Communing with Nature

Since I was in Gridania due to the Ashcrown Consortium business, I dropped in on the Stillglade Fane. Soileine told me that I was now ready to attempt to commune with the elementals if I was willing to undertake the task. I communed with scarier things yesterday and I have been honing my skills as a conjurer lately rather than working with wood or fish. I felt ready. I was instructed to seek out Brother Ingram.

He was critical of adventurers being among the guild but put his faith in me. He handed me a mysterious leather sack and instructed me to put my ear to the Twelveswood. I had a strange encounter in the forest once so I knew exactly where to go to see if it would happen again. I headed for Amberscale Rock - where that "dragon" attacked the knight from Ishgard.

I found Morys there waiting for me. Neither of us were surprised by this. He said our fates were intertwined and I had to agree based on our recent adventures together. He spoke to me then of the void in his memory and of Ishgard's pull on him. He asked me if I would travel with him to the city-state and of course I agreed. We headed for Camp Emerald Moss to begin our journey.

Do You Hear Something?

Near the edge of Coerthas we were attacked by Furline Mosstroopers - who were they? What did they want from us? We didn't have a chance to find out. I defeated them effortlessly. It was then that I heard the Spirit of the Wood. It told Morys to return and then some force pushed him ... and he vanished as if a hole in reality had opened up to catch him! Where had he gone? I made my way back to Emerald Moss hoping to find him there.

Mosstrooper Ambush

I waited for some time but when he didn't appear I grew fearful and returned (as if driven) to the place where our fate seemed most intertwined - Amberscale Rock. I found Morys crumpled in a heap before the dragon-shaped stone and the Spirit of the Wood manifested and told me that Morys belonged to the forest now. I wasn't sure what to make of it so I approached the unconscious Morys (after the Spirit disappeared) and used the Echo on him.

Crumpled Morys

I found a young Morys being attacked by dreadwolves at this place before the stone dragon. I did my best to slay them but I could not save the child from being taken by the Spirit of the Wood. As I watched him vanish into this hole in reality I felt myself being ejected from this time, from this place and I awoke beside Morys once more. He remembered being taken as well. The Spirit told him that it wasn't time and he must wait but failed to elaborate. Poor Morys wandered off into the woods in confusion and I was left alone. I knew I could not follow where he was going this time and so I headed back to Brother Ingram.

Wait for What, Spirit?

Ingram asked for the bag to be returned - I'd completely forgotten about it. I handed it to him and he seemed to divulge the entire events of my adventure from it. He asked me to keep the fact that Morys was a wildling (taken by the forest) a secret to protect him and others from fearing or seeking to use his potential powers. Then he told me that hearing the elementals was a huge step forward, but understanding and carrying out their favors was still beyond me. However, I had succeeded where many failed for most of their lives. Brother Ingram was impressed. Soileine on the other hand appeared slightly jealous.

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.

Regarding Conjury

Conjuring is the art of manipulating aether around you into a spell to produce the desired effect.

I have always been drawn to this art, particularly the healing and curative nature. Nimla has always been talented in forming powerful combat spells with the destructive forces of nature. She came to Eorzea to study with the masters in Gridania. I came here to be with her and to sell my skills as an adventurer. I was drawn to working with wood for obvious reasons and took on carpentry as a more lucrative supplement to my adventuring.

It was only a matter of time, however, before I would have to study at the Stillglade Fane. That is where the conjurers of Eorzea congregate and study their art. It is allegedly where the elements are strongest in the entire continent. I knew if I was going to continue to pursue my arts as a Conjurer (for hire!) I'd have to study with the masters myself at some point.

I don't know why I put it off for so long, though I think it's likely because I was intimidated. I had heard they were not particularly accepting of outsiders - people not born in the forest. Nimla had done it for quite some time, though, so on this fateful day I decided I would wait no longer and I headed to Gridania.

Prominent Feature of Stillglade Fane

Although an outsider to this conclave, I was welcomed more graciously than I expected. I introduced myself to Soileine who explained to me that the Conjurers gathered at Stillglade Fane where the Whisper of the Elements was at its peak. She in turn introduced me to the elder, Telent, who was constantly in communication with the elements and had heard from them that I was coming.

He told me I would have to commune with the elements on their terms and sent me into the forest alone. There I would be guided by the forces of nature to a pack of rabid and malicious wolves that I was to exterminate to make the forest safe once more - and upon doing so I would be welcomed into this community as a brother conjurer.

I have never personally heard the elements speak, though as a conjurer I understand the sheer power and energy that comes from the forces of nature. I've been told countless times that even if I meditate most of my life and practice the art to its full extent I may still never hear the elements directly speak to me. I was fine with that as long as our mutual respect and cooperation continued. Perhaps some day I would be as talented and in tune with nature as Tenet, but for now I would be happy to complete a simple task like hunting wolves.

It was late into the night when I found the wolf pack. There were five wolves led by a larger alpha male and the circled me snarling and drooling - their eyes yellowed and unfocused. I concentrated on the willow wand I had crafted myself and as the wolves attacked me I was able to repel them and slay them until only the alpha and I were left. I managed to summon the last of my strength to fell the beast and as I was on the verge of exhaustion a made came out of the forest and looked upon the scene.

Shai and the Wolves

Some people call him Morys. He spoke to me in an odd, detached manner - muttering that the elements were pleased and the moogles would be safe now. He told me the job was done and I should return to the Fane.

Tenet had heard of my accomplishments before I returned again and congratulated me. Soileine paid me hansomely for the work I did. I spent time studying a technique called Elemental Shroud - a combat technique used to harm multiple assailants. I also was taught how to Fastcast - reducing the time it took for me to concentrate and manipulate energy into a spell by a considerable amount.

Conjurer Shai & Nimla

It was an interesting and enlightening experience. I am glad to feel a part of something larger than myself. I would have liked to study longer at the Stillglade Fane, but I still had a responsibility to meet up with Blackburn in Ul'dah.