Deliveries

I made it to Frondale's Phrontistery today. I didn't recognize it as the name of the alchemist guild earlier and I feel foolish since I dabble in alchemy from time to time. I checked in at the front counter - dressed for the occassion! - and was met with a very hearty thanks from the alchemists and the sick children. As I was on my way out, though, the front desk asked me to take a type of medicine to Marcelloix. Perhaps this is what had him so troubled a few days ago. I agreed to take it with me back to the Oak Atrium as I was headed there soon.

I returned to the Atrium and was informed the kids had been behaving ever since I watched them. How nice! I was told to meet Marcelloix at the Roost so I headed there. Events at the Roost were interesting. Marcelloix was summoned but wouldn't come close. He wore a mask and spoke of his disfigurement. Apparently he had been lurking around the Atrium at night - the children were scared of this apparition and thus behaving. It had nothing to do with me or my skills at parley. It's certainly a curious turn of events.

Hide & Seek with the Children

I was at the carpentry guild today and I was asked to watch after the children (who had caused me some trouble a few weeks ago). I didn't hold any grudges against them. I gladly excepted the task and set out to find their instructor, Marcelloix. He seemed troubled but would not go into any detail on the matter. He said the children would work on their toys and play until it was time to eat. All this sounded simple enough. He left with a worried but determined look on his face.

Play time didn't go well. The youth named Powle incited a mutiny. Apparently substitute carpenter means anything goes around here. They all ran off leaving me in their dust. This wouldn't bode well if Marcelloix came back so I had to hunt them down - one by one if necessary - and drag them back to the guild. I dreaded to think they would venture into the forest to hide from me.

I found the one named Nicoliaux hiding in a tree outside the guild (She didn't make it far, did she?). I got to test my skills again at parley which I hadn't utilized in well over a month in order to talk her into revealing the location of the other children. Could I lose at parley with children? Apparently, I could. She was quite skilled in his knowledge of carpentry and Gridania because she bested me in the first round. I would talk her down if it took all night long! 

After 21 rounds of parley, I finally talked her into returning to the guild. She refused to give any information on the other children, but fortunately I found Sansa soon afterward. She was hiding behind the guild itself (Not too clever, really). She mentioned the one named Ryd wanting to be a lancer, so I headed to the lancer guild from there. I'd never been to it before so maybe it would be an interesting trip.

Lancer Training!

The barracks were cool. I got to see some demonstrations while I waited. Finally, Willelda at the front desk she had heard children's laughter coming from outside. I set out to investigate. I found Ryd quickly and he was also reluctant to cooperate. Sounds like it's time for another rousing debate! After all the practice I got with Nicoliaux, Ryd was a pushover. He quickly divulged the hiding place of his friend (the dissenter!) Powle.

I Know You're in There Powle

I had to shake Powle out of a box by the lancer barracks and he told me some silly child's story about ghosts at the archer guild. I took this as a cue to investigate their next. As I approached the archer guild I found Elyn up on a tall ledge. Not the best hiding spot, but apparently she was nervous about the height. I had to talk her down. Her fears were a formidable opponent but I was now a master of parley among children - whatever that's worth.

Let's Do This, Nicoliaux

I'd found them all except for one named Aunillie and the only one willing to talk was Nicoliaux - if I could best it out of her. Ready for a rematch! I shall win this time, Nicoliaux! This time I had her on the run in round two! The student who was once the master is now the student again! She told me that Aunillie never left the guild! Tricky children! For being a good sport, Nicoliaux gave me a sugerloaf hat and some colorful building blocks.

Actually, I had quite a bit of fun with the children! I headed back to the guild to check on Aunillie.  The children were all assembled and studying quitely when I walked in - then the call to dinner sounded and chaos ensued. I find I like being around the children. Though I still wonder what Marcelloix set out to do with such a look on his face. I spoke to A'naidjaa on my way out. I had hoped she would give me some guild marks for my troubles (fun) today but instead she was inspired by my gift (the colored blocks) to task me with another favor.

Very Stylish Sugarloaf!

It seems my gift with children and the importance of toys in these troubled times inspired the guild to prepare a package for the children's hospital ward in Ul'dah at Frondale's Phrontistery. I had never heard of this place (or had I?) so I would get to see yet another new place in my travels. I accepted in the spirit of the Starlight Celebration which was coming to full bloom. Though, I'm not certain when I'll next step foot in Ul'dah. I had planned on a trip there next week to deliver some of my own wares - perhaps it could be rescheduled.

I digress.

I Meet my First Moogle - and He's Pudgy!

I found myself back at the Botany Guild today, the Greatloam Growery. I signed my name to the registry with a roegadyn named Opyltyl. He told me of a very special relationship the Botanists of Gridania have with the elements, moogles and conjurers. He said I should speak to Cicely for further instruction as a fledgling guild member.

Greatloam Growery Gardens!

Cicely told me that the conjurers had contracted the guild to clear out weeds by the township of Quarrymill. I hadn't been there since those children at the carpenter guild tricked me into doing their chores. This sounded vaguely similar since Cicely herself wasn't coming with me. She said something along the lines of weeds not interesting her. Well, I don't mind cutting a few weeds. I headed out for Quarrymill.

I cleaned up the weeds in the area. As I wiped the sweat from my brow, Cicely showed up and told me I had done a good job. She complained about the boring, menial tasks of tending the forest and spoke of a wanderlust to see all the sights of Eorzea. She then dismissed herself thinking conjurers were coming - but it was a moogle! He commented to himself about her desire to leave, but her tendency to stay and be one of the most gifted botanists in the land. He didn't know I could understand him using the Echo. I assured him I wouldn't let a word of his thoughts reach Cicely's ears. I headed back to the guild to tell them my task was complete.

Getting Ripped Off by Maisenta

Your reward is based on a performance rating of 14.
You obtain 2 oak logs.
You obtain 2 ice crystals.
You obtain 4,924 gil.
You obtain the recipe for iron scythes.
First Material: 1 block of wing glue.
Second Material: 1 iron scythe blade.
Third Material: 1 ash scythe snead.
Fourth Material: 1 iron spear clasp.
“High Tension” complete!
You disagree with Maisenta.
Shai Hulud: take these ice crystals back and give me wind.
Shai Hulud: this is unacceptable.
Shai Hulud: i won't be treated like this. I'm a respected member of the guild.
You disagree with Maisenta.
Shai Hulud: the guild will hear about this, Maisenta.
Shai Hulud: mark my words. oh and marks would be nice, too, next time.
Shai Hulud: thanks for nothing.

Grendel Goat

Since arriving in Eorzea and surrounded by vast amounts of aether, I have tried my hand at learning the art of thaumaturgy which manipulates this energy into a variety of spells unlike those of conjury. I've had Skald of Eorzea be my mentor through much of the training, but today I found myself passing Ul'dah where the guild, Arrzaneth Ossuary, was located so I dropped in to register as a thaumaturge even though conjury held sway over my heart.

Arrzaneth Ossuary

I spoke with the young lalafell woman at the desk, Yayake. She gave me a lecture on Nald'thal - the realm of life and the realm of death. She instructed me to be pious and virtuous in life to be rewarded in death. It was a little over my head and I wondered if perhaps I signed my name in err, but after her brief lecture about the tenets of Arrzaneth Ossuary, she directed me to Prelate I'llofii- a miqo'te thaumaturge who would guide me. She handed me an ossuary linkpearl and sent me on my way.

Prelate I'llofii

I'llofii (impressed me with her awesome scepter) discussed with me the rigorous training a thaumaturge must endure to understand the meanings of life and the scope of death. She read to me a last will and testament of a merchant who died recently and read to me that in order for the Order to receive one third of his estate he requests to be avenged if he died due to unnatural causes. So this was my first task as an official thaumaturge of the Order of Nald'thal at the Arrzaneth Ossuary. I was sent to dispatch this villainous goat.

I Got You Cornered Now!

I tracked the creature to the cliffs near Camp Horizon where we had our final showdown. Unfortunately I had to fight my way through the entire herd to get to the goat marked for death. Once I defeated it an enraged nannygoat - presumably its mother! - charged me from out of nowhere (nannygoat = ninjagoat?). She was quite formidable! I had to use all my available wits and skills to put her to rest and save my own skin.

Goat Marked for Death!

Goat Marked for Death's Ninja Mother!

Having completed this task for the Ossuary, I decided to head back to Prelate I'llofii and report my success. She rewarded me in guild marks which I converted into training in a thaumaturge skill referred to as "firm conviction" which increases my resilience while casting spells. I hope this carries over to my conjury as well.

Conjury Duty

I stopped by Stillglade Fane today. I was looking to visit Nimla, but was stopped by Soileine at the front desk. She explained to me that it was our duty as conjurer to protect and ensure the safety of the elementals - especially the ones that dwell within the ancient trees. She asked me to go and scout with Brother Morys to make sure all was in order in the forest. I had a duty to uphold. She told me to head to Lifemend Stump - I'd never heard of it but it certainly had an interesting name.

Lifemend Stump

When I got to this great stump, Morys announced the wood was in great pain - then wandered off on his own as if in a trance. Soileine contacted me via the Stillglade Fane linkpearl and told me Morys often is lost in conversations with the forest, but there was indeed a trespasser in the forest. I was sent to patrol Humblehearth, Emerald Moss and a place called Amberscale Rock that I had never heard of before. I immediately set out to patrol the woods.

Fight at Amberscale Rock!

I found nothing of interest at Humblehearth or Emerald Moss, but there was something of note when I tracked down Amberscale Rock, which was west of Humblehearth. It was there I found six elementals hovering over the body of a knight. Although Morys was standing by, I single-handedly defeated the elementals in order to rescue him. It was a vicious fight and I'm thankful I recently learned how to cast Sleep in order to fight them one by one at my own pace. Nevertheless it was not easy by any means.

The Fallen Knight

Morys told me to contact the Fane about the fallen knight - I contacted Soileine who told me she would send help for the man and to return tot he guild immediately. Whew. I could have used a break!

I arrived back at the guild and spoke with Soileine in person. She told me they had confirmed the identity of the knight and that he hailed from Ishgard. I had long heard of this city-state but never seen it up close. Apparently the knights come into the woods often and end up hurting the woods and themselves - Brother Ingram interjected to say they are searching for something, but would not elaborate.

Apparently Morys was already escorting the knight back to Ishgard and Soleine and Ingram thought it best if I catch up to them and play escort. I was warned there may be dragons involved! They must really think highly of me if they're sending me into Coerthas on dragon alert. Flattered and a lot nervous, I headed out for Emerald Moss and to Coerthas beyond that. 

I arrived at Owl's Nest - a community tucked into the mountains of Coerthas. There I was nearly trampled by knights mounted on chocobo (lucky!) and met with one named Yuhelmeric. He asked me if I had come to join their ranks in slaying dragons - but I informed him I was there to see the knight with Morys. Yuhelmeric told me it would be days before the knight was ready to return to the woods, where he claimed to have seen a dragon (however improbable). A dragon? Near Amberscale?

Knights Stationed at Owl's Nest

When I found the injured knight, I used the Echo to peer into his soul. He was running from Amberscale Rock - fire engulfed him! When I entered the cave, there was only the rock in question and nothing else. What was this all about, I wonder. He asked me to tell Morys he was sorry for accusing the conjurers of concealing a dragon. The Echo had shown he was mistaken; his dragon was nothing more than an oddly shaped stone. Soileine told me through the linkpearl to track Morys down at the edge of the Black Shroud. I began the long hike back to the Shroud.

Not a Dragon; or is it?

I ran into Morys on the way back to Gridania. He mentioned he needed to know what was really going on in Ishgard and in his cryptic way excused himself and returned to Coerthas.

I found my way back to Stillglade Fane finally. Soileine confided in me that she had not been totally honest with me about Morys in the past. She told me he had been found in the forest much like the young knight. He suffered from amnesia and perhaps his encounter was triggering some past memory. Morys stumbled in while we were talking about him (creepy!) and muttered about a "one place" he must return. I can't make much sense of it, but finally my duty was complete. I set out for some rest and relaxation in the springs around Gridania.

Botany Guide

I"m starting to map certain trees.
The area refers to a map found at http://www.gamebreaker.tv/forum/viewtopic.php?id=203
Several of the nodes are incorrect on this map - but secondly I'm also mapping sweet spots.
So far I have not noticed sweet spots changing from tree to tree (in the same area).
So I have numbered them from top to bottom 1-11 with the cursor starting on #6.


Botany Tier 2 (Skull Valley)

Area 5 & 6:
     #2 Cedar Branch
     #3 Cedar Log
     #7 Cock Feather
     #8 Wildfowl Feather
     #9 Gil Bun

Mor Dhona Expedition

Skald of Elysium gathered us together to do some exploring. Elden and Nimla were in attendance for much of the fun, but before our climactic triumph over Mor Dhona, Nimla had to head back to the conjury guild to work. She wasn't there when we conquered our fears and delved into the depths of this scarred landscape.

Creepy Structure at the Heart of Mor Dhona

It was one of my most victorious moments in Eorzea. I explored much of the eastern terrain by myself while Skald and Elden made their way around the western edges. There is a foreboding construct directly in the center of the lake of Mor Dhona - we sought a way to reach it but were unable to find a cave or tunnel that led down to the land bridge crossing over to this disturbing phantom monolith.

The monsters were fierce and terrifying. We ran away from everything we saw. We were fortunate enough, however, to reach all aetheryte points as well as chart much of the area for future investigation. Perhaps after we hone our skills a bit more!

I managed to meet up with Hero in Gridania. His research had shown that Moonspore Grove was north of Nine Ivies - a camp in the eastern forest. We decided we would meet there and head north. I gathered my things and set out for Nine Ivies.

We were met with unfortunate news at Nine Ivies. The Empire had found Moonspore Grove and the Sylph were in a state of distress. They pleaded with us to sneak into the Grove and save their podlings  - which is sylvan for children, I infer. They promised to use their conjury to confuse the Garleans while we sneak in unnoticed. Hero was a bit shaken by the idea (especially of being captured and tortured). He asked me to decide and I knew in my heart as a conjurer and as a fellow inhabitant of this realm that we had no choice. We were sent to help the sylphs however we could and this was what we had to do. Hero understood how I felt and questioned no further.

The sylphs used their magic to lure away the large forces of the Garlean and seeing their mammoth machina in this pristine forest was truly upsetting to behold. Hero and I managed to sneak through one of the most breathtaking environments that I have ever laid eyes on until we reached the outskirts of Moonspore Glade - there we were given charge of the podlings - where were actual pods! - and made our way back toward Nine Ivies all without incident. We had to outsmart (and with a little sylph magic, simply hide) from several of the Garlean scouts, but we were successful.

Hero & Shai Infiltrate Moonspore Glade

Hero spoke to the sylphs about what they would do and if they would leave the forest. They said they could not for they were of the forest and I understood their meaning. They also spoke of considering to fight and summon their primal (what Hero referred to as their sylvan god) but that would cause more pain than solve their problems. The sylphs told us that the primals darkened the hearts and minds of mortals - that the Ixal and Amalj'aa had changed somehow (the other beastkin of the forest).

The conversation was cut short when a group of three approached. They seemed to know we were Walkers and scouting the area - they took our report and dismissed us. They wore masks and seemed formidable. There was a roegadyn archer named Satzfloh, a miqo'te conjurer named Una Tayuun, and a mysterious masked elezen named Percevains who was perhaps a thaumaturge. Hero took this as his cue to head back to Ul'dah and urged me to file my report personally with the Antecedent.

I will do so at my earliest convenience - but I must admit this information about the other beastkin has me intrigued.

The Sylvan Emissaries

I found myself in Ul'dah looking for a hard to find cider vinegar for a project I'm working on when I bumped into Tataru. She mentioned I should stop by Waking Sands and keep the Twelve up to date on my whereabouts. I finished my shopping and crafted a few things at the adventurer's guild before deciding to stop in at Waking Sands once again.

To be honest I'm not entirely sure how I feel about being a Walker. I've been trying not to think about it for weeks. I suppose given the odd nature of this gift I have, I didn't have much of a choice if I wanted to explore the talent and understand it.

Upon entering the Waking Sands, Tataru alerted me to a situation in the Hall of the First Step - where sylphs were trapping Lady Minfilia but no one could understand their demands. Oddly enough even as I neared I could understand their peculiar language. I thought perhaps I could help so I entered the Antecedent's office.

My First Beastkin Acquaintances

The sylph who spoke with me was named Almxio and told me the sylph need help from the woken ones. Their grove was being invaded by "metal ones" which Lady Minfilia explained were the Garlean soldiers invading. She swiftly ordered me to contact Hero and head to Moonspore Grove to scout the area and see if I could offer any assistance to the sylphs in the area. I agreed I would do everything I could.

I contacted Hero immediately and we decided we would meet in Gridania as soon as we could.