Into The Dark

Dear Friends,

I've had quite a productive time this week. I've been working for the Twin Adders full time lately. I was tasked with assisting the Knights of Ishgard with a "sweep and clear" operation in the Dzemael Darkhold.

The Darkhold is an underground cave formation that Ishgard's House of Dzemael was in the process of converting to a subterranean fortress. However, work was recently ceased due to sudden explosion in monster population. Recently, there have also been rumors of Imperial sightings in the Darkhold. Entry to the Darkhold is typically off limits to everyone, but I have been asked to form an exploratory team to validate the truth of these rumors.

We were warned on more than one occasion of the dangers that lurk deep in the hold. And let me tell you, the warnings were well founded. The Darkhold is home to some of the most savage horrors I have yet encountered. Monsters, giant frogs, ghosts, teams of undead soldiers. I shudder just thinking about it.

Throughout the hold I discovered several strategically placed magitek devices. These devices seems to have something to do with the sudden surge in monster population because once they were deactivated the monsters vanished before our eyes. Almost as if these devices were pulling them from some unknown location, through the aether into our world.

Midway through our expedition we encountered the den of giant fiery Ogre. Slaying this beast was no easy task. Attacking it from behind agitated the monster extremely and resulted in a devastating retaliatory attack. We were finally able to fell it by concentrating its attention on one individual and attacking from both sides when it wasn't looking.

Once we ventured further into the hold, we discovered an Imperial base. We made short work of the Imperials. I noticed one of them carried a relic similar to one I've seen on the Knights of Ishgard. I decided to take it not only as proof of our success, but to be inspected by the knights.

Even though our work was done, we decided to venture a little deeper. We came to a room that was lined with raw aether crystals. As beautiful as they were, we did not have time to sit by and admire them. It seems theat our presence roused the true master of this domain, as we were confronted by an enormous, how else to describe it other than: Demon. I think it was none-other than the legendary Batraal. I swear by the Twelve!

The monster summoned waves of undead knights to attack us. We made little headway before we decided to retreat. It was a bit more than we were prepared for to be honest. However, I plan to return again to finish the deed.

Upon reporting back, I provided the item I found for inspection. It seems that the worst scenario may be true. It was a knightly relic. This could possibly indicate that one of the Imperial soldiers we defeated was also a Knight of Ishgard. Such treachery! Spies seem to be everywhere... Is nothing sacred anymore?

Having proved my mettle in the Darkhold, I have been granted entry at will to explore further.

Back at the Adder's Nest, I was rewarded with not only a promotion to Serpent Corporal, but I was also awarded the Emerald Leaf for my commitment to the Grand Company.

I was immediately provided another task, but considering the late hour, I will write of it tomorrow after I have returned from the mission.

~Kiji

It's Little Ladies Day!

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to take a break from my training to wish you all a happy Little Ladies Day!

I took a brief break today to participate in the festivities. Oh, it was this time last year I was sporting red hair and a goatee. Haha! What was I thinking?!

I read a cute little write up in the paper regarding the holiday and I have included this letter for your reasing pleasure. Best wishes to you and the little ladies in YOUR life!

~Kiji

Three centuries past, the city-state of Ul'dah was ruled by an iron-fisted sultan by the name of Baldric Thorne—a man feared across the region for his quick temper and his even swifter justice. Perhaps as punishment for his compassionless ways, the Twelve saw fit to bless the sultan with but a single daughter, Edvya, whom the sultan loved more than the sun and the moons. And it was this love that drove Baldric to take measures that would ensure no harm ever befell the princess—including her confinement to the royal palace and the assignment of a retinue of over fifty handmaidens and seneschals.

As the princess grew older, however, a longing to explore the unknown land that lay beyond the palace walls tugged at her soul, until one day, in a devilish display of wit, she switched clothes with a miller girl come to the palace with her mother to deliver flour to the kitchens. Once Edvya had exchanged her beautiful gown and tiara for the soiled rags of a commoner, it proved little trouble to pass unnoticed through her legion of servants and slip out into the city for a day of wicked fun.

It did not take long for the palace to realize something was afoot, and upon discovering that his only daughter was missing, the sultan, overcome with rage, immediately ordered the sultanate's entire standing army to scour the city until they had found the princess. As for the royal impostor, thinking that Edvya may have been kidnapped by the girl's mother, the sultan ordered the miller's house torn apart, her family arrested, tortured, and thrown in the royal oubliette.

As luck would have it, the princess had not wandered far from the palace, and was discovered in a nearby market by her father's men. Once back in the safety of the palace, Edvya revealed the whole ruse to her father, explaining that she had conjured it on her own, and begged that he show mercy to the miller's family.

Upon realizing that the atrocities committed to the miller girl and her family were without warrant, he had the family released from the oubliette and summoned to the royal audience chamber. Here, not only did he personally apologize to the family and order the royal architects to design and build them a new home, but, in a move most unexpected, Baldric himself offered to serve as the daughter's seneschal for a full day, saying that no young woman, regardless of her standing, should be denied the respect due all citizens of the sultanate; that all girls, common or noble, are 'ladies' in their own right.

Rumors of this unforeseen display of humility were quick to spread through Ul'dah and ultimately proved to be extremely well-received amongst the smallfolk, who, until then, had perceived their leader as little more than a heartless despot. So well-received were they, in fact, that the sultan declared one day from each solar year on which he would select, via lots, a common girl from the city and serve as her personal seneschal, as he had done with the miller's daughter.

Dragoon Training

Dear Friends,

I have spent the last several days developing my skills as a Dragoon. As I train, I will often feel the stir of the dragon within my soul. It is exciting! Who would have ever thought... Regardless of my excitement, I must keep my feelings in check. Today, while training I noticed that again, the moon of Dalamud has grown larger and brighter. Meteor is coming. We MUST BE READY.

~Kiji

Eye of the Dragon

Dear Friends,

I know that in a recent letter I wrote of an impending sense of doom. I said that I felt something miraculous would need to occur to save our people from the seemingly invincible army of the Empire. Today, I was witness to the light of hope.

Today, I was called by the wood wailers for an important mission. It seems the Knights of Ishgard had need for a trusted adventurer. One who could be trusted to carry out a mission with utmost secrecy.  I was asked to meet with Sir Alberic, a high ranking knight, just outside the gate of Ishgard.

As many of you know, the Kingdom of  Ishgard sealed their gates from the outside world many years ago. The knights of this kingdom are renown for doing battle with fearsome dragons. Many consider this tale to be nothing more than nonsense. But I now know better.

These lanced knights are known as Dragoons. They are said to have the bodies of men, but the power of dragons.It seems that one of them, in fact, the most powerful of them Estinein, has been accused of stealing a ancient relic. This relic is said to be the eye of the infamous dragon Nidhogg! A beast chased off by none other than Sir Alberic himself.

Reports placed Estinein somewhere in the Black Shroud. I was asked to seek him out and demand he return the relic to Ishgard.

Finding him was not difficult. It doesn't take a ranger to tell when local fauna is is disturbed by an unknown presence. After fending off some rather agitated giant crabs, I encountered this rogue knight face to face. He seemed intent on destroying me at first. But then a strange glow emanated from the relic he carried on his person and he declared that it was reacting to my presence... In shock, he leaped into the sky and vanished.

Not knowing what to do, I returned to Sir Alberic with a report. He was astounded with what I had to say. Alberic explained that Estinein was known as the Azure Dragoon, a dragoon chosen by the spirit of the dragon to be the strongest of their kind.  The reaction of Nidhogg's eye to my presence indicated that I too was chosen to wield this power. Something that is unheard of for an outsider. Alberic confided that he lost the honor of calling himself a Dragoon many years ago during his battle with Nidhogg, and if I was being called, so be it. He entrusted me with his personal soul stone. The stone grants it's bearer the powers of the Dragoon Knights. From this day forward, I am not merely Kijimuna the Wood Wailer and Lancer, I am Sir Kijimuna, the Dragoon!

I was immediately tasked with training to develop my skills, so I must be off. There are monsters to hunt, and tactics to perfect. I will write again soon.

~Kiji

Meeting the Detective

Dear Friends,

Today was such an odd day!  On three separate occasions I bumped into a rather odd, but dapper man claiming to be a "detective extraordinaire". The adventurer's guilds all over Erozea have began renting rooms to adventurers free of charge. As I made my way between the cities, to add my name to the rental logs, I bumped into this odd man. Each time it seems he was involving himself in some bit of local trouble, or petty thievery, then claiming to have provided the resolution. As if that was not odd enough, he seemed quite pompous. Only his mild-mannered assistant seemed to have any sense about her. I have a feeling I've not seen the last of this character. *sigh*. What is this world coming to?

All nonsense aside, the rooms are wonderful! After spending the night in one last night, I felt AMAZING the next day. Much more focused. It sure beats sleeping in the streets or in some questionable room in a no-name tavern.

~Kiji

Best of the Best!

Dear Friends,

Just a quick note to proclaim that I have now achieved mastery in the profession of Lancer! Nothing can stop me now!!!

~Kiji

Imperial Peril

Dear Friends,

The situation with the resistance came to a boil today. Reports of Imperial activity in northern Mor Dhona have been come frequent and the resistance leader revealed his plan to storm an Imperial encampment in attempt to steal an airship. The plan is then to navigate the airship to Ala Mhigo and use it liberate the occupied city. As courageous as that plan may sound, it is indeed very risky. Not to mention an act of vengeance. I have been asked by the resistance leader to join the operation. Lady Minfilla advised the the choice was mine alone.

To be honest, I personally felt that the whole idea was poorly devised. I was about to announce my intentions to stay out of it until Aery rushed off to join them. The damned girl... I couldn't leave her alone to face such a dangerous situation so I too made my way for camp Revenant's Toll in Mor Dhona. The gathering point for the operation.

Upon my arrival, I find the camp under siege by the Garlean Empire. However, just as I was preparing to join the battle, the Imperial party flees for the mountains. I pursue them on foot and manage to catch them (thanks to my trusty Herme's Sandals)! However, it seems to be ambush... I follow the Imperials into a clearing where a flying Imperial Juggernaught swoops down from the sky and aims it's guns right for me! Oh dear!

I manage to escape it's payload just in the nick of time. It's attack falling on two of the Imperial soldiers instead. The Twelve, thank you for these quick shoes!! It is at this very moment that I catch sight of Aerylia and the resistance leader. We have little time to celebrate as we are approached by none other than Legatus Baelsar!  Just as menacing as he was in my visions, he declares his intention to destroy us once and for all.

Just then, those two mysterious characters, Papalymo and Yda (the ones that crashed into the hedge on my very first day in Gridania) appear with two other strangers. Together, the begin an assault on the Legatus. Everything happened so fast I can barely remember it... There was gunfire, flashes of magic... next, Baelsar seems to call a blast of fire down from the sky, resulting in the largest explosion I have ever seen...

Everything goes black. When I awake, I find myself in a cave. Everything seems so surreal. I see a group of neglected looking children huddled together. I try speaking to them, but they seem to be lost in their own little worlds. They mumble statements of malice toward Eorzea, and praise for the Empire. Before I can speak with them further, I hear approaching footsteps. I hide in the shadows and watch. An Imperial officer speaks to the children and fills their young minds with vile propaganda. It's a terrible sight... But apparently it was all a dream or a vision... The next thing I remember is hearing the sound of my name being called, and I wake up to find Aery leaning over me. She is elated to see that I am alive.

Papalymo stands next to her, as mysterious as always. It seems that he was able to stave off the Imperial Legatus with the help of his strange friends. He explains that this should be a lesson to me. He suggests that I am not yet ready to do battle against the Empire. His advice to wait until the proper time. This angers Aerylia. She lashes back at him claiming that we cannot simply sit by and do nothing. Through her emotions, the truth is finally revealed. She is from Ala Mhigo. Her hatred towards the empire was forged to an edge when her city was invaded as a yong child. It all makes sense now.Her rage is amplified by the admission of failure stated by the resistance. They have decided that what little rewards they have gained through their operations has been overshadowed by the loss of life they have suffered. There is talk of disbanding their organization. It is a sad moment of clarity... the Empire seems to be nearly unstoppable.

Papalymo tells us that we are blessed with a power we do not yet understand. And until the time that we do, we should exercise caution and patience. As Papalymo leaves, Aery and I decide to head back to the Merchant Wards to advise Minfillia of what we have learned.

Minfillia shared his assessment of the situation. She feels that until the nations of Erozea are able to match the strength of the Empire, we should suspend all offensive operations. (Thank god the Grand Companies get stronger by the day). She still feels that if we could align ourselves with the beast-tribes, we would have a fighting chance, but even that is not looking so good these days....

Friends. I hate to sound so grim. But I truly feels that an part of my life has just come to a conclusion. As we stand today. We are no match for the Garlean Empire.

That being said, From this day forward, I commit myself to the Grand Company of the Twin Adders. With the sole purpose of doing all I can to make Erozea stronger and ready to tackle the dark days ahead. Regardless of the what the Empire may throw at us, be it soldiers, Magitek, or even Meteor. I will do all in my power to uphold the honor and defense of Erozea.

~Kiji