Diplomatic Solutions

Dear Friends,

My assistance was again required by my companions at the Path of the Twelve. This time I was summoned to assist a similar guild known as the Ashcrown Consortium, located in Gridania. The consortium is responsible for regulating the trading of crystals among the nations of Eorzea. It seems that a majority of the crystals are provided by the beastmen tribes in exchange for various goods and services. It is thru this manner, that the fragile peace is kept between the beastmen and the city-states.

However, lately the beastmen have been reluctant to exchange their crystals. It has recently been uncovered that instead of trading them, the various beastmen are hording them as an offering to their gods (also known as Primals).

Aerylia and I were tasked with the mission of assisting the consortium in negotiating with the beastmen in attempt to resume normal trading.

We arrived at the scene a little late it seems. All manner of hell was breaking loose. A band of Amalj'aa and Ixal were in a very heated argument with some members of the consortium. It seems even the beastmen fear invasion by the Empire and do not trust the three nations to keep them safe. The arguments became so intense that the beastmen were on the verge of summoning the avatars of their primals over the dispute! I was able to talk sides out of such an extreme solution. By the Twelve, I'd hate to ever have to battle such powerful beings!

Before the negotiations could continue, a strange creature appeared outside of the cave and frightened off both groups of beastmen. It was terrifying! It was a ghostly, demonic looking thing! Shrouded in black robes with wings of bone! I was told by one of our Sylvan friends that the creature in question was an "Ascian". This is a being I have never heard of, and the Sylphs were not willing to provide and details. I wish they had more forthcoming, but it was their magicks that were able to conceal our presence from the terrible creature until is passed.

I was disheartened that we were not able to fully resolve this crisis. But, the effort was not all wasted. In their haste, the beastmen left behind a sack of the valuble crystals. We delivered them to the consortium with a full report.


~Kiji