I rarely play FFXI these days; barely even 2 times a week now.

So in view of my money-needing situation and how FFXI takes SGD$22 a month for my two characters…

I might leave.

Father of the supposedly “hawt” Lion. (I’m in favour of Aphmau for the ultimate /droolable.)

Finally, face to face with the great Jakoh Wahcondalo! Her tomboyish mannerism threw me off, though I suppose that must’ve been how the more savage Mithras were like before the new generations were taught to “sit more femininely”…

She did send us off to the Temple of Ugglepheylieieye-something… Me, Trickfast and Neshamah aren’t so hot on the idea though.

Prince Trion had summoned me to his chambers – not for a scandalous frolic of course, but for a short recourse on how the Beastmen’s forces’ activity had been a source of great worry for him. There were rumours amok in the world, too, of the resurrection of the Shadow Lord.

I was born in the relatively more peaceful times after the nations had begun their rebuilding. Ruins of the Crystal War still littered the lands I traversed, but as the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind… The nations had done well to encourage adventurers to stray beyond our territories, conveniently where the worst damages were hidden from sight. Even so, literature which survive from those desperate times often finds their way into my hands since I’ve made the libraries of the nations my makeshift residences. The horrific surprises which came upon the people of Vana’diel then, are but toys for adventurers like me now…

‘This is what I want you to do, Raen,’ Trion’s forceful mannerisms brought me back to the well furnished room. ‘I want you to investigate these rumours of the Shadow Lord’s return in Xarcabard!’

‘… As you wish, m’Lord,’ I bowed, hesitation strapping my mental activity in place. He must have noticed though, and waved an authoritative hand.

‘I will account for any doubts which might crop up. Prepare yourself, Raen!’ For a moment, his gaze wandered, and his countenance seemed to sigh just a tiny bit. ‘And take care… for who knows what lies within the crevices of that icy land…?’

Ah, Prince Trion… If only you knew how much time I spent screaming my way down the snow-blanketed slopes into the safety of a party waiting to save my ass.

~~~

All too soon the day has come for my expedition to explore Xarcabard. I had the promised help of Kyoshuru and Kaosorb, while Neshamah and Trickfast also insisted on coming along. When questioned, though, they refused to give a reason why… Questionable, questionable. Perhaps Prince Trion had tasked them with a similar mission. If he could “entrust” the exploration of the Magicite crystals to ten other people at the same time, I wouldn’t put it past him to do the same for this Xarcabard tour.

‘So, Kyo, remind me why are so many monsters after our delectable behinds again?!’ I yelled as we raced up steep slopes and encountered sharp turns towards Castle Zvahl Baileys, where Kaosorb had last heard of the rumours amongst her friends.

‘Well I’m not sure, how about the fact that-’ a few punches punctuated his sentence in midway. ‘Your, I repeat, your Galka attracted them with his waving Galkan tail?’

‘Um… heheheh?’ A rumblingly awkward tummy-deep laugh echoed behind me as we practically flew into the Castle. ‘Well I did apologize!’

Once inside,  we all slumped against chilly rock walls and rested. Having been with my LinkShell for so long I guess I should’ve been prepared for the inevitable Linked Monster Panic Run… I swear, it happens every time on my watch.

Kyoshuru and Kaosorb were one of the first waves adventurers who rose to Vana’diel’s calls for travelers. They brought us first to the chamber where the Shadow Lord’s tomb has been rumoured to lie, first, since we had no other clue from the Kingdom. The Federation of Windurst never returned my mails, and I held a personal dislike for the Republic of Bastok, simply because… It is such a grimy, hopelessly dank city; the epitome of work and slog, they say, and tensions between the Humes and Galkas are high there.

‘I did my homework and read that many have seen Shadow Lord alternating between two forms,’ Kyoshuru informed us as we gathered our wits before one of us would have to open the door. ‘The first form is immune to magic, and the second has defense so strong, weapons and fists can barely scratch him.’

We clustered before the door in silence, and then Trickfast stepped up and the doors opened. One by one we filtered in, panicking inside and worried that we might find more than we bargained for in the first place.

‘Raen- look!’ Neshamah pointed straight ahead, and hoisted me upon his shoulder. Columns of coloured crystals lined the vague likeness of a box, though I couldn’t see too well in the darkness. A pulsating crimson carving cast devilish shadows over everything, and I thought we were done for when the columns began to glow and increase in their intensity.

‘Shi-’ Kyoshuru swore under his breath, as slight tremors ran through the place. The great stone doors were coaxed back into place, while our attentions were fixed upon the rumoured tomb of the Shadow Lord.

‘Kaos, do you think-’

‘We can take him on,’ she said quietly, ushering Trickfast, Neshamah and I as close to the door as she could. ‘If he does rise he’d be weak, still.’

A monstrous howl reverbrated through the cavern and scattered my courage. I promised my life to San d’Oria, but this was something not ordered by the King!

‘Zeid…?’

I turned to Neshamah imploringly. He, in turn, stared at the shadow of a hulking Galka clad in black, coming purposefully towards us. Zeid… where have I heard that name before?

‘Raen,’ he inclined his head as the slightest measure of mutual respect between the large race and the tiny race.

Come think of it, my co-workers laugh when I greet customers…

…

How the hell am I too happy?!

Is it even possible to be too happy?!

(HQ image of above here)

Haro Ice Staff. Harro Dark Staff ! Harro harro my lovely staves… 彡｀∀´)

Ugh, you’d think pigeons could be kinder to a tiny Taru.

There goes our Duoing dreams…

I don’t know why, but Xephysephyram has been my death partner number 2 these days.

This damned lump of flesh is just… Ugh.

In more ways than one do I pwn Ev. Ψ(｀∇´)Ψ

Congratulations Xephenia of TheKindred LS… after many deaths.

Peezy got allllll excited about this new ability he acquired and I forgot what it was called.. :x

~[Eiryn]~

(Missing Member: Eirian, Mithra)

The Core Members are Eiriyn (Kaosorb), Eirian (Shandrya), Eiryn (Raen), Evace (Evace).

But more importantly, this post will be to introduce Evace, since we’re all beneath level10, and hence our most interesting moments lie in total wipes.

This is how we met. He was a friend of Kaos who asked about me after she bought staves for me in preparation for reberu51. In support of my WHMnes (he’s 75whm) he had come down to Crawler’s Nest to support me. (Read: Not PL.)

As you can see, the Support was much appreciated. Not just by me.

Shortly after, he joined the LS (presumably invited by Kaos).

Then, The Static started.

Which was also when Kaos “helped” him to “propose” to me.. As we sat healing in the river which runs across East Sarutabaruta.

A key reason was because of the Ring which is rumoured to bring double experience points. I have yet to find proof, only hearsay.

The Second, was because he wanted some Companionship in the game.

I was extremely uncomfortable. First of all, I had a boyfriend… a husband, more like it, in more ways than I had hoped. Secondly, that Boyfriend also played FFXI. Thirdly, the Boyfriend and I have been together for more than a year now and we are faithful (unfortunately for Evace, since he’s such a nice person.)

The Boyfriend was mad at me for an entire day.

Until he got online the next day to question me some more, and spoke to Kaos who tried to calm matters by telling him it’s for the Ring (only).

Then he gave permission!! {/shocked} But of course, he had no idea that Evace was also lonely…

I’ve yet to give an answer! To help a friend, or reassure the boyfriend…? {Hmmm.}

I’m also bored ingame with only Neshamah would’d run anywhere and everywere with me.. The boyfriend doesn’t get online even if I beg him to because his reason is that he’s with me “on skype”. Blah!

(yes, you have seen this before…)

He has been very patient with me, and never complains (not even when my bad map-reading skills lead us unto Death!). He’s the guy I try to hit the laughing-climax of lmfao, and I’ve hit it twice or so. Most of the time he gives out an lol, or rofl, or lmao.

Since about level45 or so we’ve been duoing on and off, and sometimes find ourselves in the same PT. About that level he asked me for help in Davoi with regards to Paladin quest, finding that damned well in that village of Orcs..

We ended up face down in the mud, and needed Kitkat, Kyoshuru and even Zioncross (surprise!) to come and save us after being one-shotted by some aspiring ranger.

Gradually we forged a cautious friendship, and then started farming/hunting together (ugh Tabar Beaks!), primarily because of (a) boredom and (b) our NPCs. Our NPCs were of the same level, and levelled to 31 within a few mob of each other.

We began to explore and duo a lot more. When Kaosorb and Shandrya both made their Windurstian Mithra alternates Eiriyn and Eirian respectively (compare to my Eiryn ::grins:: All with the same hair and model size!) and levelled alongside with Evace’s BLU/whm, he came along as SMN/whm.

Today we explored the Lower, Middle and Upper regions of Qufim’s forbidding Delkfutt’s Tower. On foot. No elevators, because we had no keys. We duoed everything with a “high” defence rating and had our respective skills (Staff and Sword) up to 90 or so. We drew a line at those damned Goblins though, and I daresay that those unlinkable dolls were our favourite mobs. We were stopped only by an IT Demonic Doll guarding the gateway to the upper levels of Upper Delkfutt’s… Very sadly.

He couldn’t bring Nauthima out, so I brought Nokum and got him up to level 32!

After Neshamah left, I soloed a Giga and Porphyrion! <3 And now I see Mimas peeking at me through the Cermet door…

Since the Ancient Parchment was purportedly the hardest to get, we headed down to where’sthatplace to hit Liches gathered near the remains of some poor Hume. I died once on the way because Warlord (and then Kaos) started hitting a “Ka”… and since I’m trying to get my Staff skill up I merrily join in, reasoning that two level 75 can protect me from all harm.

Yes, he can. But not when a second Ka links and does a Sneak Attack on us.

Kyo had to change to a /whm sub to raise me, so that caused some time delay.

So we continue on our merry way, hit the first Lich we get, and…

… I was quited surprised.

So we decided to get the other two items as well. To Garlaige Citadel for the Bomb Coal, and Crawler’s Nest for the Exoray Mold!

To our immense stun-zation, both items also dropped on the first monster we hit!

(no screencap for Bomb Coal because, well, it seemed a little ordinary to me. heh!)

/wow. All three items in less than an hour.

Altana must love me. <3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I forgot about this post! XD  A few days ago I hit reberu50!

Screencaps for more information; if you can’t read them well (poor font or something) leave a comment and I’ll write it all out for ya.

All this happened on the same day (today) in chronological order.

Enjoy… or be disgusted.

After which, silence and peace. Whew!