The Furball

Beginning of a New Journey?

The sky was filled with ominous dark clouds, not that I the least worried. A gentle wind was brushing through my hair, and I felt really relaxed, listening to the seagulls squawking in the distance. The sea was calm, and the small waves hitting against the bow of the ferry taking me to Nashmau.

As I stood here, enjoying the salty air and serenity of it all, I kept thinking of the long journey I’ve been through. Oh, you thought I was obsessed with all the fishies below, didn’t you? They didn’t even cross my mind. After the incident with Ulbrecht just a few weeks ago, it’s been pretty crazy around here. I’ve been working hard as a student, trying to become a better mage. My approach to Scholar is very similar to White Mage, with minor differences. I’ve been amazed so many times by how well a Scholar can retain her mana, even without a refresher or secondary healer. It’s fun, yet very demanding.

I’ve met so many wonderful people on my journey to become a level 75 Scholar, and I’ve learned so much. Some of the people I met have even become close friends of mine; and of course there are those I would rather forget as quickly as possible. You meet all sorts of people out there: the gentle, the carefree, the obnoxious and the know-it-alls. But I wouldn’t have been able to attain my level without the continuous help and support of my friends and allies.

But just because I’ve reached level 75 doesn’t mean my journey is over. Far from it! Today marks the beginning of a new journey to become better at the jobs I already have. I’m too burned out right now to even think about getting another job, so right now I’m going to give it my all.

My motto: Be kind, diligent, playful and adventurous.

Prepared for Battle

I’m sometimes appalled by how unprepared some people are, whether it is for a linkshell event or an experience party. Making preparations is the key to any successful journey, yet few people take the extra time to go over their inventory before leaving their mog house.

When you show your interested in partying, you should be ready to go. Some people spend nearly twenty minutes finding gear stored in some goddess-forsaken place. Here is a few things you should prepare before leaving:

Subjob
The first thing you should check is your subjob. Are you a tank with a Black Mage as support job? Is that even remotely useful among the people you will be going with? Really now, having access to Warp beats Provoke any day?

Equipment
Have you checked and double checked that you have all the necessary gear with you? Sometimes I wander off without a few pieces I only macro in, but they can make a big difference!

Also, don’t underestimate the power of your weapon. Some monsters are naturally resistant to certain kinds of weapons. Swinging a club at a Robber Crab may not be the brightest of ideas. Weapon compatibility can make a huge difference in how long it takes to take down a monster.

Supplies
Make sure you’ve got all the ninjutsu you need for at least two or three parties worth. You’ll look like a fool if you run out of Shihei or ammo for your weapon just fifteen minutes into partying. With the recent adoption of the Mog Satchel, it is a good idea to stock up between each party.

All mages and jobs that require the use of any kind of spells should carry a stack of Echo Drops on them. There are no excuses for being lazy about this, and don’t make any excuses about not having the gil. Farm some honey and go see your local alchemist!

Also, what’s the deal? Why did you just come to the middle of nowhere with no oils or prisms to help you get safely to your destination? Oh, now you are crying it’s the mages’ job to get you there? Think again! We’ll give you the first sneak for free, but after that you should expect to be on your own.

Bring your food!
Mmmm.. delicious fishies! I love my fishies more than the average mithra. Don’t leave your home without packing your bento box, okay? Bring the appropriate food for your particular camp and job. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt when up against Colibris — those birds are vicious if fed!

Signet / Sanction / Sigil
Don’t wander off without seeing your local gate guard first! The signets can make a world of difference on the battlefield.

Reraise Items
Bring reraise items if your linkshell event requires this of you. Remember that certain fights leave you with limited time, and mages won’t have the time or the mana to spare to cast Raise on you.

Warp Items
Sometimes it can be a lo~ng way home. Don’t forget your Warp Cudgel or Instant Warp scroll.

And above all, be ready! Don’t leave your party waiting because you are tardy or have to run off doing some other errands.

A Most Troublesome Situation

The ground shook violently as several rounds of mortar shells hit the ground seemingly feet away. The shockwave from the explosions caused bricks crack and fragments fall from the roof. An elderly woman fell to the ground, unable to get back up again. People were making their way further into the Eldieme Necropolis, trying desperately to get into safety.

The battle between the Allied Forces and the beastmen had reached a peek in the past few days, and it was no longer safe to wander around in Batallia Downs. People from far and near had come here to take shelter from the beastmen attacks, but many hundred lives had been lost on the journey to get here. The allied forces had suffered numerous losses on the battlefield as well, and the shortage of troops was alarming at best.

I was exhausted and could no longer remember how long it had been since my last decent meal. I hadn’t slept for two or three days, but my will to continue helping these people never wavered. There were many wounded people inside, but me and the other healers had already tended to most of them. «There you go,» I said to a little boy, smiling as I sent him back to his parents. It’s just a light sprain, but it should heal in just a few days, I explained to his parents. Goddess bless you, adventurer. I bowed respectfully before the group of people before I walked toward the inner parts of the catacombs.

So tired, I thought to myself as I walked down the long hallways. The whole place was in a bad shape, but it was the safest place short of Jeuno at the time. The gates to Jeuno had been barricaded and all entries to the city long since restricted, leaving thousands of people to fend for themselves. People in these parts were bitter about the decision to close the gates, and some were not afraid to share their anger.

I found Erlene at one of the junctions leading further into the catacombs. I waved to her as I walked toward her. Nyaa~, I said to her. She looked at me for a few moments, smiling. Thank you for your hard work today, Kimiko, she said. I nodded to her, trying to wipe a yawn off my face. I was beyond tired to say the least, but I knew she had been working day and night for weeks, getting little sleep. I was in no position to complain around her.

Erlene looked at me, worried. Do you have a moment, she asked me. I nodded again. It may be unwise to speak here. Come, follow me, she continued, showing me the way to a more secluded area. We entered a huge hall, filled with flowers in memory of those who had succumbed to this pointless war.

Perhaps you have heard, but the educated and wise mages of the Allied Forces have been disappearing as of late, she explained. I asked her if they could’ve fallen victim to a beastmen attack on the battlefield, but she shook her head. In many cases it is happening right at our very own bases and encampments, she continued. I was startled by her answer, and worried about my fellow mages’ well being. She explained how this wasn’t isolated incidents and that all three nations had begun to investigate the matter further—with no result so far. I would like to ask you, Kimiko, to assist our colleagues in the investigation. I fear that it may be a somewhat dangerous task, so I will understand if you refuse, she continued. I told her I’d be happy to help, asking her where the meeting between the scholars participating in the investigation was scheduled.

<<<<<>>>>>

It was early morning by the time I made it to the beautiful city of San d’Oria. My feet ached as I walked across the street paved with stone setts. I much prefer the feel of a meadow or the soft ground found in say Windurst or Kazham.

As I reached the plaza I was greeted by a group of Scholars standing by one of the food stalls. Hello there, ummm…new…pupil, Ulbrecht said, waving to me. I sighed, feeling like a total idiot. Machudiaux, an elvaan scholar standing in the back, fumed at his colleague. I do say, Ulbrecht, the least you could do is attempt to remember some of the new pupils’ names. The tarutaru scholar, standing on top of a crate, didn’t seem surprised at all. Oh, he’s just doing it on purpose. I believe he enjoys coming across a bit aloof.

I didn’t really know what to make of the situation, but listened carefully to the scholars discussing the situation. They were worried that one of their friends, Fhen, may have fallen victim to the beastmen’s attacks as well. Ulbrecht tried to calm them down, explaining how she was the professor’s best student. I would gladly put my gil on her, should any beastman be foolish enough to cross her path. Everyone nodded their head, agreeing that it was hard to believe that something ill could happen to her. So, what do you propose we do, Machudiaux asked. Ulbrecht looked at everyone, thinking for a moment. The main roads between Windurst and here should be scoured with a fine-toothed comb, he explained, telling us that would be the best place to start.

The meeting ended with everyone going their separate ways, searching an area each in hopes of finding their lost colleague. I thought it would be best to talk with Erlene about the meeting, so I asked a representative of the Allied Forces to teleport me to Eldieme.

<<<<<>>>>>

The sun was setting in the distance, and it was already beginning to get a little chilly outside. A faint breeze swept through the Sauromugue countryside. I really enjoyed the fresh air as I had become all too familiar with the stale air inside Eldieme. A simple thing like fresh air can put a smile on my face, and the calm I felt made me purrr. I was still really tired, but I tried not to pay any attention to it.

Dozing off, are we? Ulbrecht said, welcoming me. The scholars I had met in San d’Oria earlier had already gathered together, only short of Machudiaux. Ulbrecht explained that he was simply making sweeping the area and would be back shortly.

Machudiaux explained that the soldiers watching the area had found Fhen’s tracks up until she arrived in Sauromugue. We’ve taken into account all possible routes from Windurst. And checked every questionable area along the way. And still we found nothing, he explained. In all likelihood, she was somewhere here in the champaign when she went missing.

Ulbrecht asked everyone to begin searching for their feline colleague. I expressed my concern with everyone searching individually and proposed that we search together. Ulbrecht shook his head and told me it would be far more efficient to split up and commence the search for Fhen.

A little worried about my own well being, I started searching for Fhen. I searched high and low, trying to stay clear of the beastmen forces in the area. I prayed that she would be safe and sound, but I had an eerie feeling that something bad was happening. These parts are dangerous even for the most experienced adventurer, so I hoped that her confidence hadn’t gotten the best of her.

Suddenly, as I was running up a little hill, I felt a weird sensation. I looked around me, trying to find the cause of the disturbing feeling. I walked over to some suspicious rubble. A faint light was shimmering from the ground, and I could feel it make my whiskers tingle. What’s this, I asked myself, examining the light further.

The light suddenly expanded, growing bigger and bigger. I was stuck, unable to move even the slightest. I panicked and quickly tried to cast a teleportation spell. Suddenly everything went black…

<<<<<>>>>>

When I came to again, I found myself in a dark cavern. I looked around, but the place looked unfamiliar to me. What happened, I thought to myself. I couldn’t see any exits, and I was too weak to attempt to cast another teleportation spell.

… Kimiko. I should have expected as much. It was Ulbrecht’s voice. I gasped in horror as I saw Ulbrecht standing over Machudiaux’s body. Well, despite your record of punctuality, it would seem this time you are a tad late. I hissed at him, expressing my rage over his actions. Allow me to bid you welcome to Ghoyu’s Reverie. Final destination of all those missing magi that you so relentlessly seek.

Suddenly Ulbrecht turns toward me and casts a binding spell unlike any I have experienced before. And while I’m at it… I suppose you would make a fine addition to that select group! He walked toward me, but I was unable to move. My body was terrorized, unwilling to move. I’m not really sure what happened after that as the rest of what happened is still a big blur. I found myself outside again, unharmed but shaken by what had happened.

I quickly made my way to Erlene who was still in Eldieme. What is it, Kimiko? Your expression does not bode well, she asked me, worried sick. I explained to her what had transpired, and she was appalled by my findings. But that cannot be! All the pupils, she cried out. I showed her Ulbrecht’s hat which was lying beside me when I came to again. What has that fool gone and done now, she asked, disturbed by the mere thought.

The Refugees and the Lost Professor

Torches, burning with lively flames, provided faint light to the hallway down to the catacombs of Eldieme Necropolis. The air felt musty, almost unbearable to breathe. These ancient burial grounds have now become shelter to the thousands of people seeking refugee from the ongoing war outside. I could hear the sound of swords clashing in the distance, reverberating through the long hallways, echoing the horror of yet another attack by the beastmen.

There were refugees everywhere, desperately holding together, hoping to live another day. A little girl reached her hand out to me, her hands covered with dirt. Nee… need food, she stuttered, weakened after having eaten nothing in several days. I stopped walking, crouching down to have a look at the girl. She looked completely worn out, and was in need of immediate medical attention. The people sitting around her looked tired, worried sick about their lost ones.

I closed my eyes, trying to forget how exhausted I was myself. I tried not to pay attention to the people murmuring around me. I put my hand on the little girl’s forehead, whispering Don’t cry, little girl, everything will be just fine. A brilliant light surrounded us, as I treated her wounds and healed her fatigue. The people sitting nearby drew closer, paying close attention to me helping the little girl. Goddess! Thank you, thank you! someone said, holding both his hands toward the ceiling. He looked relieved that someone had finally come to help them. I treated the other refugees as best I could, ever more gratified to help the ones in need. I’m sorry, this is all that I can do for now, I told them, finally resting my hand after having treated some thirty refugees. I stood up, ready to walk further into the catacombs. I looked at the desperate faces of the men and women in the hallway, feeling guilty that I couldn’t do more.

Move away, a brisk and dismissive voice suddenly said. A dark knight trying to steer through the crowd. Coming through, he muttered, annoyed that people were standing in his way. Fo… food! Need f…, someone in the crowd begged. The elvaan dark knight turned around and snarled at the old lady, before walking away. Some of the children in the group started crying, frightened by the angry elvaan.

I was appalled by how the elvaan had just treated these people in need, and wanted to walk over to him and give him a piece of my mind. I realized that causing a scene would undoubtedly just make things worse and scare the crowd even further, so I decided not to give the elvaan a swift smack to the head. I crouched down again, and started looking through my bag. I found some bread that I had bought earlier, and some of the fish that I had gotten in the Knightwell in Ronfaure just this morning. The crowd quickly gathered around me as I shared the food among them, telling them that everything would be alright, and that Altana would surely reach out to help them. Knowing the sad state of the military forces across Vana’diel, I knew chances were there wouldn’t be anyone to help these poor souls for at least a few months.

I prayed for Altana’s blessing of these people, and bid them farewell as I walked further into the catacombs. I was worried about the refugees, but one person can only do so much. I had even given away my own rations, so I hoped I’d be able to find something to eat. Some of Chicora’s pineapple cookies would’ve been just purrrfect, I thought to myself.

As I walked down a few stairs, I noticed Erlene standing at a junction. She was wearing a beautiful Scholar gown, and looked so smart with those glasses on. I wish I had a purrrdy gown like that, I thought to myself, a little jealous of Erlene. She was tending the wounds of another group of refugees, so I crouched down beside her and helped her out. Thank you, ma’am, she smiled, continuing to heal the wounds of a young boy. She peeked at me, and asked you are Kimiko, aren’t you? I nodded, telling her I had spoken with her a few months before. How are you finding the grimoire, she asked, eager to know of my recent adventures and my progress as a Scholar. I told her that I had spent a great deal of time, studying the ancient magical tome, and that I had been progressing quite well.

Erlene stood up, examining me thoroughly. I would expect nothing less from a student of the Schultz School of Martial Theory, she said, wishing that the professor himself was here to witness my progress. I tried to hide a blush, making Erlene giggle. Erlene’s face suddenly became very serious, and I could see that she was worried. Kimiko, might I impose a request upon you? she asked. I nodded, telling her I’d be happy to help her. I’m afraid my duties bind me here. Would you be willing to seek out the professor in my place?

A young man walked into the room, also wearing the formal attire of a Scholar. Oh? So you’re off to locate the good professor, are you? the young man asked me. It was Ulbrecht. I nodded to him, telling him I’d do my very best to reveal his whereabouts. Ulbrecht looked through his pocket before reaching his hand toward me, presenting a letter. Please, should you happen to find him, pass this along with my regards, will you? I accepted his request, and put the envelope in my bag.

Ulbrecht left the room just as sudden as he had entered. Erlene, worried sick about the professor’s well-being, was a little frustrated by Ulbrecht making delivery requests, oblivious to the professor being missing again. I comforted her, telling her not to worry about the professor.

Tracking down the professor was no easy feat, and my journey to find the good professor brought me to Bastok. I hoped that someone there would know of his whereabouts. It was already late in the evening, and I was beginning to doubt that I would find anyone able to help me. I was walking toward the residential area, as I met Nicolaus, a former student of the professor.

The young man, now working with the Mythril Musketeers, looked intelligent and reliable, so I hoped that he would be able to help me. I wonder why he quit, I thought to myself as I explained to him that the professor had gone missing again and that Erlene is worried sick. He explained that he believed that the professor is in Pashhow Marshlands, concealing himself using a type of magic called a storm. I asked Nicolaus how I would be able to find him if he was concealing himself from prying eyes, to which he could offer no helpful information.

It was already late, so I decided I’d get some sleep before making my way to the marshlands. If the professor was indeed just hiding, I thought that it would be safe to get some much needed rest. Healing all the refugees earlier had taken it’s toll on me, and I needed to rest and get a decent meal before I could go anywhere.

<<<<<>>>>>

The sun was shining brilliantly in the sky, partly obscured by clouds. It was raining lightly, but I did not mind as it felt really refreshing. I was riding on a chocobo, heading west toward the Vunkerl Inlet, hoping I’d find clues as to where the professor is hiding. Monsters of all shapes and sizes were roaming in the marsh. Fortunately, there was no need for concern as the monsters paid no attention to my chocobo—or me for that matter.

It was nearly noon before I finally found the first clue, some Indescript Markings. I could feel an unpleasant aura as I walked toward it, reaching down to touch it. Just as I thought, this is it, I whispered to myself as I examined the markings. It is certainly not the most ideal of conditions, a voice suddenly said. I looked around, trying to locate the professor. I knew he was there, but I could not see nor sense him. I have aligned it such that it is invisible to prying eyes, he continued. I panicked, not knowing what to do. And that’s the way I’d like to keep it for now, the voice said. Suddenly, the professor appeared out of nowhere.

Playing with Dolls

A small river flowed gently by me, glittering in the morning sun. The gardens of Ru’Aun was filled with tranquility, and I felt an inner peace as I walked down the ancient grounds of the Zilartians. Mighty guardians were lined up on each side of me, surrounded by a radiant blue light. The living statues seemed inactive, but I knew deep down they’d wake up if their limited motion detector were to go off. A few birds were flying cheerfully by, chirping to their hearts’ content. I smiled, thinking how they’d make a delightful dinner.

I had read an interesting article a few days earlier that peeked my curiosity. The author, Kimiko the tarutaru, explained how she had fought against the living statues, the Groundkeepers, and gotten some decent experience. I decided I’d give the dolls a spin, hoping they’d help me become a better Black Mage.

A Field Manual at the entrance listed eleven dolls as a viable training regiment, which was purrrfect as completing such a regiment would net me a nice bonus.

I felt really nervous as I walked toward the first groundkeeper. The enormous doll was completely oblivious to my presence and just continued to patrol. I looked around, making sure there were no other creatures nearby. Uh.. here goes… I guess, I said to myself as I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I concentrated as hard as I could, beginning to mold my mana into an enfeebling spell. A dark emptiness engulfed the doll, slowing it’s movement like magical glue.

I opened my eyes, looking at the groundkeeper. It chased after me, and I could hear a faint hum from inside it’s heavy armor. Intruder alert, the doll said, moving seemingly untouched by spell I had just cast on it. Aww, rats! I meowed in dismay, running away from the armored doll.

Once at a distance I cast a quick Stun to stop it from moving temporarily. I closed my eyes again and concentrated even harder, casting a binding spell this time. The spell once again failed to take effect, and I was starting to get quite nervous about this camp. I was at a loss, and decided to sleep the monster with a powerful soporific spell I had once learned. The doll stopped moving, standing completely still. Finally, I thought to myself. I deliberated on what to do for a few moments, deciding to take a different approach when casting my spells. With some minor adjustments to my chants, I was hoping I would be able successfully land the enfeebling spells.

Using an elemental seal, I cast a new gravitation field at it, using an ancient black spell. The spell finally went unresisted, and I knew I was safe. I closed my eyes again, concentrating on borrowing some of mother nature’s powers. My body was tingling, and around me I could feel the air become filled with small sparks of lightning. I kept concentrating, making sure the impact would be as big as possible. Suddenly a brilliant burst of lightning shot down on the groundkeeper, piercing through it. The doll roared, enraged by the attack. It walked toward me, in sluggish pace as the gravity field weighed it down.

I put some distance between the groundkeeper and myself, and started concentrating again. The enormous doll’s footsteps became louder and louder, and I sensed that it was but a mere seconds away from reaching me. The air around me became cold, almost bone-chilling. A hundred shards of crystal-like ice-taps shot through the groundkeeper, damaging it’s internal systems. By now I had managed to get it down just below half capacity. The damage from my freezing attack woke the doll back to life, and once again it began to chase after me.

With two rounds of tier IV spells I finally knocked it out, just like Kimi~taru said. I was a little proud of myself, having soloed a doll of my own for the very first time.

In the future I hope I can expand my knowledge of the black magic and become a better Black Mage. Hopefully the linkshell will take notice once I build a bit more experience, so I’m hoping for the best.