Looking back...

While we are pushing forward.  Oftentimes it serves to stir up the past...
Sometimes things happen so fast I forget to make enough notes to write about it later.
Therefor, this will be a look back with some of the forgotten images.

This is from when Shagrath, big brother Wolf and his friend Draylo took me to get a key and find a coffer in Castle Oztroja for Red Mage artifact gear.

Draylo was Thief, and decided to pick a coffer lock.  Silly man!  It was cursed or something because it caused him to become weakened!  And it lasted longer than usual. I felt bad for him, but it also made me giggle a little.

Someone randomly asked me for help while I was just hanging out in Windurst one day.
We had to go though the three mage door to access an area for, I think, Black Mage artifact gear.  My memory is kind of fuzzy about the whole event.
What I do remember is, originally the fellow had asked me just for help getting past the three mage door. 
It turned into this awful outing with masses of aggressive creatures and stupid deaths due to the black mage trying to show off with area of effect spells. ; ;
In the end, I just had to leave them there because my patience was spent. ; ;
I felt bad, but I just couldn't take it anymore and was ready to cry.  Totally time for a hot, relaxing bath.

Anyway, I've always found this door to be fascinating and quite beautiful when activated. ^_^











Going way, way back now...

This is a snapshot of text from when I was a very "noob" little Red Mage and Mishieru had offered to take me to a brenner match and show me the ropes.
I say noob because I thought Maat fight was much longer then it is.  /blush
The amusing thing here is how we try to get the attention of the linkshell. hehe

Shagrath and I were putting together an experience points party with our friends.  We needed a tank, I believe.  A paladin...  So we were hoping for Ghrenn to "pop".


She's a lottery spawn?  Who knew! hehe

The next few are just silly^_^; (as if the previous ones aren't :p)

Sha-chan could really make me blush...  I know he didn't mean to.

This brings back pleasant and very unpleasant memories...  but I am honored that I got to battle one of those "NM"s you find wandering around outside at such a "low" level.

Now that I'm the coveted "75" (which is soon to be obsolete with the level cap increase coming up) I've joined in on high level battlefields, like Einherjar and Dynamis.  And battled some difficult monsters, like Byakko.  This is my first time at Byakko.  We were getting ready.  I was too nervous to take pictures during the battle. /blush

There is also something called a "merit party" that I am able to join now.
Sometimes you meet people who have...  shall we say... unique gear?

The fact that this is a galka made me more terrified. /panic 

Well that's all for now.  How about taking the time to take a look back at all your past adventures?
Hopefully the fond memories are stronger then the foul ones.
As always, happy adventuring and Goddess bless.

Warriors of the Crystal

I once again found myself in  Aht Urhgan Whitegate.  This time someone shouting for Divine Might caught my attention.  I asked if there was room for another Red Mage and was answered with an invitation to join the party.
I had been really concerned about how I would ever face the Ark Angles.  I tended to have trouble rallying three to six people for things, let alone seventeen!

After a very long wait, we were to gather in sky.
So long of a wait that I had to send sad word to Edwyth that I wouldn’t be able to attend Einherjar that evening.
It was already gather time and we hadn’t even entered the battlefield.
Luckily Ed seemed to not be cross with me choosing Divine Might.
After all, who knew when an opportunity like this would present itself again.

In the end, waiting paid off.
The group was able to defeat all five ark angles, though we did have one incident where everyone was knocked out.
A choice of earrings was offered to us.  I read through them all and quietly wished Zidea was around to ask which I should choose.
In the end I asked for advice from another Red Mage in attendance.  He suggested Suppanomimi, so I settled on that.

Five people from the group were willing to stick around so we could take a crack at the next mission.
This time we faced Eald’narche.
I remembered my first encounter with him…  I knew something was amiss even then, but I was not quite ready for the depth of his lunacy.
All he cared about was his thousand year dream of Paradise.

It took a few tries, but we did manage to best him.  Though that did not stop him from hurling insults.

The crystals will spin out of control as they did ten thousand years ago, and create another Meltdown that will destroy this world and everything on it!

We couldn’t believe what we were witnessing…  We couldn’t let him get away with it, but what more could we do.
I struggled to get up with what little strength I had remaining.
Then Lion stepped out before the group.

Then I guess it's up to me...  There might be another way to do this, but I couldn't think of anything better...

Then she took my elbow in her fingers and quietly whispered to me…

I'm sorry, Kiamo. I don't think I'm going to be able to keep our promise.

Lion wait, what are you---

She answered by pressing her lips to my cheek and pushing me aside as she ran off.
As I tried to get up and give chase, a seething pain gripped my head like a vice.  I could hear the screams of my comrades, calling to Lion.  I could do nothing but cradle my aching head in my hands.  And then…
The lilting voice of Yve’noile…

Eald'narche.
Something can never really be destroyed.
It only changes to take on a new form.
And now, thy time hast come to take on a new form.
Let us go...
Until we meet again...Warriors of the Crystal.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"It all began with a stone, or so the legend says.
In ages past, a sentient jewel, enormous and beautiful, banished the darkness. Its many-colored light filled the world with life and brought forth mighty gods.
Bathed in that light, the world entered an age of bliss until, after a time, the gods fell into slumber. That world was called Vana'diel.
However, this age will not last. The great bane will devour the fair land of Vana'diel.
The ancient seal will be broken, awakening nightmares of ages past.
The blood of innocents will soak the earth, and the world will fall into fear and despair.
But as one bright star shines through the clouds at night...
And as one song rings clear above the roar of beasts...
We hold to one hope in these darkest of times.
That star is you, and the song is yours.
And someday, that hope will become our dreams...our prayers...
Shine forth, star of hope! Let your song ring out across all of Vana'diel!
And what was split asunder will once more become whole.
Complete and inseparable for all eternity."

Inane remedy

Lately I had been thinking on the words of Jabbos from days past.

The only way to escape the pain…  is to change the world. 

It wasn’t so much that I was looking to escape my pain, but to find a way to remedy it.
Perhaps…  the past would be a good place to start.

I arrived in Windurst Waters [S] and saw Dhea.
She told me the entire camp had been buzzing with rumors of my accomplishments.
I blushed.  I wouldn't have been able to do any good without the aid of my comrades-in-arms.

Dhea, why is it so quiet today?  Is this a good omen?

Hmmm...  no, let's just say that people--  Mithra, in particular--don't always get along well with each otherrr, and when that happens, sometimes it's best to keep a low profile until things cool down.

I knew first hand about situations like that.

Just then Lehko ran by.  This immediately caught the attention of Dhea.  Not to mention a litter of other Mithra!
One of them even hurled her pitchfork at him!
What the heck!  Did these frisky felines not know that you catch more bee's with honey, so to speak? :/

Then, Mihl tried to pin some drama on me!  Accusing me of being more than friends with that male mithra.  For Altana's SAKE, I am married!!
As I was about to protest the accusation, the girls began their infighting all over again.  Romaa took that opportunity to ask me to go fetch Lehko.  I sighed.  Unlike all the other mithra, I was not smitten with this fellow.  Quite the contrary, in fact.  But if fetching him back to the city would unite the crew, I would do it.

I followed his scent out to a corner of Sarutabaruta and found not only Lehko, but Shikaree G!  I slowed my pace... I didn't want to mess with a sin hunter.  I knew well enough their power from meeting other sin hunters.
I ducked behind the wall, watching the scene unfold before me.
After the sin hunter took her leave, I found that my hiding spot wasn't so great.

Feel Frrre to come out now, Kiamo Ko!

Shoot... how did Lehko know I was here?

I showed myself, about to beg him to return to Windurst and face his fans.  He asked if I was jealous of the other mithra.  As if.

He then proceeded to call me fetching, and apparently knew exactly why I was there.
And refused to comply.
I suppose I can understand his predicament.  Were males chasing after me in such a manner, I would want to be as far away from them as I could get.
Just then Lehko clutched his abdomen and fell to the grass.
I wasn't fond of him, but I wasn't interested in seeing him meet his demise either.
A loud growl met my ears.
From Lehko's stomach!!

Lehko?  Are you ill?

I made my way to where he was curled in a ball and knelt beside him.

You must excuse my prrrotesting stomach.  You see, I haven't had a single bite to eat since escaping from the swiping claws of those wildcats--er, ladies...
I feel so faint, I can't take another step...
Of all the Goddess-forrrsaken timing..why must this ill-fortune befall me the very moment I change my mind about not going back to Windurst with you?

You..  were going to return with me after all, Lehko?

Indeed, but oh... oooh,  my poor stomach.  It hurrrts so much, I can't even move...
I r-really need your help, Kiamo.  Could you brrring me some food?

I... I suppose so, yes.

And if it isn't too much to ask, something...tasty?

Tasty?

I rummaged around in my pack, not wanting to actually leave him there.  However, all I had were some ginger cookies, which he was not interested in.  I knew I had other food options in my mog house, so I raced back to Windurst.

Dhea spotted me, as well as Romaa.  I told them of Lehko's condition and Romaa informed me that those raised in the homeland are very fussy eaters.  She suggested one type of fish to me, then told me to ask around, which I did.

With the list in hand, I went to my rent-a-room in Windurst [S].

Sarrrima?

Kup-yes?

Sarima...  I have this prrroblem.  A picky eater, do you know where I can get any of these?

I presented her with the fish list.

Kup-oh!  Well for a Blackened Siredon, you can fish up a muddy siredon in Carperner's landing and someone by the dock will be able to grill it for you right there!

Great!  Thanks Sarrima!

I grabbed my fishing gear and headed to Carpenter's landing.
Altana was smiling on me, as I was able to fish up the siredon on my third try.  I had it blackened and set off to Windurst [S].

I returned to where I had left Lehko.
He could smell the Blackened Siredon on me as I approached and jumped down from the top of the tower.
Crawled toward me...
And apparently summoning the rest of his strength, leapt straight at me, snatching the morsal from my outstretched hands!
I could do nothing but stare in shock as he devoured it.

When he was through, he thanked me and beckoned me to walk with him a bit.  We spoke about the state of the war.
Then he wanted to know if I wanted to know anything about him.
Mildly curious, I asked about his homeland and attire.  Which to me looked like the sleeves had been constructed from Yagudo feathers.
He said he was born in the capital city of the Gha Naboh Matriarchate.  "The Homeland".

Far, far South across the seas from Mindartia, it occupies the entire continent of Olzhurya and its surrounding islands.  Ruled by a beautiful queen, a lush land of peace and prosperity.

But Lehko had not spent much time there, and admitted he couldn't be sure if all that was true of the homeland.

I wondered if maybe that was where my mother had disappeared off to all those years ago.
Was she well?  Did she think of me?  …Was she even alive?
I dared not ask Lehko if he knew her.  Something told me the less he knew of my personal affairs, the better.

That night, I read through some of mothers old letters.
If she loved me as much as she claimed in these notes, why would she abandon me?
Why not come look for me or at least send some word?  It had been over twenty years and the closest contact I had was a vengeful uncle who blamed my mother and I for fathers demise.  I had never known either of them…  Yet such inane hatred fell upon my shoulders.
He had only helped me at the behest of my father.  By giving me the clothing and items father had set aside specifically for me.
The memories of all this caused such renewed grief…  I could barely sleep that night.
















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