Cinera >> Hey, don't look at me...
Coeurl >> It's okay... I can pull...
Tidus >> You sure about this?
Coeurl >> Um... I think I am...
Omega >> You'll do alright.
Omega >> You line 'em up, we'll do the rest!
Coeurl >> O-okay...
Cinera >> Just be careful around the bettles,
Cinera >> they aggro, and we're not ready for them yet.
Coeurl >> O-okay...
Tidus >> Mind not putting too much pressure on her?
Cinera >> What? You're in love with her or something?
Tidus >> Uh?! No! No, not at all!
Tidus >> I just heard about her episode with Sinner.
Tidus >> Wouldn't want her to pass...

Coeurl blushes so bright she can lit up a room.

Tidus >> See what you made me do?
Cinera >> Come on, relax Tid!
Cinera >> I care about her as much as you do.
Cinera >> But keeping silent about it won't do her any good.
Omega >> You know? I think Cin's right.
Omega >> It's better to call things as they are
Omega >> than trying to sugar-coat it endlessly.
Coeurl >> ...
Omega >> Anyways, think you can do it Coeurl?
Coeurl >> ...I'll try...
Omega >> All I needed to hear! We're all ready!

And so I ventured a bit further, with a lot of care, past the other parties in the corridor, and into the crossroad. I analyzed the place a bit, having a collapsed wall immediately to the right, a broken down floor starting the corridor to the left, and the path straight ahead of me having rooms on both sides of it.

Coeurl >> Is... Is this place safe?
Cinera >> as long as you're careful around beetles, yes.
Coeurl >> N-no... I-I mean, is th-the floor safe?
Cinera >> The floor won't degrade more than it already is.
Cinera >> You can go down the eastern fork,
Cinera >> Just be careful not to fall down.
Coeurl >> S-so... I can walk on th-that thin st-trip?
Cinera >> Countless people did for countless times.
Omega >> That's right! Plenty of Galkas too!
Omega >> So I doubt it'll collapse under your weight!
Coeurl >> O-o-okay... Here g-goes...
Monk >> ...is she for real?
Cinera >> Don't worry, it'll go well once she finds her groove.

I made careful steps past the gaping pit, ever fearful of making a wrong step. I saw a bat down that path, so I really wanted to go and get it. Didn't want to deceive my linkmates you see. But at the same time, my self-preservation instincts were yelling at me in my head to just get the hell out of this gigantic trap. I took more careful steps, realizing those were not across the dangerous terrain anymore. I took a few breaths before drawing out my bow, and letting an arrow fly. Obviously, the bat came right at me. Now came the fun part of walking back across the same treacherous terrain I just so carefully threaded. Only this time, with a pissed off, wounded bat. It didn't take it long to eat through my shadows and start trying to throw me off balance.

Tidus >> I got it!

Tidusoftantalas provokes the Siege Bat

I was so glad Tidus followed me. Took a weight off my shoulders, both physically and psychologically. Without realizing it, I was going a bit faster to cross the remainer of the pit, only to run at full speed towards the fight back at the camp. My heart was beating too fast for me to let my arrows hit the target with my usual grace and accuracy, but I did help with the fight. Once down, I returned to the crossroad, to find a bat not too far off ahead of me. Pulling that one was a cinch. I returned to camp, and the fight was done in a matter of an instant.

For my third pull, I ventured a bit further in the corridor across our camp, and saw yet anothre Siege Bat. I let an arrow fly, and ran back to camp.

Tidus >> Um... Where's the bat?
Coeurl >> It should be right behind me.
Tidus >> Oh wait, I see-OH SHIT!!!
Tidus >> Zone Coeurl!!!
Coeurl >> Uh? Why's th-WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?!?

The Wingrats hit Coeurl for 38 damage
The (other) Wingrats hit Coeurl for 43 damage

I didn't question for a moment what they told me, as I ran for the zone. The question still pondered hard in my head though. Where the heck did those bats come from? Once outside, I took a breath of fresh air, only to hurry back inside. Thankfully, that variety of fauna wasn't agressive either, so I made it quickly back to the camp, in time to shoot two more arrows at the current prey.

Omega >> Okay, let's take of the other bats now.
Coeurl >> Uh... they're clumped up together.
Coeurl >> Want me to pull one and zone the other?
Omega >> Oh no-no-no-no-no! Let me take care of that!
Coeurl >> Uh... if you say so...

Omega summons Carbuncle
Omega sics Carbuncle on the Wingrats

Coeurl >> Uh... you're not zoning?
Omega >> Oh that? No need to! Stand back and watch...

The Wingrats defeat Carbuncle
Tidus provokes the Wingrats

Coeurl >> But... how did...
Omega >> That, my furry friend, is a 'Carbuncle Pull'.
Coeurl >> ...well, if it works...

We went vicious on those Wingrats, and I was allowed to shoot at the other Wingrats to complete the 'clean-up' operation. Once that was done, I just had to ask it.

Coeurl >> But where did those Wingrats come from?
Cinera >> They usually hang out in the rooms on the sides of that corridor.
Cinera >> You probably pulled a Siege Bat while its friends were nearby.
Coeurl >> Okay... I'll be careful then.

That meant I had to go multiple times off into the left path, which meant having to cross that damned hole. I had to deal with two other link problems due to respawns, and once I had to contend with a beetle who took a liking to the taste of my tail while I had my back turned. Eventually, we had to disband.

Cinera >> Told you she'd get her groove.
Monk >> Yah, she did a swell job.
Coeurl >> Oh? Was I that good?
Tidus >> For a first timer, you did well Coeurl.
Cinera >> Yup, especially knowing you're claustrophobic.
Coeurl >> Well thank y- =O.O=!!!

Suddenly, I felt extremely weak in my stomach, like someone sucker-punched me. At the same time, my brain was processing the positive feedback I just got.

Omega >> Coeurl! Are you going to be alright?
Coeurl >> Y-yah... Just need some f-fresh air...
Tidus >> See what you did Cin?
Cinera >> I'm... I'm sorry, but she did awfully well at the end.
Cinera >> I thought she finally got over her claustrophobia.

In a way, Cinera was right. I did get over my claustrophobia, even if it was momentarily. I got to forget about it for more than an hour. Towards the end, I was crossing the pit like it wasn't there anymore, keeping my eye on the next pull and keeping the kill chain alive than the concern of slipping down to the basement or having a wall fall down on me. For that while, I was comfortable with where I was training.

So yah, I learned two things that day. First is that I can deal with my claustrophobia to a certain extent. And the second is that a Summoner can main heal. Heck, he's a Galka, and he pulled the job with flying colors, and still gave us some buffs to make the whole training process that much more effective.

Still, I was excessively glad to get out of that place.