The Most Confusing Day Ever

Now that my head's cleared and I had a chat with Baderon at the Mizzenmast - I understand that Rost got me away from the Knights (and I owe him thanks) and Captain Hob is still being detained. Apparently I blabbed about the key to the Knights (and even Baderon heard about it) and told me to check things out over at Gods' Grip which is out in La Noscea. So I gathered my things and set out from Linsa Lominsa once again. I'm still a bit nervous about it all, but Y'shtola told me to find this key and Baderon says to start at Gods' Grip. What else can I do?

I didn't know quite where to start looking at Gods' Grip but I knew where I saw Emerick in that area. I headed straight for Sisipu's favorite fishing spot, close to Oschon's Torch. Sure enough, she greeted me as I approached. She knew about the treasure and about Emerick. She seemed to be well informed of the whole situation - and confided in me that Commodore Sthalmann had already recovered the treasure I was looking for at Gods' Grip. I decided to relay this information to Baderon through the Adventurer's Guild linkpearl.

He didn't have any good news. He said the Barracuda Knights were looking for me and I should turn myself in at Coral Tower. I do respect the authority of the law, but their inquiries are getting tedious. I hoped this wasn't about that pistol incident again. Though, if Sthalmann does have the key then perhaps they'll be answering some of my questions as well. A lalafell can hope, anyway.

Knights were rushing about the place reporting on the Reaver ships seen all over the area. I was only interested in the key, though - and that they didn't get their fish scales on it. I ran into Captain Hob who was ... hard to read. He seemed glad enough to see me, but irritated that I got him into this mess. He told me to get my story straight that we were there to help the Knights against the Reavers and nothing more - certainly nothing to do with Emerick.

The hyur named Reyner questioned me about the events - and while I tried to stick mostly to Hob's story, I did mention the sea serpent incidentally. The commodore arrived and I was able to piece together that he had managed to drive off the serpent by tossing the tablet I'd seen at Mealvaan's Gate into the sea. The sahagin had also withdrawn from Linsa Lominsa territory and the fleet was now safe for a time. He also accused Y'shtola of being a spy! Reyner seemed to think the Admiral had vouched for Y'shtola but Sthalmann clearly had his own ideas on the matter (again).  He said he was meeting with her soon at Gods' Grip and Reyner admitted there wasn't enough evidence to hold me - so it looked like I was on my way to Gods' Grip once again. I needed to face Y'shtola myself and tell her I failed to locate the key.

I headed out to Sisipu's fishing spot and found a hyur man named Blackburn fishing there. He told me a story of Sthalmann coming to fish her to find what he once lost. After that- things got weird. Blackburn disappeared and Y'shtola was at my side, warning me of the danger that was coming. Sthalmann. I knew it.

Y'shtola asked him for the key, but he refused and demanded to be taught how to use it. He alluded to the murder of the Admiral in the confrontation. Their words led to battle, but as they fought before me (and I was too stunned by their raw power to act) the key, a horn, began to glow and then everything ... warped. Y'shtola and I were alone at Sisipu's fishing spot - or where ever we seemed to be.

Y'shtola and I in the "Past" Reality

We were able to see Sthalmann conspiring with Emerick and Mero. They apparently received the Knights' charts from Sthalmann himself and passed them on to the sahagin. This was all an elaborate plan for him to become the next Admiral of Linsa Lominsa! After that revelation we were ... shot out of this twisted reality, this vision of events prior to our arrival in Linsa Lominsa.

Y'shtola muttered something about "the Echo" and my connection to the past - did I do this? Then Sthalmann was on her again, but their fight was interrupted (before it even began) by dark clouds gathering in the sky and an explosion - fireballs rained down all around us and when the dust cleared the elezen man I had seen aboard the Reavers' ship was there with us. He bested Sthalmann with his bare hands and took the key from him - which he absorbed into his body. Y'shtola tried to stop him but he melted into ... shadows, it appeared. Was he an Ascian? Reality began to twist again...

I heard Blackburn's voice, but when I awoke I was in a bed at the Mizzenmast. Baderon told me Blackburn was an old friend and he asked me to come to see him in Ul'dah. I think Baderon knew something I did not - he gave me the impression he felt - obsolete somehow - as if I had out grown him. I felt a tinge of sorrow, but also excitement at what awaited me in Ul'dah.

A Quest Unfurls

I bumped into Baderon who mentioned Emerick to me. He said Captain Hob might be able to help me get aboard the Barracuda's prison ship where he was being held. He said Captain Hob could be found at Fisherman's Bottom so I headed down there.

Captain Hob at Sunrise

I caught up with Captain Hob just before sunrise. After convincing him I wasn't joking, he agreed to sail out to the warship - apparently Y'shtola had convinced him even before I'd gotten there. As we neared the warship, two ships approached us on the horizon. I was sure they were pirates and Captain Hob seemed to agree as he hid below deck. I made my way on to the Barracuda ship to find Emerick.

I found him locked in a cargo hold. I decided to let him out so we could speak face to face. Unfortunately, Merodaulyn interrupted our arranged meeting. Oh and he was pissed! Emerick ran up to the deck and Mero chased after him - and so did I. They were locked in battle and I had to choose a side. I chose to defeat Merodaulyn and protect Emerick - who still owed me some kind of explanation (and seemed important to the Barracuda Knights as well).

Battle on Board

 Apparently Mero and Emerick were willing to let bygones be bygones but Y'shtola showed up on board. I knew she was around, but I hadn't seen her yet. She told Emerick the sahagin were coming for the "treasure" he took from Seal Rock. Emerick had some pleasant imagery to share - but let her know he threw that thing away long ago. Then she referred to it as "the key" and said the shadow eaters were after it - the Ascians!

So much was happening - so many questions! Unfortunately there was no time to talk. The sahagin ships approached and the Knights ships fell into defensive formation. It seemed like a sure victory as Barracuda broadsides plowed into the Reavers' ships - but then the two ships erected some kind of magical barrier that repelled cannonballs. The Reavers tore through two of the three Barracuda ships before the Knights were able to penetrate their shields by firing bursts over their shields that rained fire down on the decks. Through this chaos - I thought I saw an elezen man aboard the sahagin ship. Was he the shadowless man Y'shtola was looking for?

I'm not sure what happened next - Many of the ships were on fire. Things were looking bleak. The sea between the five ships began to swell and from the swollen bulb of water the sea serpent leaped into the sky - clearing the masts of the ships by several tens of feet. I'd seen this once before when it jumped clear over Captain Hobs ship the night before I arrived. The difference was I did not see the serpent land, because in his wake a huge tsunami ushered forth towards our ship. I remember fear clutching at my throat and perhaps I scrambled to get away from this massive wave about to over take us. It was then that I felt Y'shtola's soft hand on my wrist and her solemn eyes affixed mine. A spell began to form in the palm of her free hand and she spoke to me before I was sent away from this mess - "Find the key," she said.

Passed Out

The next thing I remember is waking up to the (sorry) sight of Rostnsthal (from the Astalicia). My head was swimming still and a splitting headache on top of it all. I dismissed him without really listening and drifted off to sleep right there on the docks. Only one thing was clear, I had to find the key.

Marketplace Restructure!

Things in Limsa Lominsa have changed for the better. As I bid a bittersweet farewell to Elysium's official market ward, Upper Keeners, I welcome my new location in Linsa Lominsa's Spellcraft Ward. Bonchacha should have much more effective sales here. I'm already preparing new wares for the shop. I hope to move Bonchacha to weaponry soon peddling a full stock of harpoons - but right now she still has a wide assortment of wands and canes.

I've also been wandering the ward fixing people's wands and canes to great profit. My alchemy hobby is really coming in handy and I successfully made my first growth formula beta which means I can now stock some budding wands as well. I sold my first batch of beta (2) for six thousand gil each. Now I have to assess my inventory and make some new merchandise - I expect it to move much faster now (I have very competitive prices and a prime location)!

Expecting more foot traffic - I made my first budding maple wand. In order to fully supply this product, I'll need to get my hands on more humus which amplifies the lifespan of the maple branch in order to allow it to bud. I'll have to contact Nimla and ask her to mine the rock faces over by Gridania.

Thinking at Work (Emerick)

I have felt like an outsider and a bystander for the past few weeks in Linsa Lominsa. Everything is happening around me - and happening quickly - and I have felt like an observer at the wrong place at the right time. After surviving the pirate attack on Mealvaan's Gate, I've had a change of heart. I feel involved somehow - caught up in the events of this city. I feel oddly responsible. I have been honing my skills as a conjurer all this time and I've been just trying to get by in this new life. I think its time to turn this around. This city is my home now and whether I like it or not I can no longer ignore the fact that I am almost intricately involved in these issues. Something must be done.

I arranged a meeting with Baderon to discuss the situation. He told me he knew where they were holding Emerick and he could possibly find away to get me to him but it would take time. Well, I had time. He gave me a cut of pay that I'd earned from my work for the guild and I took up a few manufacturing guildleves to make money and pass the time. Soon I would see Emerick again and I would get to the bottom of these issues surrounding Seal Rock.

Assault at the Arcanist Guild

Today I had another message from Baderon - I was asked for at Mealvaan's Gate. Commodore Sthalmann had mentioned I go there if anything unusual happened while I was guarding Sisipu. I wondered what the connection was - I decided to go check it out. As I made my way through town I learned Mealvaan's Gate was also the Arcanist's Guild and Baderon referred to them as scholars - and clearly they functioned as a sort of Customs Office for the port as it was nestled snugly along the ferry dock.

Mealvaan's Gate - The Arcanist's Guild

The miqo'te at the front desk called over another miqo'te named J'arhll. She was very direct. This was about that damned firearm I held back at the aptitude test over in Coral Tower. (Uh oh). I explained the entire situation to her - it took me a while to remember the name of the man at the test - but I believe it was Sergeant Mannskoen. Yes, I'm sure it was. While she considered this - an explosion rocked the entire building!

Captain Rhoswen came in and fired a shot - demanding Emerick be turned over to her. The Sanguine Sirens right behind her. I saw Merodaulyn among her crew.  I slipped past the pirates in the lobby and made my way downstairs to see what was going on. Although I was outnumbered and possibly out-matched, I was oddly not afraid. I reached the bottom of the stairs and was surprised (yet again) to see Y'shtola standing there. Though, she was also looking for Emerick so I shouldn't have been too surprised. I thought the Commodore had mentioned no one would find him where the Knights had hidden him. Apparently not.

She vented her frustration to me and asked if we should stand our ground. I didn't think it was a good idea given the odds - so she told me she may know an alternative way out of the situation. As I followed after her, we were stopped short by J'arhll who seemed to recognize Y'shtola. Y'shtola asked about Emerick and J'arhll seemed sincere when she explained she had no idea why everyone thought he was there. She did admit that she had slipped away to ensure the safety of the artifact recovered from Seal Rock - and showed us some kind of tablet. Y'shtola seemed familiar with the language written upon it - to my surprise she read it as if fluent in this ancient language.

"And fain to suffer fell grammaryes; Wherewith to loose o'erreaching seas..." is what she said but it holds no special meaning to me. She then said the oddest thing yet - "They'll use the key to call forth an army." J'arrhll asked her if she would translate the entire tablet - but the circumstances weren't exactly ideal (what with pirates ransacking the building).

Y'shtola and I rushed back upstairs where she quickly incapacitated a guard - then dodged Rhoswen's bullets! The Knights appeared to be arriving on the scene as well. Before this confrontation between Rhoswen and Y'shtola could play out - Rhoswen ordered the retreat of her crew. Y'shtola excused herself before the Knights arrived - and J'arrhll dismissed me saying she'd review my story with the Knights at Coral Tower.

I guess this investigation hadn't been forgotten after all - but at least the people at Mealvaan's Gate were listening to reason - and after such excitement. For a while, I thought I just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time but now I'm starting to wonder if these Barracuda and pirate shenanigans are happening all over the city at all times. I would no longer be surprised by this.

PS:   I apologize for lack of photos of these pirates. I fear any evidence I provided of who was involved would result in an unpleasant visit from Captain Rhoswen and her crew.

Fishing with Sisipu

Early this morning, Baderon sent me a message that a young fisherman woman was looking for me. Since I only know one person who fits that description, I headed over to the fisherman guild. Sisipu met me at the door. She wanted someone to join her on a sahagin hunt and I could use the money. I ran out to Oschon's Torch to learn we wouldn't be fighting any sahagin. I was in fact an escort to a casual fishing trip. As I sat there (annoyed) she told me how the sahagin had only increased in aggression since Seal Rock appeared in the mists. She explained her theory on how it is actually something called "Swallowtail Roam" a sacred and protected domain that should be left alone.

I asked about Swallowtail Roam and she explained to me the legend of how the lands of Eorzea were created and how the Guardian Llymlaen sealed the sea serpent (who created the oceans) in a floating island referred to as Swallowtail Roam. She was concerned that if her theory was correct then the sea serpent I saw that fateful night might continue to create oceans and sink the entire land of Eorzea. Considering the legend does seem to match the unusual events surrounding the sea serpent and the island's appearance, I think there's some merit to her theory.

Sisipu's Favorite Fishing Spot

Our conversation was interrupted by (none other than) Commodore Sthalmann. They began to discuss Emerick's confinement and trying to link him to Carvallain to get rid of them once and for all. I learned Carvallain is the Captain of the Kraken's Arms (Pirates- I knew it!) and that Rhoswen woman is Captain of the Sanguine Sirens. Sthalmann ordered Sisipu to return to Linsa Lominsa for her own safety and explained to me that she was the sole survivor of an incident in a location named Brookhaven - it was there she saw Emerick speaking with a sahagin contact. Now that I understood the gravity of the situation, it made more sense why Sisipu needed me to come to her favorite fishing spot with her.

Business Unususal

Bonchacha's store was out of stock completely. She had a hundred thousand gil waiting for me. I spent the morning restocking her with maple wands and ash canes. I also made a few elm canes before I ran out of growth formula. I traded one to Skald (Elysium) over at his shop in Upper Keeners for some new clothes. I gave another to Nimla and plan to use the third for myself. I want to make more to sell in the shop so I'm off to Ul'dah to stock up on growth formula. My secondary objective is to procure a new alchemy tool. My weathered alembic is getting rusty.

Making Beeswax at Skald's Store

I searched the market wards of Ul'dah for hours then Skald came over the linkshell to tell me he found a brass alembic and could meet me near Limsa with it. I gathered all the growth formula I could carry and returned back to Linsa Lominsa. We met around the Cedarwood area - where we ran (incidentally) into the rest of the members of Elysium. I had wanted to head back to town to continue working on my wares but instead we decided to round up the giant crabs in the area and hone our skills as a team.