Escalation!

Dear Friends,

Things here continue to escalate at a rapid pace. The moon of Dalamud now hangs so large, that it's glow can be seen in either day or night. You can feel it's heat and it doesn't seem to be slowing. As it draws closer, the attacks from the strange mawed creature known as Atomos have seemed to quicken. It is moving onward to camps closer to home, leaving the crystals in some of the out camps nearly drained of all their ether. Those crystals glow no more.

 

Several of us, are planning to do something bold. Instead of defending the camps from the strange beasts that spew from Atomos's maw, we are going to attempt to attack the fiend itself. Wish us luck... On another note, the land invasions from the Empire have began again. However, this time they seem concerned with raiding the strongholds of the beastmen. What could they be up to now, I wonder.

 

~Kiji

 

 

 

 

 

The beginning of the end...

Dear Friends,

Things in Eorzea are escalating fast... weaponized Imperial airships have been seen in the skies over Cortheas. There are rumors of the them farther south as well. It seems the blow the Eorzean alliance struck to Castrum Novum has not gone unnoticed by the Emporer. An all out assault is brewing, I can sense it in the air. I don't think we've had even a taste of what's to come...

The newly unified Grand Company alliance has began organizing military exercises on some of islands south of Limsa Lominsa. Wild beasts and captured monsters are being used as training fodder. I have yet to enroll and participate, but I should. There is some very nice weaponry being rewarded to participants. The Twelve knows I'll need them.

Make no mistake, I am predicting an out and out war with the Garlaen Empire soon... maybe worse. There is no telling what is one the horizon. Dalamud grows ever larger in the sky and there have even been unconfirmed reports of falling debris from the satellite burning up in the skies above.

Friends, if you are the praying sort, now is the time. I fear for our future but will continue to do all I can to help safeguard to people and lands I love.

~Kiji

Imperial Base

Dear Friends,

It seems the rumors are true. While I have not yet make the journey and seen it with my own eyes, the Herald is reporting that the Imperials have erected a stronghold in Mor Dhona.  I have included a copy for you.

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/pl/company/maelstrom/news/num07.html


~Kiji

Shadow of the Raven

Dear Friends,

The Garlean Empire has unleashed a vile new tactic against Gridania. Using airships, they have undertaken an aerial assault on the Twelveswood. Their goal seems to be to anger the elementals to the point where all within the forest face the greenwrath.

I received my orders from the Twin Adders to rendezvous with a party of Wood Wailers and offer any assistance necessary. When I arrived, I found them to be under siege not only from the aerial bombardment, but also from a slew of angry elementals. The spirits of the Shroud were so angry that I saw two of Gridanian Lancers disintegrated before my very eyes in a flash of green magic! As we attempted to flee the scene, we were cornered by an Imperial war machine unlike any I have seen yet.

With no other choice, we engaged it in battle. Through the grace of the Twelve alone were we victorious!

Friends, let me stress that this new campaign by the Garlean Empire should leave no question as to their true intentions. We are at war!

On a side note, upon return, I was promoted to Serpent Sergeant 2nd class!

~Kiji

The attacks continue.

Dear Friends,

The attacks by the Garlean Empire continue and have increased in frequency. I have now heard rumors that the empire has plans to create a magtitek powered railroad through the uninhabited wilds of Eorzea. Could this be for the quicker deployment of their forces or something far more sinister?

We know that the empire claims to come in peace, only offering us protection from the beast tribes. However, thanks to the mysterious power of the Echo, many of us know better. Their true goal is to destroy and conquer.

Oh friends, I pray to the twelve that you are safe and sound back home. I have received word from my old teenage crush Snowi Dawn, that she intended to journey to Ul'dah to help join in the fight against the Empire. I wish she wouldn't be so stubborn. Erozea has turned into a blood filled battlefield as of late, and I shudder at the thought that she be exposed to the dangers that lie in wait here. 

~Kiji

Bold Plans

Dear Friends,

I have some news. Today I was summoned again by the consortium for what seemed like some trivial business. Still trying to resolve the whole crystal-trade dilemma,  I was tasked on a quest to the region of Mor Dhona. Its seems the beastmen have a liking for unaspected crystals, and the sands in the Mor Dhona region are known for their ability to drain the elemental aspect from things. I took a bag full of various crystals there and waited around while they were drained of their elemental magic.

When I returned to the consortium, I was given orders to report to Lady Minfilia. An important meeting was about to be held.

Upon arrival, I bumped into Aerylia. She was quite irritated. Its seems while I was out running errands in Mor Dhona, she was tasked with essay work. Haha!

Aery, myself, and others gathered in the meeting hall and waited for Minfilia to speak. The topic she addressed was quite chilling... Do you remember when I wrote of escorting the caravan from Ul'dah to Gridania? I told you about a strange Imperial airship hovering over the forest? Well it seems that these ships have been seen in the vicinity of all three city-states. The imperials are dropping linkpearls from the ships. The Empire is using the linkpearls to broadcast a propaganda message to mass population of Erozea.

They are claiming that it is the beast tribes they are preparing for battle with. The empire states they have intelligence that shows the beastmen, in league with their primal gods are preparing to strike the three nations. The empire is going to war with the beast tribes. They have offered us their "protection" in exchange for our sovereignty. How ludicrous!

What makes this matter even worse is that anyone who consorts with beastmen are considered to be enemies of the empire. This is of serious concern to us who are members of the Path of the Twelve. Those of us touched by the power of the Echo are able to speak with the beastmen. This makes us imperial targets by default.

All of this was very alarming to say the least. After most everyone had left the meeting, Aerylia and I spoke privately with Minfilia. She revealed that she did indeed have a back up plan, if diplomacy was unable to resolve this tense situation with the Empire; She plans to try to forge an alliance with the beast tribes! How radical! While I personally have no qualms with such an alliance, it would be a very hard sell to most citizens.

What crazy skies we live under these days, I tell you.

~Kiji

Recruiting!

Dear Friends,

Today I was called on by the Lancer's guild to help recruit champions to bolster our defenses against a possible Imperial invasion. I was sent to Ul'dah to speak with the pugilists and plea for any assistance they can offer.

These guys are certainly a tough lot! They expressed discontent over the dangerous roads through the black shroud that lead into Gridania. Only after letting it be known that I wasn't there to take any crap did I win over enough respect to make them listen to me. The puglists agreed to send a caravan with some goods and volunteers, assuming the roads were free of danger.

Upon returning to the guild in Gridania, we received word that the caravan was experiencing problems in the Twelveswood. Unless we were able to guarantee a safe passage, the deal was off!  This left me no choice, with haste I rode the aether to rendezvous with the caravan near of the of the camps and escorted them. It wasn't long before we ran into trouble. Overhead, and enormous flying machine hovered over the treeline... I have NEVER seen anything like it. It was immense and very loud! I have no doubt is was some type of Imperial device. Needless to say, it spooked the wildlife in the forest. A herd of frightened deer came blasting out of the brush and slammed into the caravan. Upon impact, a pudgy little moogle fell from somewhere off the back of the carriage! The poor thing became trampled by the deer! What was it doing there?! As of now, that remain a mystery unsolved, but we took it Gridania where it would be cared for.

~Kiji

Trouble in the Forest!

Dear Friends,

I have more news of the empire. Today, I was summoned to the Waking Sands. A band of sylphs sneaked into the headquarters of the Path and were flitting around hysterically. Due to my ability to understand languages, I was able to discern their needs.

The sylphs were in a panic. They explained that the Garlean Empire has invaded their home in Moonspore Grove. The sylphs explained that by using their magic, they were able to escape and seek help. However, several of their kind was left behind, including some of their young "podlings". They begged that The Path of Twelve offer them assistance.

Minfilia requested that Aerylia and I travel Moonspore Grove to investigate.

The Grove is known to be the secret home of the sylphs and is tucked away somewhere in the emerald maze of the Black Shroud. Aerylia and I agreed to meet in Gridania, where she had a contact that knew the general location of the grove. It seems that she has "special ways" of gleaming information from this individual. When we met up, she explained that she left her informant in bed, and asked that we hurry and get our mission over with so she can rejoin him... What a lustful little tart!

Her intelligence placed Moonspore Grove somewhere north of Camp Nine Ives. When we arrived on the scene, we found the place to be crawling with Imperial scouts. The Empire is growing bolder by the day, and the fact that they are routinely being spotted this far south is very unsettling. In the distance we observed a convoy marching through the wood. They were escorted by some type of large walking war-machines. I tell you, my heart sank. Friends, I truly fear we are on the verge of being invaded like the nation of Ala Mhigo was 15 years prior.

Aerylia and I snuck into the grove where we encountered an adult Sylph. It implored us to take the podlings and sneak them out of the area before the Imperial could seize them. The Sylph cast an enchantment to assist us in avoiding detection, and we were off.

Once we arrived in a safe area, we encountered some members of the Wood Wailers. We briefed them on what we had observed but I get the impression that we were not taken seriously. Aerylia took their dismissal as excuse to return to her extra curricular activities and took her leave of me.

I returned to the Waking Sands to provide my report to Minfilia, where I recieved a nice stipend for my duties.

My friends, trouble is brewing. I fear that Gridania may be the next victim of this hungry Empire to the north. I feel as though it is my responsibility to help in any way that I can. I think it might be time for me to speak with a recruitment officer at one of the grand companies. I'll keep you informed.

~Kiji

Wet Feet

Dear Friends,

I wanted to write to let everyone know I'm doing well. I've been spending the last couple days getting to know the layout of the area. During my explorations, one thing I have noticed is the large number of refugees from Ala Mhigo. Despite being destroyed by the mysterious Garlean Empire nearly 15 years ago, the people from that fallen nation still keep a steel resolve.

The nation of Gridania was kind to take them in, and many of the refugees have lent their support to the defense of this great citystate. Ala Mhigo was famous for their "Lancer" warriors, so their skills make a fine addition to the Wood Wailers that defend Gridania from outside threats.

To hear the refugees talk, you'd think that the Empire was planning to invade Eorzea. I suppose such a thing is possible, and there have been rumors and fear of that very thing happening. But so far, there have no reports of Imperial activity in the immediate area.

The Empire is very mysterious. When their terrible Magitek Airships descended on Ala Mhigo it was a slaughter. I wonder if defense against such a powerful force would even be possible? I suppose with the help of the other nations, including the powerful city-state of Ishgard, Erozea would stand a fighting chance. However, Ishgard has been rather reclusive since the fall of Ala Mhigo. Rumors are that they are engaged in some conflict of their own these days. They have denied access to their lands from all outsiders, and even trade with them has slowed to a snails pace. It is for this reason that the other nations have such a shortage of goods and animals. Oh how I'd love to be able to rent a chocobo! Haha!

~Kiji