Fish on the Menu

I bumped into Baderon at the Mizzenmast today. He told me if I still had a fresh ballonfish, they'd pay good money for it over at the Bismark - which is a training ground for all the best chefs in Eorzea as well as (arguably) the best restaurant. As it turns out, I've been keeping that fish alive in a small construct I built so I decided to turn it over to the Bismark - it had nothing to do with the fact that I was starving and hadn't had a decent meal all week. Honestly, can't even remember the last thing I had eaten before that. Anyway, Baderon also said he'd write me up a letter of recommendation to the Knights of Barracuda if I wanted to stop by there later.

I approached the man at the counter, Charlys, who welcomed me graciously but before I could offer him the fish I'd "caught" on my arrival to Linsa Lominsa we were interrupted by a formidable roegadyn named Lyngsath. He was telling me of the rarity and culinary delights of ballonfish when a familiar face walked into the Bismark. The mi'qote woman who saved me aboard Captain Hob's ship - Y'shtola - interrupted Lyngsath. (Was she following me? Did she overhear from outside?) She asked if the balloonfish's rarity had anything to do with the sea serpent we saw that night aboard the ship. Lyngsath didn't know much about that but he did know the stories say that serpent is the guardian of the treasure at Seal Rock. This must have been music to this treasure hunter's ears (and I admit I was moderately interested as well).

Eating at Bismark

After she left, Lyngsath paid me handsomely for the balloonfish (2000 gil!) and I turned around and had a decent meal. I still had to find out more about Knights of Barracuda.

Distribution of Goods

A week has passed since I arrived in Eorzea. I have been making my way as a conjurer - accepting guildleves as they become available and doing my best to keep the simple folk of Eorzea safe. My travels have taken me to both Ul'dah, the desert city state, and Gridania, nestled deep within the forests of central Eorzea.

Ul'Dah in the Distance

I spend a good amount of time working around Linsa Lominsa as a carpenter as well. My travels have given me an opportunity to stock up on an alchemical formula called Growth Formula Alpha which I use to turn maple branches into wands for other "budding" (if you will) conjurers in the Linsa Lominsa area. In order to provide constant supply, I decided to hire a retainer - a service provided to me by the Mizzenmast. I was introduced to several candidates but decided upon a young lalafell woman named Bonchacha to represent me in the hustle and bustle of the Market Wards. She is currently peddling my maple wands in Upper Keeners Ward of Linsa Lominsa.

Get Your Maple Wands Here!

Making a Living

I needed a way to make a living in Limsa Lominsa, so I poked around local guildleves and decided I'd try my hand at carpentry. My first task sent me to a (rather eccentric) lalafell named Bango Zango who asked me to work on bronze gigs for the fishermen of Limsa Lominsa. I set to the task at hand and found the work rather enjoyable change of pace from the action packed life of conjuring outside the city walls.

Shai at Work

I also did some work for Baderon at the Mizzenmast. I helped him get some new willow counter tops. He mentioned while I was there that I did a good job on that task earlier (the plague rats) and he showed me a neat technique to recapture some of my lost magic points - "Tranquility" it's called. After finishing up work at the Mizzenmast, I headed out to Camp Bearded Rock where I also finished a few planks for the Knights of Barracuda. You don't want to know what they were going to use them for...

Mustache Chop!

Peculiar Structure

Once I ran out of guildleves I decided if I was going to work on being a carpenter, I'd probably need some good materials - so I bought a hatchet and set off into the wilds to gather some! I really enjoy the relaxing nature of Botany. I feel at ease out in the wilderness, not worrying as much about being attacked by wild animals or other terrible creatures. It was a nice change of pace. I hardly noticed it was "actual work." While I was out near Skull Valley inspecting trees, I did come upon a peculiar structure. I don't know what to make of it but I'm guessing it's some kind of dock. Perhaps... airships land here? Not while I was working they didn't. Perhaps I'll know in the future. 

Together with Friends!

Nimla & Shai

Since I've been in Eorzea, I've had the chance to reunite with some old friends (as well as my wife). We have have gone on a few hunts together in and around the city of Linsa Lominsa. Eldren created a linkshell, Elysium, so we could coordinate future adventures around Eorzea. It is really good to be reunited with familiar faces I haven't seen in several years. Though, I feel I am mostly adjusting to life in Eorzea right now, I look forward to many adventures with Elysium in the future.

Elden & Shai 

My First Adventure!

I was breathless at the sight of Limsa Lominsa, but once I had collected myself Captain Hob graciously accompanied me to the Mizzenmast - an inn frequented by sailors and adventurers of all sorts. Among the crowd I lost track of Hob and met Baderon. He had the appearance of a grizzled pirate himself, but knew his way around the Mizzenmast so well he was perhaps the proprietor. He warned me briefly that Eorzea was no place for the unprepared but thanks to letters from my wife Nimla, I felt prepared.

We were interrupted when the Miqo'te who had saved me previously (Y'shtola) came into the Mizzenmast. She spoke curtly to Baderon about some hidden treasure out at a place called Seal Rock. I have to say my interest was piqued, but there was mention of a group called the Knights of Barracuda guarding this area. I plan to look into this in the future, but before I could inquire the conversation ended, my eavesdropping ended and Baderon once again turned his attention to me.

He explained any adventurer worth his weight around Limsa Lominsa would do right to affiliate with guilds and try their hand at Guildleves - requests or projects the guilds required. I was interested in the advice and new in town so Baderon went as far as to hand over one of these Guildleves, which had the appearance of a tarot card with information on the back. Baderon was looking for someone to take care of a certain rat infestation problem he'd be facing lately and issued this Guildleve (leve) to any adventurer willing to take it.

It directed me to Camp Bearded Rock just at the other end of the long bridge connecting Limsa Lominsa to the large island of La Noscea. Though I was tired of my journey I felt a certain urge to test my skills on the shores of Eorzea. I headed out to Camp Bearded Rock.

It was there I was able to initiate the Guildleve and begin my hunt for a number of plague rats that had made a nest nearby. I found them quickly and irradiated them with my conjuring skills. There was a rush of excitement as I did my first bit of work in this new land - and I was promptly rewarded with a large some of money. Perhaps there were investment opportunities in store.

I needed to return to Baderon to thank him for his kindness, but it began to rain and I took cover in a cave that led me to this very scenic vista of Linsa Lominsa. I was so moved by the view that I knew in my heart that this was now my home and I would be in Linsa Lominsa for many years to come.

Fresh Off the Boat

Call me Shai.

I am a Dunesfolk Lalafell and proud of that heritage, but I recently decided to start a new life in the lands of Eorzea. I am beginning this journal in the spirit of this new start in foreign lands. Not long ago I set out from my homeland, crossed the seas, and arrived in Limsa Lominsa, city-state on the western edge of Eorzea off the coast of La Noscea island. I decided I would come to this continent to be closer to my wife who was studying Conjury in the city-state Gridania. However, the crossing was not easy on me. I have grown up surrounded by rock and sand and was uneasy surrounded by so much water. Additionally the last leg of our voyage was marked by a brutal storm.

During the commotion I heard a strange voice beckon to me. I left the shelter of the cabin to come above deck. To my surprise as the crew struggled to keep the vessel on course, monsters flooded over the sides. Perhaps stirring them from the sea was a strange display of lights in the air. I had a basic understanding of Conjury myself so I decided to help repel these creatures - known as Aurelia - along side a Miqo'te and a Roegadyn.

After felling three of them on my own I managed to pick up a balloon fish that one dropped, but before I could study it further the ship became overwhelmed with monsters. They seemed to be fleeing or perhaps guided by a massive sea serpent that jumped clear over our ship. I might have died if the Miqo'te, Y'shtola, I believe her name was, hadn't erected a protective barrier around us. Thanks to her I made it through the night and into Limsa Lominsa's welcoming port the following day.

It was quite the adventure and I hadn't even set foot in Eorzea yet!