I and Kii Kalira have made our way to Bastok. It has been some time since we last were here, with all this running around between this beach and that, and even the mysterious visit to the past. Nevertheless, here we are now, and I took advantage of the fact to find some more information about this Kriegstanz. I never knew it had such a long and morbid history! I had heard of dancers on the battlefield before, but they were barely more than mere mentions, details to me were left in the dark. Turns out that the popularity of the Kriegstanz - and indeed, the people who invented it - were mountain people from the region of Gustaberg, brought to the city of Bastok the curb the dangerous custom of animating the dead and dancing with them in reckless abandon. This being called the Totentanz. I can barely imagine what it would have been like, knowing that a deadly disease was making its rounds, in despair descending on the streets during the warm nights of Bastok, to dance with the living and the dead in harmony... the mere vision chills my bones.
I wonder how Kriegstanz and other styles of battle dances faded out so thoroughly after the Great War. I wasn't even aware there were that many schools of dance applicable in battle, let alone that somewhere there were still practicioners of it. I suppose the latter makes much sense - after all, it has been a mere twenty years. Not all practicioners could have died out in this brief period of time.
Since we were in Bastok already and I had the spare time for a change, I took it upon myself to try more goldsmithing synthesis. It was a good way to get a little time away from the books while I looked into the history of the various schools of dance, and I ended up making some progress in my skills. As a result, I was finally acknowledged as a recruit of the official Bastokan goldsmithing guild. It is a small step, but even a small step is progress.
This year started so slowly, yet already this much time has passed, and there has hardly been a time to rest properly since the end of February. It is almost May again, and this has prompted the moogles to arrange yet another of their events. I remember this particular one from last year, thankfully neither then nor now has something gone wrong. We decided to come to Bastok to celebrate this past year of adventuring, and see Endahren off on his way back to San d'Oria.
I feel like a bad friend, for not having mentioned him in such a long time in my journal. We have kept in contact via letters, although even this has been made somewhat difficult by me so rarely being somewhere where letters could reach me. Now that I have met him once again, I have this feeling that something is happening in his life that he hasn't been telling me. He seems to..avoid me somehow, even though on the surface he seems exactly like before. I am not certain how to approach this matter.
Before leaving Sand d'Oria when this moogle-sent event Egg-hunt Eggstravaganza was upon us, we headed to Mt Ghelsba to retrieve our second of the set of three keys required for a free Kazham pass. I still have my doubts about this scheme, although I suppose gaining intelligence of the most recent orc movements can never be a bad thing. We had to venture in quite deep to Fort Ghelsba - indeed, at one point we found ourselves at the very top of Mt Ghelsba, above the Forst even - but managed to retreive keys for the both of us. Unlike with the yagudo in Giddeus, I have no worries of the political kind to slay several of these beasts. Or for that matter, quadav.
That being the last required key, the Palborough one. The mine is full of these turtle-like beastmen, as we very well knew from previous experience on the mission we ended up slaying that nether-world dragon. Entering that place brought back unpleasant memories, and the mine is not too cheerful a place for even the brightest person. I have to admit to being somewhat glad to be done with that place.
Other than that, we have been enjoying the Eggstravaganza festivities here in Bastok. It involves trading eggs with letters on them to make sets that spell out various words, and the moogles give out prices to people who give them some certain words. It is a strangely exhilirating experience, and a great spirit-raiser after as gloomy a place as Palborough.
The Shadow Lord..could it really be? He's returning? I...let me start from the beginning.
Our mission in Bastok turned out to be of more dire importance than anyone could imagine. I and Kii Kalira, as representatives of Bastok's allies, both received orders to cooperate in investigating word of the Quadav of Palborough Mines planning something not very pleasant. When we arrived to the scene we found an ahriman and a dragon in a fight with the Mythril Musketeer Ayame. To our horror she got attacked by the dragon just as we arrived, and fell.
It was chaotic. I never imagined we would have to go against opponents of such strength on such a short notice. Although I do suppose that's how you always end up in these situations - suddenly, with hardly any time to prepare. This certainly caught us off-guard, but we managed to defeat them both. I still do not know quite how.
After the battle, a person appeared. Lion by name, a young Hume woman. It turns out both of us had met her before - I did not mention it, but she was at the San d'Orian consulate of Windurst when I completed my previous mission. She recognized the dragon as a beast from the sealed Northlands, which prompted the ahriman to tell us that the beastmen are working on bringing the Shadow Lord back. Having mocked us for being so blind as to not have seen it, it died. We rushed to lady Ayame, and were relieved to find her regaining consciousness shortly after.
The situation is grave. When setting out, I certainly did not expect to be involved in something like this. Maybe I hoped for grand adventures, but certainly nothing of this magnitude. Preparing a way for the Shadow Lord to return..! We reported back to our consulates in Bastok. I will shortly leave for San d'Oria to bring back my report, and Kii Kalira will go to Windurst for the same reason.
Even with all this, I am uneasy leaving her side, and not only for her safety on the journey back. I would wish to have her by my side in this. I know we will see each other soon again, but even so.
I and Kii Kalira have just visited the Passhow Marshlands, close by to Konschtat. San d'Oria controls the area this Conquest period, and I signed up to deliver supplies to the region. Choosing that particular area might have been a mistake, though. Kii Kalira most certainly appeared not to approve. I suppose I cannot fault her for that, the marshes were not the most pleasant place to be in, especially when wearing sandals.
Starlight Celebration is approaching fast. I have not yet decided what present to get Kii Kalira. I only have faint half-formed ideas, but nothing too concrete yet. Thankfully there is still time for that.
Since we were conveniently close to Bastok after getting ourselves away from the marshes, we entered the city for some rest. Might stay here for a while.
Quite unexpectedly, our journeys took us towards Bastok again. While there, we decided to visit an abandoned mine accessible from Konschtat Highlands, the Gusgen Mines. It was an interesting experience I think, if such an experience can be called interesting. We could not go very far in. The mine was filled with ghouls and skeletons, a real gathering place for the undead.
I'd heard rumors before that the souls of the dead miners from times before haunt the mine, but I have a hard time believing each and every one of the undead there was a miner in their previous life. They must gather there from other areas, in search of a place safe from sunlight.
While in the mine, I obtained one of the items Isacio of Selbina wanted. This concluded his task set for me, and his advice has been very helpful in our adventures so far.
It has been a busy and incredible day again. I do not remember the last time we've had this much excitement in our lives.
Throughout the morning and day I and Kii Kalira participated in the festivities again, and agreed to help with an event called the Wake of the Lilies. I dimly recall hearing something about this previously, yet the exact particulars of the matter elude me. It is apparently a wake held yearly to appease the souls of dead witches, with progressions in every nation.
Aside from the Wake, we walked about the city in costume and enjoyed the festivities. As much as it pains me to admit, the festivities in San d'Oria have not been this much fun since I was a child. There is something about the atmosphere in Windurst that makes everything seem that much more lighthearted, and the people more willing to let go of everyday matters to concentrate on having a good time.
Later in the day, I and Kii Kalira attempted to leave for Giddeus again. But who do we meet if not the very Moogle we met yesterday, still worrying about Pyracmon. I had good reason to worry about the authenticity of his defeat yesterday. It seems that he might be immortal, or close to it. Nevertheless, this should not stop us from doing everything we can to stop him, whatever his purpose in infiltrating Windurst would be. We aided in his defeat once again. It seems though that after yesterday, not quite as many adventurers are willing to help. There were only two Tarutaru dragoons with us. Despite this, our victory was ensured. I am starting to think that his strategy depends on overwhelming our defences not with strength, but with resilience.
For defeating Pyracmon this time - what can the cityguard be thinking, not helping during these times? - I and Kii Kalira received several enchanted items. The enchantment is a spell of Teleport, with the destination point set at Bastok. The mere concept of such items fascinates me. They are certainly cannot be very widely available, for I have merely heard of them before, but never seen one with a Teleport enchantment. Granted, I do have a ring with a San d'Orian Warp enchantment, for those emergencies should I ever be needed at home.
Our venture to Giddeus forgotten, we decided to see what festivities Bastok has to offer us. The decision was certainly sudden, although understandable considering the freedom and convenience of travel these items have temporarily brought us.
I am currently writing this in Bastok. I hope the good people of Windurst can wait a little while to have their requests fulfilled. We have rented rooms here and plan to stay for a little while.
Co-existence with Kii Kalira is not without its troubles. Nevertheless, she is quite..charming.
We have now left Windurst. She surprised me by asking to come along when I told her I'd be going to visit Endahren in Bastok. While worried for her safety, I couldn't exactly refuse. Thankfully the journey was rather uneventful.
People seem to rely much on adventurers these days. When we visited the Goldsmithing Guild in Mhaura, the Guild leader Fyi Chalmwoh stopped us and asked us to help. She wants to build...mannequins. I do not quite understand her enthusiasm, but nevertheless, we agreed to ask around. The weaver's wife in Selbina seemed to know something, but she was quite adamant she wouldn't help, and just sent us on our way with an old mannequin catalog. She seems to have something against them. We'll continue searching.
Kii Kalira doesn't seem to like Bastok too much. She has this strange expression on her face at times. Maybe we should leave soon.
Endahren seems to be doing rather well. He was busy with work, though, and we haven't had much time to catch up, so I've been exploring Bastok by myself and with Kii Kalira. It's quite different to be here when you can freely choose where to go. Father did always have the strictest time tables.
I've joined the local Goldsmithing Guild, although they tell me elvaan do not make too good goldsmiths. I think I would like to try, though, and the gil made off of it will certainly be needed. For now, I am just learning the basics of it. It seems to be rather more complicated than I thought, I have had my share of failures. I think that is to be expected, though.
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