Thoughts from the Otherworld

I am afraid that I have made an absolute fool of myself this time. Kii Kalira's enthusiasm for dancing did not seem to abate, and once we had reached San d'Oria right in time for her 19th birthday, she somehow managed to convince the proprietor of Lion Spring Tavern to let us dance upon the stage there. Needless to say, I had no idea what I should have done, and wished to stay far away. If only it hadn't been her birthday, I might have been able to evade this request somehow...
I think I might not show my face in the establishment for a while. Our joke of a performance ended up in us being nearly thrown out, it was clear from the proprietor's words that he wishes to have nothing further to do with us. I suppose at least Kii Kalira is excited, she wants to head back to Jeuno now to see Troupe Brilioth's miss Laila again, now that we have fulfilled her criteria. I am not too certain if this is such a good idea, convincing someone like that with an incident such as this. I do hope she won't be too severely disappointed if miss Laila ends up refusing her still.

On the way to San d'Oria we stopped by Valkurm dunes in search of more song runes carved on stone. Having extensively scoured the beaches near Selbina before and reasonably certain such a stone could not be hiding near the town, we ended up walking in an entirely unfamiliar area of Valkurm. While the way we picked brought us further away from the shore at first, it soon doubled back through a small tunnel to an isolated beach where we did indeed find an almost exact duplicate of the stone in Buburimu peninsula. But it was not only the stone that greeted us. We found there not only Lewenhart, the bard we met in Buburimu and later in Jeuno again, but the heartbroken Jeunoan bard had also made his way there. What a coincidence for us all to reach the stone around the same time - although I do think Mr Lewenhart had been there a while before us. It turns out he is a bard of much fame, legendary among other bards. To have been able to meet such a person entirely by accident!
We talked for a while, and I think Kii Kalira was much enchanted by his words. She has been humming suspiciously often these few days since that meeting. Sometimes, I wonder how so much enthusiasm can be held in such a small body. At times, she seems she could burst with the sheer power of her energy and interest.

This Vana'diel holds wondrous places and stories in it indeed. After leaving Windurst the last time, I and Kii Kalira headed to Buburimu Peninsula in search of these mysterious song runes carved in stone. It was no quick process, but eventually we ended up at a beach only accessible by from the sea, descending steep cliffs to it, or taking this hidden tunnel to it. There, we found a slab of stone carved with the words of this song, and met a wandering minstrel who told us he visits this beach often. The song and the view from the beach are both indeed worth coming.

While there, the thought of the broken-hearted bard in Jeuno came to my thoughts, and we decided to write down the words on the stone and show them to him, thinking it would ease his broken heart to sing this song full of love and longing. It appears this song might not be able to mend broken hearts after all. We did find the bard again, but he wasn't too pleased at being shown such an old song, thinking it would resonate with him. I have to admit, I am somewhat disappointed. Although something may come from this yet. From the same person who mentioned the song runes originally, we heard that there is another set of runes in Valkurm dunes. I am determined to see these runes for myself now.

Walking around upper Jeuno today we came across a troupe of dancers, the Troupe Brilioth, who put up a show in the streets. Kii Kalira was most excited over this. Before I could stop her, she had started talking to the leader of the troupe, almost begging for her to be taught to dance like the people of the troupe. I do not think that miss Laila, the leader of the troupe, was very polite. I do understand that she was working, but in a performace profession like hers it would be natural to be talked with every now and then.
Although I have to admit, even despite her attitude she did give Kii Kalira some hope. She told us to get some fame as dancers before she could possibly teach us anything. I do not know how it happened, but apparently I am to be included in this. Kii Kalira is as excited as she was to see this troupe, but I am somewhat hesitant. She will not make me try to dance, will she?

I have been honored with a proper audience with the Chieftainness of the mithra in Windurst, Perih Vashai. Kii Kalira, after hearing tales of her accomplishments in the Great War from the mithra in Kazham, became excited and wanted to visit Windurst. Upon our arrival she wasted no time to lead us to the Chieftainness, very excited about Perih Vashai's mastery of the bow. I did not know she was interested in archery. She has always been more of a healer type in my mind. Maybe this is a recent thing. She sure has changed a lot. Not that I would mind, it merely strikes me as a quick change.
Where was I. Ah, yes, the Chieftainness. When Kii Kalira insisted on talking to her that day she listened patiently and then sent us on a strange quest. It involved tracking down what I think was a kind of a sabertooth tiger graveyard in Meriphataud Mountains. I still do not quite understand her insistence on us seeing this, but we concealed ourselves and waited patiently, and in the end witnessed the last moments of an old sabertooth tiger.
Upon our return to Windurst the Chieftainness listened to our reactions to this event and taught us about the mithra way of living off nature while respecting it. It was a true eye-opener, and I think it affected Kii Kalira even more than she cares to admit. She signed up with the mithran rangers afterwards.
 
Something else happened too, on our journey to find this dying place of sabertooth tigers. Witnessing that event left us both thoughtful, and since night had not yet fallen we made our way to Jeuno, to spend the night much more comfortably before heading back to Windurst to report to the Chieftainness. As we had time left over before night fell even after arriving to Jeuno, we went to spend a pleasant evening in the Merry Minstrel in lower Jeuno. The evening turned out not so pleasant, as the bard was more interested in his own sorrow than entertaining the customers. As Kii Kalira remarked on it the mithra behind the counter told us about some old song that supposedly mends broken hearts. It was most curious. It only struck me afterwards, but that bard seemed very broken-hearted. If it could be healed with a simple song, would that not be nice? I think we should head to Buburimu Peninsula and try to find this song, apparently it is carved to some stone there.

Jeuno has strange people indeed. I have written before about the adventurer discount of offering a Kazham-Jeuno airship pass in exchange for keys from the three beastman forts. It turns out it was not mere joke, but a real promotion of the airline company. I and Kii Kalira are now in possession of Kazham passes, that enable us to use that particular route. While it is that route only, it is still quite an expensive item that they offer in exchange for some trivialities. What can they possibly achieve by gathering those keys?

I suppose one should not complain when luck shines one's way. Kii Kalira was most excited about this opportunity, so hardly had we reached Jeuno that we set out again, this time on board an airship. It has been a long time since I was aboard one, and I do believe it was Kii Kalira's first time. And neither did her excitement diminish on reaching Kazham, quite the contrary. I think only a faint memory of such a thing as decorum kept her back from talking to everyone we came across and snooping around every corner, into every house. Not too long ago I wouldn't have believed her to be capable of such excitement, but experience has taught me better. Sometimes after we set out from Windurst that spring a year ago, it seems like she is a different person entirely.
The air here is hot and humid, this climate hardly seems fit to live in for longer periods of time. I suppose it is all about what you're used to though, as the native mithra do not seem to have any issue with it. For that matter, neither does Kii Kalira, really. We've dared to walk around the outskirts of the village, right where village turns into jungle, but did not venture out into jungle proper yet. Listening to the locals, you hear many stories about the dangerous beasts that roam these jungles.

I have discovered that there is such a thing as being too courteous. Or maybe that there is a limit to where being courteous becomes something else. There is another elvaan guest at the inn we're staying at, and I could swear I overheard him flirting with Kii Kalira yesterday. It was cleverly disguised for sure, but... and it's not like it's any concern of mine. Concealing his behavior behind courteousness merely annoys me somewhat. That is all.

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.

It is good to spend some time in one's home nation every now and then. At least, this was the thought in the back of my head when I and Kii Kalira headed to San d'Oria after making our aqcuaintance with the goblin Guttrix. But as an adventurer of some name I suppose one should not expect too much time to rest. Hardly had we entered within the walls of the city that we came across Balasiel who had previously awared both of us with the rank of a San d'Orian squire. He had one more test for our skills it seems, for he read us a riddle from the Book of Tasks. While somewhat tired, I did not hesitate to start unraveling this riddle. The first part of it was much more easily solved than the second, but I must admit to being almost defeated by the next two riddles. As Kii Kalira claimed to not be interested in riddles it is entirely possible they would have remained unsolved but for a chance happening - an official mission from San d'Oria. And not just any mission, a mission that enabled me to meet Prince Trion! It was a great honor to meet His Highness once again. To have word of my accomplishments reach the ears of one of the princes, it is almost unimaginable.

Ah, yes, the riddles. As my mission orders I was instructed to head to Davoi to retreave a report on the moves of the orcs there. Upon researching my destination - mainly its map - I had the most enlightening idea. The clues, while for certain could point to just any place with a river, could very well coincide with the layout of Davoi as well. I wasted no time picking up Kii Kalira before we headed to Davoi. I have been there on a mission before as well, but that time did not require me to head as deep in as this time.

Once I had successfully retrieved the report from a knight on duty in the area, we started searching the area. While it might not have been too good to dally around like that while on an official mission, I justify this to myself as having been a ssemi-official mission from a high-ranking San d'Orian official.

...I cannot deny that it was somewhat difficult to sneak around Davoi. There were orcs everywhere, ones far more skilled than what we have previously encountered. But once again, our spells came to our aid, and we managed to retrieve a peculiarly disfigured sword from a disused well at the very edges of Davoi. Upon returning to San d'Oria, not was I only congratulated on the completion of my mission by Prince Trion himself, but by presenting the disfigured sword to Balasiel as proof of solving the riddles I and Kii Kalira were awarded the title of honorary San d'Orian knights. I cannot help but feel that my heart is about to burst with pride. I must attempt to bring myself to ground somehow soon, becoming proud over these recent events would not be a very good way to pay back all this honor I have been awarded as of late.

Maybe the way to achieve this lies with Kii Kalira. She does not seem too affected by becoming a knight, but instead grumbles about everything. I wonder what is wrong with her. Maybe she did not agree with coming to San d'Oria after all.

Somewhere along the way, a whole year has passed since I set out on my adventure. Certainly many things have happened, too many to conveniently downsize to a simple sentence. May the next year bring as much excitement, and avoid the sorrows and worries that plagued parts of the last.

Goblins are a surprisingly crafty lot. At the moment I cannot remember if I mentioned this before, but Jeuno has many of them. They are treated with some suspicion, but mostly as regular merchants. When I first arrived in Jeuno it worried me more than it does these days. I had heard of this behavior, but I could not quite grasp it. Now, I think it may be a good thing, that some people live in such close proximity with these peculiar beastmen. It gives the opportunity to learn much from each other, if we are only open-minded enough to put aside our differences for a moment.

There is a certain establishment in Lower Jeuno called Muckvix's Junkshop, that sports a small goblin eatery in the back. It was almost by accident that I and Kii Kalira entered the place, but there we encountered this goblin called Guttrix who started talking to us. She is apparently a tailor out to practice her skills on making garments in other than goblin sizes. I was dubious as to this endeavor at first but we decided to give it a try. After all, she only required some magical patterns that for some reason were hidden away inside the Maze of Shakhrami. Since we were familiar with the place and knew going in would net us some more gil if we sold the spoils of battle we obtained in there, it made the decision to go on a wild-goose chase after these purported magical patterns that much easier. Gil is never easy to come by, and one must eat too.

It took some time to find the goblin coffers in that place, let alone obtain keys to open said coffers as the both of us quite spectacularly fail in any lock-picking of any kind. We were just about ready to give up when - surprise of all surprises, we actually managed to find one, and not too long after another one. Armed with our strange finds we made our way back to Jeuno and handed them over to Guttrix. When we returned athe the specified time for our finished garments she held up to her word and gave them to us. I can honestly say I have never been quite so surprised in my life. Not only did this goblin offer to do something for us without being asked to, she actually held up to her word. I may have to revise my opinions on the goblin-kind.

The clothes we received are surprisingly durable and enhanced with quite potent magics. I do not think we could have afforded anything even approaching this quality by ourselves. We truly are in her debt.

Although I must say, Kii Kalira in these new clothes of hers is... well, they are red mithra tribal-type clothes. That shall be enough mention of that.

This world holds many secrets indeed. Some of them are secrets that could not hurt anyone, while others are dangerous, and can bring harm to many people. I do believe we have come across one of the latter secrets, that of the art of summoning. To think I would one day be capable of casting that forbidden magic, it chills me just thinking about it.

I suppose one should not be so curious if one were to avoid finding out these secrets. What is done is done though.

The ruby I mentioned before was a peculiar one indeed. It did not take us long to figure out the meaning behind the mysterious words referring to the colors of the sky. Right as we left Windurst for the sunny region of Sarutabaruta and were pondering on the mystery of this ruby as we went it shone brightly, confirming one fo the colors. Final confirmation came soon in the form of a dust storm - these colors of the sky were indeed different kinds of weather. Nevertheless, gathering them was no easy matter. I am especially referring to the matter of snowing.

It is spring already in most areas of the world, so finding snow proved problematic indeed. It wasn't until we decided to make it all the way to the Beaucedine Glacier that we managed to gather this color that was indeed the last one. Indigo completed the colors of the rainbow within the ruby, and one of the avatars graced us with his presence, telling us to hurry to a certain place in La Theine Plateau. I recall passing this place before, idly wondering what its meaning was. Even now, I wonder..were those stones erected in that location simply for the purpose of communicating with avatars?

When we reached the circle of stones the ruby called forth Carbuncle before us once again. And thus we now hold the power to call forth avatars, should we first have made a pact with one.

Carbuncle's departure displayed for us a magnificent rainbow. I have never seen one quite like it. It lasted for so long I was starting to think it would not disappear at all.

It seems to me that Kii Kalira is not very used to colder climates. Not only did she not prepare for the cold weather even though we discussed thoroughly where we would be going, she...started clinging to me the moment it started getting a bit chilly. It was most confusing. Even that isn't enough however. Upon reaching Beaucedine she somehow decided to attempt climbing a snow drift, this much I gathered from her words. As was to be expected, the snow did not hold her weight and she ended up falling in head-first. It gave me quite a fright before I managed to get her on her feet again.

I think I must speak with her about survival in snowy areas before we next head out to one. Thank Altana we did not have to go further in, with her like that.

Not unexpectedly, major events seem to be happening in the world, bit by bit. Kii Kalira received an official mission not too long after my latest journal entry. It was the follow the minister of Orastery, Ajido-Marujido. Apparently, this high-ranking Windurstian has been acting strangely recently, Kii Kalira had witnessed this before these recent events herself. I am not too clear on the details, but we managed to track down the minister to Castle Oztroja, the yagudo castle in Meriphataud Mountains. It was a formidable place indeed. Barging in head first would surely have resulted in our deaths, so we found ourselves sneaking in aided by the power of our magic. Rarely has there been a time when I have been this thankful for our ability to conceal our presence from others.

We wandered about the castle for some time before finding the minister. He wasn't in too good shape but had somehow managed to meet the yagudo leader Tzee Xicu shortly before. My mind still refuses to quite accept that I have been that close to the leader of these beastmen. At the castle it did not quite reveal its full impact, but after I had time to think about it...it is a fearsome place indeed, Castle Oztroja.

After the minister had left us, telling us he would head to Windurst but to please conceal that fact from the other high-ranking Windurstians - he must have had his reasons, although I do believe Rii Kalira to be more privy to them - we discovered that he had left behind his ring. I am not certain if it was such a wise thing to do, but as the child Kohlo-Lakolo, the leader of the group calling themselves the Star Onion Brigade, had been wanting a minister's ring to see what was concealed within the sealed house of Karaha-Baruha, the hero of the Great War... we found ourselves lending the item to him, it concealing the power to unlock the seal of the house within it. While it might not be the most ethical thing to do to break into the house like that, I have to confess to feeling curious as to what it might be hiding.

...what awaited us was not something I would have guessed. There was a Cardian within the house, and the mana orb from before reacted with it, making it activate again. This Cardian was called Joker, which somewhat differs from the usual naming convention for these dolls. I have to wonder if there is any significance behind it, but I might have to be content with just wondering as the Cardian appears to have lost his memory.

Something else unexpected happened right when we were leaving. The children of the Brigade had just left with the Cardian as the ruby - the very same ruby we found in the stomach of a leech on Qufim Island not too long ago - started..speaking to us. Although I have to confess to now knowing why Kii Kalira had the ruby with her, as our approximity to the House of the Hero was likely the cause for the ruby to activate, I suppose we should be thankful for her. Apparently, this ruby is no ordinary ruby. On top of the voice advising us to gather the seven colors minister Ajido-Marujido appeared before us again. It seems he had taken refuge in the house, and was disturbed by our leading the Brigade in. I'm not certain how he felt about this. Nevertheless, he told us the voice was telling us to gather the colors of the sky. I have several theories, but I think writing about this will have to wait. We will be leaving Windurst in the morrow.

Windurst is surely home to many wondrous things. Some of these things - rather, persons - are also somewhat amusing. Kii Kalira made friends with a group of children in Windurst before, they call themselves the Star Onion Brigade. I had the honor of being accepted as a member to this selective group today. They have their hideout behind some warehouses in the port district.

Apparently the last time she went to play with these children they retrieved a stray mana orb - one of those round devices used to power Cardians. I had no idea she had been playing with children like this. Not that I'd have to know everything she does, it merely seems..amusing to me. Charming for certain. I hear they played a prank on the famous mithra thief Nanaa Mihgo.

This time, the Brigade was in confusion as the mana orb they'd found last time had gone missing. After several mishaps we managed to get ourselves made fake moustaches - for what purpose, I could not really understand, this being a detective game of some kind - but it turned out to be for naught as one of the Brigade members themselves confessed to having this orb. I wouldn't begrudge time spent on playing with children, but seeing her wearing a fake moustache made it seem all that more worthwhile...

She seems to have cheered up somewhat after this ordeal. That is good.