Life in the Coliseum

As I mentioned previously, I had honed my skills as far as I thought I could currently take them with most weapons available to us adventurers in Eorzea and so I decided I had spent a long time neglecting certain responsibilities (such as signing up at appropriate guilds) and thus I turned to the Coliseum in order to try my skills at being a true gladiator on the bloodsands. I was greeted by Lulutsu at the front desk who quickly registered me to fight in the upcoming games. I wasn't at all nervous, since I was a novice here I knew I wouldn't be trying to take any titles as champion. I'd be matched against another novice and I was sure to defeat him. I'd defeated the Imperials on numerous occasions now for goodness sake. Perhaps, I was being over confident.

Stepping onto the Bloodsands!

I made my way down to the gates and waited for my turn to be called out onto the arena sands. I could hear the roar of the crowd as a match finished and knew I was to be next. The gates opened and I heard myself assigned to fight a new Ala Mhigan ready to prove himself and though none knew us the excitement of the crowd filled me with a sense of awe I had not felt in any previous battle. I could get used to this! I twirled my blade in some showmanship but then went straight in with a thrust to my Ala Mhigan opponent.

Ala Mhigan Challenger!

He sadly was no match for me as I had suspected, but I did not hurt him too badly. I purposely missed and hit his shield a few times for sport, hopefully not wounding his pride if he knew it was falsified, but ultimately I wasted no time in drawing a bit of blood and dropping him to his knees.

Victory in the Arena!

Yoyobina, the master of ceremony, announced me the victor and told me a piece of advice I hope to carry with me forever. " A true gladiator knows the only fight worth thinking of is the next one." It's true and I had not thought much about it. I've been dwelling a lot in the past, on things said and the meaning of the Echo, but have I spent enough time preparing for what is to come? I like to think I've done both, but henceforth I will only focus on the future and find my answers as they come to me.

I collected my prize money and caught a glimpse of the Ala Mihgan Lalafell I had bested sulking in the lobby, but we did not speak. I wondered what fate was in store for me in the future at the Coliseum. It was a grand time to be sure and I will have to recommend it to Nimla when I get the chance. I'd like to participate in many more games if the Coliseum would allow it - though thoughts of glory on the bloodsand do not stir me as much as glory on the battlefield against the Empire and the Primals.

Speculations on the Echo

Over the past year I have trained heavily in martial and magical arts in order to prepare myself for the looming invasion of the Imperials. It occurred to me at several points that many people only succeed at one or two things by dedicating themselves to those things. Though for me (although it certainly is not instant) I pick up a weapon and become as skilled as any around me within a matter of weeks. I have trained heavily with both conjury and thaumaturgy as far as I could. I turned my attention to the sword and shield, the bow, fisticuffs and finally spear and battleaxe. All of these things I have tried and succeeded and I wonder if the Echo has something to do with it.

Y'shtola told me on one fateful day to seek the truth of the Echo and while I have not quite understood her promptings I have dedicated myself to learning these ways of war and magic. I feel I will soon have  mastery over carpentry and alchemy as well. Could it be that any pursuit I try my hand at will meet the same fate? Could it be that the Echo is honing within me a renaissance adventurer - skilled at all he touches? I fear to grow too self-confident and slip up, but so far only Ifrit has stood on equal terms with me and those who fight with me on the battlefield. Nimla, too, has become a master of all arms available to us in Eorzea. We are ready to fight for the future.

As for where to go from here - I still seek information on the Echo. I will turn my attention to fighting the Empire when and where I can and focusing on the crafts I have yet to truly tackle so that I may be as versatile and mercantile as possible. The Maelstrom will find use for these skills, I am sure of it.

The Super Miner Brothers

A week has passed since I first triumphed over the Primal Ifrit. Unfortunately, it would not be our last battle as the Amaalj'a have the means to continue to summon Ifrit again and again - fortunately he is easier nearly every time we gather at his doorstep with our Inferno Lamps to take him down and so I am not losing any sleep (or any blood) over it any more, but allowing Ifrit to continue to exist in our world is an ever-present danger to us as the beast tribes edge ever closer to all out war on Eorzea. Added to the fact that the Imperials have been much more aggressive and the Grand Companies constantly rising to defeat them at every attempt to gain footholds on our lands, Eorzea has become quite a difficult place to live in peacefully.

I have however turned to mining when I have some moments to myself. Much like fishing I find the time alone refreshing and without constant worry of being burned alive by Ifrit or summoned to battle the Garleans on the front lines (though Linkshells working the way they do, it could still be a possibility). I don't have as much love for the stone and ore as I did for baiting and luring fish, but I still find the past time rewarding as a collector and as a businessman. There is great demand for all ores these days and the prices of synthesis have changed with the coming of materia. Weapons, armor and of course the raw materials that create them are being consumed at an alarming rate - which is good for business if you're crafting or gathering, and I'm always looking for new ways to turn over a coin of gil so I have taken to the picking and scraping of metals and gemstones.

I knew that if I wanted to get anywhere in the world of mining I would have to register with Amajina & Sons Mineral Concerns which regulate all mining in the Thanalan region which would allow me access to Nanawa Mines lower levels where the veins were still fresh with riches. I had a few drinks at the guild's bar if I recall some time ago, but hadn't thought much about mining back then. I was struck by how muscular and rowdy the mining crew really is when I walked into Amajina & Sons. I introduced myself to Linette who told me a bit about mining and how I could get access to the more prosperous sites if I was accepted as a member. She then sent me off to check out Nanawa which is where the guild was currently hard at work and headquartered.

Nice Goggles!

I hailed Z'ssapa who stood watch at the mine's entrance and she told me she was there to monitor for over-capacity and I'd simply have to wait if I wanted any access to the more desirable levels of Nanawa, so I waited but before long I got introduced to the rough & tumble brothers, Popokkuli and Seserukka, the heir apparents to Amajina & Sons (the & Sons in the flesh). When they saw I was interested in mining they teased me about my small size and apparent strength, but after a quick game of who looks tougher (I chose Popokkuli cause I like his name, to be honest, not his muscles) we laughed and were becoming fast friends. I remember seeing them at Raubahn's speech a few weeks ago. The boisterous Lalafell brothers had amused me even then when I didn't know them.

Popokkuli told me that he'd pull some strings for me if I could come up with some rare treasures from excavating and mining around Thanalan and so I set out to find some peculiar oddities around Drybone, Black Brush and Horizon. It took me the better part of the day, but I finally returned with a sheeps-eye, a piece of petrified wood and an odd shard that I couldn't identify. I also had a damn pack full of copper ore and alumen, but no one was interested in the mundane - well, at least not until I bring it back to the Market Wards of Ul'dah for profit.

When I turned them over to Z'ssapa she seemed pretty uninterested in my rare finds, but a young Lalafell woman came up at that moment and announced the shard to be some kind of ancient stone from a place called Sil'dihn. I had never heard of Sil'dihn and I was truly fascinated so she elaborated to tell me that it was once a tremendous city like Ul'dah and not far from it! The great city fell to its enemies during a war and was lost other than relics and artifacts dug up around the outskirts of Ul'dah. She introduced herself as Nenekko and I admired her zest for history and lore which was perhaps more passionate even than my own. We sat and spoke of Sil'dihn and its fate for a short while before we were rudely interrupted by Nenekko's brothers - Popokkuli and Seserukka!

Let's Be Friends Again!

They shoved me away from Nenekko violently and threatened me if I ever touched her again! Didn't they know I'm happily married? I fear our new-found friendship was already at disaster's edge, but Nenekko intervened and said we were simply discussing Sil'dihn and nothing more. They doted on her every word. They truly adored their sister and were mindful of her needs. We managed to leave them to their work as she asked me to escort her back to Ul'dah - but then after getting out of their sight bid me farewell. What an interesting trio these siblings make. It was certainly an interesting day of lively characters. An apology from the brothers would have been nice, but they were simply protecting their sister after all - perhaps I could just let it go and we could all be friends again.

I returned to Linette who assured me the fastest way to go nowhere in the guild was to get caught up in Nenekko's affairs which would upset the brothers. I was ultimately not given any access to any mines and sent on my way with a small reward for the treasures I had uncovered for the guild. Perhaps I will try again another day to impress Seserukka and Popokkul.

Ifrit Bled and We Killed It

I have been struck with a burning madness for nearly two weeks. It was ten days ago that Louisoix gave my companions in Fedaykin an opportunity to slay Ifrit. When our work there was interrupted by the Nael Van Darnus and we were expelled back to Gridania, Louisoix told me that there was yet another way - a way to re-enter the Bowl of Embers and defeat Ifrit but if he had absorbed the aether that Van Darnus had let bleed freely from the land he would grow more and more powerful until he could not be stopped. Thus a challenge had been issued and I gathered my allies around me and set to the task with blind obsession guiding my every waking moment on this earth.

We got ourselves Inferno Lamps made from the tapers found at the Amalj'aa stronghold of Zahar'ak. We readied ourselves as best we could, but we were only throwing ourselves to our own defeat. Many brave warriors fought and died before me, only to be revived by our best healers and set once more against the monster. I fought for my Fedaykin: Nimla, Elden, Alma, Jigi. I fought for my friend Shadow's Sound of Elysium with Narctiss, Dark and Merton. I fought side by side with Calamity Jane and the Orchestral Army including Ullr Hellfire and Minai Ruo. Finally I fought with my old Moogle Knight allies known as Blizzard - but our efforts were no match for Ifrit's power.

Fedaykin & Allies

I spent my nights talking with Nimla, wishing I had the strength to fight on. I couldn't sleep. I barely ate. Only the soup offered to me by Chick kept me nourished enough to fight on and try harder. After three or four days of all my best efforts I sat down with my old ally Shin Metsu and we decided to hand pick a team we thought would see us through to the end, but even that fell to the might of Ifrit. It was not until a brave group of foreign adventurers took Shin and I under their wing and taught us how Ifrit could be defeated by slow and steady attacking and dodging, weaving in and out rhythmically, knowing when to apply pressure and when to ease off. I owe much to Yuri Aureus for showing us that the it could be done, truly if it bleeds that we could kill it.

What's the Battle Plan?

While our team made up of Fedaykin and Sound of Elysium tended to their wounds on our fifth day of throwing ourselves at this harsh fate, Shin made an alliance with a new group of warriors. He had left Sound of Elysium and I disbanded the Fedaykin. Resolution was born. We gathered our strength and our courage and together decided we would unite to slay Ifrit the next day. Sadly, we grew tired as the day wore on and though we made several close attempts at the primal's life, we decided to cool off for a while. We knew that victory was within our grasp and we would have him the next time we gathered at his door.

We had planned to take a break, but something unexpected happened. Snow Storm approached me over the Blizzard linkshell and asked who I could muster. Apple and Minna from our newly formed Resolution responded to the call and together with Snow, Ruri, Grimlock and Lord we finally saw this through to the end. Through the combined efforts of two strong teams coming together and using a strategy that Shin and I had been honing for ten straight days, fine tuning it with him all the times I could not bring myself to fight, we did the unthinkable and defeated the Primal of Fire.

Resolution & Blizzard Combination Victory!

Congratulations to the newly formed Resolution and our allies in Blizzard! It was long time coming and well earned. I feel that my days will no longer be haunted by the claw marks across my back and burns along my legs and arms. Nimla was lucky enough to get a bow made from Ifrit's horns, and I lucky to turn them to claws. We stand triumphant together at last. Now I must think and turn my attention to other Primals that the beastmen have summoned. I must protect Eorzea from the coming storm.

We Fight for the Future of Eorzea!

The Immortal Flames and the Syndicate

Nimla and I were still trying to decide on which Grand Company best suits us and while I feel the pull to the Maelstrom, Nimla is being pulled toward the Twin Adders and each of us wish to fight by the other as well - but it was in this state of decision making that we were tasked by the Immortal Flames to hunt down a band of brigands at the Ferry Docks west of Camp Horizon. We rented a Chocobo each and headed out west to find the source of this problem and were immediately ambushed by some men wearing Maelstrom uniforms. This was certainly amiss so we defeated them promptly and were hailed by Thancred no less. I can never find Y'shtola and her companions when I need them, but they always seem to know how to find Nimla and I.

Maelstrom Brigands?

It was there at the docks that Thancred admitted to us that Urianger was a friend of his and our previous fight with him had been staged to test our merits. We were not surprised, but he pressed on to tell us that it was the Empire that was sowing the seeds of discontent against Urianger. They were spreading lies that he was a false prophet when he was merely speaking the truth of the coming age. Urianger appeared and referred to their collection of friends as members of the Circle who stirred me with their words. He encouraged us to not  believe the words people speak, but to see the truth with our own eyes and hearts. He encouraged us to go back to the city of Ul'dah.

The Prophet Returns

Nimla and I were as confused as ever, but we rode back to Ul'dah wondering why Urianger was so interested in us and why the Circle had been by us every step of the way. She had become as fond of Papalymo as I had become of Y'shtola, ever-present to save our backsides when we were in trouble. Though the question remained, why? Did they really believe us to be the saviors of Eorzea, or did they say it to anyone who would listen? Perhaps it was the Echo that drew them to us - always the Echo filling me with questions rather than answers.

Lt. Aubrey thanked us for our service to the Flames and told us that General Raubahn was going to be addressing the crowd at the Royal Promenade. All were invited to attend and so Nimla and I went to the Prominade to see what he had to say for Ul'dah and the Immortal Flames. I knew, of course, that he was a great gladiator in his day and born in Ala Mhigo to add fuel to his fire burning against the Empire, but I was surprised to see some shady bedfellows backing him - the Syndicate had its tendrils wound tightly around him, but as he spoke my heart sung out with his words. I admit I was roused by his call to action, a call for honor and glory and fighting for our freedom - the freedom to live and grow in our own world and in our own way. It was a call to arms, but also with promises of great wealth and industry to the booming city of Ul'dah.I had to admit his speech got me more riled than Kan-E-Senna's did and if I had not had my heart set on the Maelstrom I would have been willing to lay down my life for this General. Perhaps some day I would meet him on the battlefield as allies.

Thancred Stalks Me

After his stirring speech, Thancred approached us again and asked if we noticed (and how could we not?) the Syndicate members looming in the background. He also mentioned that it was he who had convinced Raubahn to take up the mantle of general and lead Ul'dah in its time of great need. I was expecting something like this and I assume when I head to Limsa Lominsa, Y'shtola will tell me some of the same if I bump into her - but the more I learn about this Circle, the more questions it seems to stimulate. There simply never is time to sit down and chat with any of them. I suppose they are busy rousing rabble into generals and pulling the strings of war in Eorzea all for some prophecy that I barely understand. As Thancred left us, he mentioned that the master of the Circle (whom Urianger had mentioned in a previous meeting) was heading for Eorzea and Thancred was off to discover where he was and try to meet with him.

So the Circle master was coming to Eorzea...
Perhaps Urianger could arrange that meeting after all.

Unexpected Alliance

Nimla, Elden and I were still determining which Grand Company to ultimately dedicate ourselves to when we were invited to hear Kan-E-Senna speak on behalf of the Twin Adders which she would lead. We gathered at Mih Khetto's Amphitheatre in central Gridania. I recognized a lot of familiar faces in the crowd as I stood by my friends and allies in Fedaykin. I was particularly happy to see the children from the Oak Atrium who waved vigorously to me so I would notice them. I would have to pay them a visit someday in the future. There were also several Padjal in attendance. I was curious to learn more about them, but I doubted Kan-E-Senna's speech would enlighten me on their elusive nature.

Kan-E-Senna spoke on behalf of the Adders, the people of Gridania, the elementals of the Twelveswood and the Shroud itself when she addressed the crowd. She was quite majestic to look at and I wish I had the opportunity to take a picture of her. She spoke of the great and ancient elementals who had given her council to stand against the darkness of Garlemald. Her speech invoked the mysticism of the conjurers and the deep ties to the land within the Shroud that all Gridanians revered deeply. Her words evoked images of harmony and unity and defending our homelands. She was truly a warrior of the heart. Her passion was in emotion and love for the land itself. She called to purge it of the disease of the Empire.

Hail, Papalymo!

Afterwards, as everyone was leaving, Nimla, Elden and I bumped into Papalymo. I knew him to be one of Y'shtola's allies and Nimla knew him ever more well since she had been in Gridania around the time he had arrived. He hailed us and spoke with us briefly. Papalymo asked us about the speech, but also let slip that it was he who had discussed in great length with Kan-E-Senna reviving the Order of the Twin Adders. The thought gave me pause. He admitted that as students of the prophecies, he and his allies, Y'shtola and Thancred, had come to Eorzea believing that the Grand Companies were the key to saving the land from destruction and put their hearts into their revival. The more I learned about Y'shtola and her allies the more interested in them I found myself but to sit down and discuss it all at length had yet to present itself a time.

Papalymo instructed the three of us to head out to Rootslake to see firsthand what kind of dangers lurked in Eorzea other than the Empire. He was first to admit that there was more to all of this within the prophecies than a simple Imperial invasion. We all wanted to know more, so he handed Nimla something called an Earthbreaker which he insisted we would need.

What Manner of Beast...

We rode out to Rootslake where we were immediately surprised to see something unlike we had ever seen in Eorzea - an enormous creature made all of stone and some spriggan attending it. We fought our way swiftly through the spriggan and encountered this stone monster. It's defense was impenetrable until Nimla used the Earthbreaker to weaken its rock-skin. Only after its armored exoskeleton had been cracked and weakened that we were able to destroy it out-right. Then we saw Papalymo and Urianger standing in the wake and I found myself confused. Papalymo and Urianger are allies?

It appears that they are indeed. They had studied the prophecies together before coming to Eorzea. The herald named Alfgar in Ul'dah had denounced Urianger as a dark and false prophet, a doomsayer with no basis in reality - but so far his prophecies were coming true and to find out that my allies, Y'shtola and her associates, were also Urianger's allies sent my head reeling. I had thought there was more to Urianger; I had thought he to be some type of villain. Now, I learn we fight for the same deep cause. He told us that the prophecies spoke of the men carved by the Archons from stone - the golem we had fought presumably that were resurfacing again in Eorzea.

Allied with Urianger

Urianger told us that he was here because his own master had sent him after telling him that the future was not entirely consumed by darkness, that a beacon of light yet remained to guide us all. I wondered what man Urianger called master, and he assured me that if he could arrange it one day we would meet, because he felt strongly that we were the key to the future and I would discover the gate to deliver us from the darkness of the 6th Umbral Era. I wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it sounded. I'm just one man, leading a small group of freedom fighters, but I know that such men in the past have had the power to influence all of history. The thoguht makes me uncomfortable still, but all I can do is endure and move forward.

I decided that I did not want to think too hard about this prophecy, about being key to the light of the future - and so I summoned Fedaykin some hours later to explore a cave of untold treasure that had recently opened up for adventurers to explore. I thought might be a fun way to spend time and hone our skills and camaraderie - and I was right!

Coeurl is All Alone

Nimla, Elden, and I headed for Shposhae where it was alleged that Captain Mistbeard had hidden troves of his legendary treasure in its midst. Who believes such things? It was fun to explore a new, elaborate cavern, filled to the brim with trials to overcome and treasures to unlock. It was a great way to break in Fedaykin's newest member, Alma, who had joined us earlier in the day. We managed to find and fight a mysterious beast known as the Lone Coeurl, who yeilded to me a pirate's eyepatch which I wore proudly as a trophy for the remainder of the night. We also fought a gigantic orobon and an angry crab. We did not leave with Mistbeard's riches, but we did leave in good spirits (and without feeling the weight of the entire future on our shoulders).

Giant Remora!

Nimla and I still have yet to choose a Grand Company while Elden heads to Limsa Lominsa and Alma heads to Ul'dah. For the two of us, that choice will have to wait at least another day. I always seem to have so much to think about. It's my own fault, of course. All I wanted to do when I came to Eorzea was make a name for myself - apparently I'm on the path to becoming a legend...

Chocobos and Airships!

Nimla and I found ourselves in Gridiania. We had been trying to make rounds to the city-states and see what we could do to help out as recruits before fully committing to a particular Grand Company. I think we have both decided which we will join, but while the option is open to us we wish to do our part for all three. So we entered the Twin Adders headquarters and asked Fulke at the front desk what we could do to help. Fulke told us that on Kan-E-Senna's orders the high conjurers were strengthening the Hedge and were vulnerable to attack and the sentries guarding them had called for reinforcements - so off we went to reinforce and engage the enemy before they could bring harm to the conjurers deep in meditation.

We Ride!

We rushed to the Adventurer's Guild where we had seen a man who tended to Chocobo for the last year and he confirmed all the rumors of the Grand Company getting a huge order filled from Ishgard that were now available for rent and so we mounted up on our first Chocobo ride and headed off to help the high conjurers of Gridania. We arrived just in time to help push the Imperials back, taking down several of their number together and with the help of an old acquaintance named Skyrant who introduced me to Moogle Inc. almost a year ago. The three of us fought well and hard that day and it was Skyrant who discovered among the dead a letter sown into the uniform of one of the Imperials. We took it back to the headquaters once we were sure no more Imperial soldiers would be coming.

Fulke told us that those Imperials we fought were actually from Ala Mhigo, perhaps grown up under Imperial rule, but whatever the case the encryption of the letter was impenetrable as far as he could tell. So he asked us if we would deliver to a contact named Radulf in Little Ala Mhigo, which I had visited a few times in the past just out of (perhaps morbid) curiosity. I knew right where it was so I took Nimla and Skyrant there to see if we could get the letter decrypted.

Radulf of the Resistance

We found Radulf quickly and he examined the letter. He was not pleased. Apparently we had killed a member of the Ala Mhigan Resistance, the very men who had laid down their lives in Mor Dhona with Nimla and I. We felt ashamed, but how could we have known? Radulf told us he was the leader of Little Ala Mhigo and what resistance they could provide to help liberate their homeland. The letter was to the Resistance and told what the man had found out, which was that Legatus Nael van Darnus was on his way to the Eorzean front. He also spoke of new magitek devices being brought to Eorzea and a diagram for one such device was tucked away in the folds of the letter. Radulf urged us to bring it back to the Twin Adders.

Fulke was embarassed he had not found the design earlier, but said he would relay it to the Garlond Ironworks for further study and investigation, though our job in Gridania was at an end. Nimla and I parted ways with Skyrant and decided to use our anima to take us swiftly to Ul'dah where we hoped to find work among the Immortal Flames. We were not disappointed. Apparently Imperials had set up a blockade en route to the Gold Bazaar, where I had done some work in the past. We rushed to break through enemy lines - on Chocobo back, of course!

We dissolved the blockade as swiftly as we had dealt with Imperials previously that day. I am starting to wonder if it is the Echo that guides my skill with weaponry, luck, or the hardened life of an adventurer - but these Imperials seem to pose no threat to Nimla or I working together. I fear I will grow overconfident in my abilities and meet my end at the end of an Imperial blade - but then I remember that time we encountered the Legatus - though I knew him not by name or rank at the time - and Y'shtola and her allies had to save us. It is humbling and haunts my memories. I remain ever vigilant against the Empire that they could strike me down if the conditions were unfavorable, but regardless the blockade fell to us and the path to Gold Bazaar was open once more for traders and the Grand Companies.

Aubrey assured me that these men we had been fighting were merely hired help to the Empire, mercenaries who would fight for money rather than honor. I found myself unsurprised by this fact as I had seen a real lack of skill shown while defeating these men who invade our lands. The true enemy hid behind these puppets. Fearing that future blockades would impede the mercantile city-state of Ul'dah, Aubrey asked us if we would represent the Aldenard Trading Company, apparently run by Lord Lolorito, and head to Limsa Lominsa to get contracts signed with prominent arms dealers. It was a simple task, and Nimla and I were happy to do it. Though it would have been free to take the ferry to Limsa Lominsa, Nimla and I decided we would see if we could book passage on an airship.

Ul'dah from Above

All Aboard!

We were nervous about taking to the skies but delighted in the idea that we stood moments away from Limsa Lominsa with our feet still on the ground in Ul'dah. These new modes of transportation available to us thanks to the efforts of the Grand Companies of Eorzea were truly going to make life in Eorzea a little brighter during these dark times. It was exhilirating to feel the wind whip through my hair as I stood on deck the small flying craft. I will never forget how profoundly beautiful Eorzea looked from the sky that very first time riding on the wind. In no time at all we were standing on the solid stonework of Limsa Lominsa and headed to the docks to talk with the arms dealers.

Arms Deal or No Deal?

We were able to get contracts signed with the Gigas Forge, the Straight Edge Traders, and the Woolvale Arms. All were impressed and delighted to be in business with Lord Lolorito - clearly the richest man in Eorzea, though this is the first time I recall hearing the name. I wonder if he is in charge of the Syndicate, but dare not to ask and overstep my bounds. After getting the contracts signed, we decided to take a break from Company work and see if we could find new adventures to pursue for a time.