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.
Kii Kalira has seemed restless recently. I think she has been caught up in the adventuring fever. It is admittedly slightly amusing, seeing her chatter on. And I do not mind, adventuring is what I left San d'Oria for, after all. And to be exact, that is our current location. It has only been a very short while since we left, and we aren't planning on staying for too long.
On the way from Windurst to San d'Oria, we stopped in Selbina for a little while. We came across this old man by the sea, Isacio by name. Somehow, we got to the subject of adventuring. He has agreed to teach us some of what he knows from his experience as a soldier before, if we can pass his tests. We are now working on completing the task he has set us. We will return to Valkurm Dunes once we have finished our business in San d'Oria.
It is the strangest thing. Before, walking around the Valkurm area was quite a trying situation for the nerves. But now, if I am with Kii Kalira, we do not need to worry ourselves needlessly, beyond some normal considerations for safety. It is a freeing experience. We must have gotten much stronger since we started. Leaving San d'Oria was truly the best decision I have ever made. Nothing much can be accomplished by cowering within its walls endlessly.
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.
Traveling by foot has turned out to be harder than I thought. While other beastmen seem to concentrate around major cities, the goblins are everywhere. I cannot remember there being this many goblins when I visited Selbina the last time - but of course, that was years ago, and I didn't in truth even leave the city. Nevertheless, it feels too good to finally be on the move, we shouldn't complain of life's small annoyances when we are in fact quite happy.
Selbina itself was quite as I remembered it being. Even the weavers' guild was as before, with the old man and his obsession with sheep. Nevertheless, his family produces good-quality fabrics, and should not be looked down upon.
I have now reached the town of Mhaura, and am staying at the inn Sailor's Stay. I hear there is a goldsmiths' guild here, and I thought of visiting..but to reach Windurst by tomorrow night, I need to leave early. I can always return later, if it comes to that.
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