Return of the Twelve?

 

Dear Friends,

The verdict is in. Meteor comes. Comets and falling debris streak the skies above us. Strange sounds echo through the whispers of the wind, unusual auroras can be seen in the glow of the moon light. Somehow, even with the fall of the White Raven himself, Dalamud moves closer still. Today, I was called before Louisoux and this terrible truth was confirmed. Yet, there is a plan.

Remember all that strange talk some time ago about us common folk having the ability to "summon our own primals"? Well, it seems that was in reference to the Twelve gods of Eorzea. Such desperate times are these that I have been dispatched to visit the long forgotten holy shrines of the Twelve gods and pray for a miracle. Sounds almost ridiculous, does it not? Well friends, what if I told you that while undertaking this errand, I felt something... I swear I did. Each time I knelt my head in prayer I could actually feel the power of the gods shining over me. Could it be? Will the Twelve awaken at our request?

During this pilgrimage, I had quite a chilling encounter. Keeping my faith strong, I knelt in prayer next to one of the stones only to be encountered by the Legatus van Baelsar. He seemed genuinely impressed with the defeat of Darnus. But he warned that despite our victory, Darnus' followers in the Imperial VII'th legion remain committed to their fallen leader's legacy. He warned that a full-scale invasion was still planned and I would do well to inform my superiors to prepare for an all out war. When I questioned him, why he would divulge such information, and why he offered us previous intelligence on Darnus and his plans, he explained that it is his destiny to one day rule of Eorzea and it was not his desire to rule over a land scorched and worthless by the bands of a madman (referring to van Darnus). How nefarious! This fiend is no better! He's only offering us this intelligence so that HE will later have a prize to conquer in the name of the Empire.

As soon as he appeared, he vanished mysteriously. Yet his voice continued to taunt me from an airship high overhead. What manner of technical sorcery is this?!? I beseech the Twelve to answer our prayers. We will need their divine power to overcome the technical monstrosities the Garlean Empire is sure to unleash upon us.

Despite this grim outlook. I have faith. I am not alone. Many adventurers have undertaken the pilgrimage of prayer. Those of us who have been faithful and who have served the Eorzean Alliance have been official recognized. The number of heroes who can claim this this honor grows a bit larger with the passing of every day.  He was been rewarded with a symbol of our deed, a decorative horn at which in the center is mounted a glowing bit of stone from the fallen meteors. This Horn of Dalamud serves as a badge of honor as we prepare to step into the uncharted future, ready to do battles with the gods at our sides.

~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

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

War!

Dear Friends,

The shadows of war loom near! The Garlean Empire have began regular assaults on the three nation states. Adventurers, company soldiers and the like have taken up arms in defense. I personally have been involved in several skirmishes just outside of Gridania!

The attacks came in several waves. Several garrisons of Imperial Elite flooded the battlefield. Each time the forces retreated upon the defeat of their leader. On one occasions, I discovered a strange page of faded writing among the remains left by the imperials. The characters on the page are unreadable by me, but are reminiscent of those I've seen on the robes of the archon Urianger. Perhaps if I can manage to track him down it will shed some light on the reason for the sudden surge in hostilities.

~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