A Fated Expedition: Tales of Vana'diel in Awe and Earnest

The adventure journal of Matalyn Ceridwen

[southboundf]

The Cat Burglar

::1427-06-29, Watersday:: 

If I didn't know better, I might think Tosuka-Porika was trying to get me killed. The Optistery librarian sent me after a missing book that he suspected had been burgled by an infamous thief named Nanaa Mihgo. She was easy enough to find but harder to barrrgain with. After doing a dangerous chore for her in the Maze of Shakrami (without a map, naturally), she gave me a key to her hideout that she then forced me to find on my own!

After sneaking past the skeletons and entering her hideout, the whole thing turned out to be a trick, and Nanaa and her gang of miscreants only intended to fleece me head to tail. The book was a rrrruse! Lucky for me the Ace Cardians showed up after following me, and then Ajido-Marujido showed up having followed them! The number of double crosses still has my head spinning. 

 Anyway it turns out Nanaa Mihgo had the Book of the Gods hidden in the heart of the city all along, and handed it over to Ajido-Marujido knowing they were no match for his powerful magic, and relieved that the Cardians will now be after him instead. Will all my adventures be this drrramatic?

[southboundf]

Popping Cherries

:: 1427-01-25, Firesday::

I'm learning more and more about the politics of Windurst, whether I like it or not it seems. I guess I just assumed that peace with the beastmen was maintained diplomatically, but in reality it seems old hatred runs deep here. Rakoh Buuma at the gate still refers to the Yagudo as 'the damned enemy' and I've heard similar mutterings from many in the city. It's true I've had a few confrontations myself while traveling, but I didn't associate that to the entire race. Can they all be so bad? I was about to find out for myself.

 Leepe-Hoppe dispatched me out to Giddeus (by way of a song, which while amusing went on far too long) with bags of cherries to appease the Yagudo tribe that calls the canyon home. The fruit was barely out of my hands before the threats began! What makes them so hostile to us? Am I to believe the only thing preserving harmony with them is... cherries?

Hopefully the handful I munched on the journey out there doesn't result in all out war. Fingers crossed!

[southboundf]

The Trouble with Mana

::1425-10-18, Darksday::

It turns out being an adventurerrr might be a little more difficult than I thought! As if the giant bees and ferrrocious hares weren't enough trouble, the open plains of Sarutabaruta are easy to get lost in as well. Not only that, but the beastmen tribes are everywhere! I've met the occasional goblin before and although they talked a bit funny, they were never hostile! Then there are the Yagudo, with their dark feathers and scary masks. I can almost feel them watching me behind every rock and tree. Needless to say, I returned to town a couple of times to better prepare myself for the journey ahead... and to gather my courrrage, but nobody needs to know about that part!

When I finally found the Horutoto Ruins and Ajido-Marujido himself, his sister Apururu seemed to be trying to convince him not to revive the magic contained within. Seems like he doesn't like the idea of maintaining peace between the beastmen and the other nations with the War Warlocks fading and the Star Sibyl quiet. Try as she might, I don't think he can be convinced that Windurst doesn't need weapons of war. But if the other powers in Vana'diel see Windurst gathering strength, won't they just start doing the same until war is inevitable? In any case, he didn't seem interested in talking to a grunt like me about it; he tasked me with recharging the Mana Orbs within the ruins and took off without another word. Are all Tarutaru this rude?

My next task took me to the Windurstian Manustery, where the Cardian workshop produces all those funny automatons I see helping out everywhere. I was surprised to find Apururu there giving orders, and before long she was giving orderrrs to me. She taught me about how the heart of the Cardians are the Mana Orbs, and tasked me with recharging a handful of them to create a new batch. I managed without much trouble until things took a turn for the worse and a group of Cardian Aces forced me to hand them over! Apururu is not going to be happy...

[southboundf]

Finally, Windurst!

::1425-05-17, Firesday::

  Finally, Windurst! I've waited so long for this day I can hardly believe I'm finally here, but I can already tell I'm on the right path. Meeting Semih Lafihna was such a stroke of good luck, she was so helpful and kind I never would have guessed she was captain of the famous Sibyl Guards! She was obviously very busy so the fact she took the time to speak to a newcomer like me at all was verrrry generous. With her help I was able to find a gate guard to give me directions to the Orastery. If I want to become a hero like in the Warrior of Light stories, I'm going to need to prrrrove myself to these renowned mages of Windurst. I just didn't expect Kuroido-Moido and Hakkuru-Rinkuru to be so... impolite! I'm sure they think I'm just another sword swinging backwater flunkey to order around, but I'll show them. 

Once I become a hero, nobody will dare pick on poor little 'Tomatalyn' everrrr again!

- Matalyn