Final Fantasy XI Playdiary
Entry 14 - And yet more randomness, part 2
Once again, this update directly follows on from the last. The only reason it is split is to make loading times less horrible. I had just left Sand'Oria for Bastok for the first time, throught the Konschtat highlands and Gustaberg. For some reason Elvaan people and places have French-influenced names whilst Humes have a more Austrian feel (it's the windmills in Konschtat that make me say that). Goodness knows what language the Tarutaru words are based on.
This picture amuses me. He looks so sad. This chap asked me to bring him a Galkan Sausage for a quest, but I confess that I haven't actually bothered yet. Poor thing.
I was in Bastok Metalworks now, heading to the Windurst embassy to find out what I was to do here. Apparently there were some troubles in a mine north of the town, and I had to investigate. And look who else I found whilst I was here. Cid's FFXI incarnation is a little on the frightening side and he told me to leave because he was busy. Hmph.
Eventually I grew tired of harrassing Cid and his apron and headed to the Parlborough mines as instructed. The enemies here were a species called Quadavs - they look like large bipedal snapping turtles. I think I like Quadavs - they drop money, spell scrolls and sometimes shells which sell for an incredible 1300gil each in the local auction house. Deep inside the mines I came across a Quadav nest too. It was steamy in there and the eggs were quite creepy. I didn't linger long.
I was able to get as far as the third floor in the mines before I decided going on this mission alone wasn't such a great idea. The Quadavs up here were stronger, and though defeatable it was getting dangerous for me.Instead I went back to Bastok and switched jobs to black mage. I may as well take this opportunity to level up a little and perhaps obtain some Quadav shells in the process - spells aren't cheap.
I should explain that the nice trousers I had bought as white mage were too high level to be used with my black mage job, so I fought wearing just a tunic. A little embarrassing but spending an extra 100 gil for the sake of modesty wasn't really a priority since I was soloing anyway. My black mage spells were fantastic and I had a lot of fun. I died a lot too - once you run out of MP it becomes frightening as a black mage, and my puny little smacks with my staff can't hurt anything.
At some point I relocated to Windurst to collect Yagugo beads. I had decided to take up a new crafting skill, goldsmithing, on top of cooking and weaving. I had heard that by breaking the beads from a Yagudo with a thunder crystal, I could make a copper ingot, and so that's what I was doing in the picture with the purple light. I also needed more wind crystals to continue my cooking skill, and as I was running around looking for some I ran into Hopkins. For anyone wondering how my thief outfit looks on a male, wonder no longer ;)
One of my favourite monsters, a sabretooth in Battalia.
Back as white mage with my linkshell party, hunting in Valkurm this time. And then hunting with some random Japanese players who invited me. White mages are very much in demand for parties, so I am turning people down very frequently.
They're all so CUTE >_<. And here's one called Hotcalpis. Also saw one named Drunkard, which I thought was adorable, however it zoomed off too fast for a photo opportunity.
Another element, this time Earth Elemental.
As I ran through Valkurm one time to have my Signet spell recast, I spotted some members of a party doing some weird things. Apparently they were trying to ride a sheep. I kept running as fast as I could and hoped they hadn't seen me.
Levelling black mage again in West Ronfaure, I came across a zombified dog and tried to blow him up. He responded by breathing fire at me. Ouch. Of course Xylia won. When I reached level ten I gained access to a spell I'd had in my mog house for a while - Blaze Spike. I love this spell, it creates a fire barrier around me that roasts anyone who attacks.
A few people in NeoGundan needed a skull item to complete their support job quest, and Seymoure (level thirty black mage) offered to help them. Since they had no thief in the party, I offered to go along too - thieves have an ability which increases the chance of monsters dropping rare items. I stayed as late as I could and we were able to get a few of the skulls. It was quite intense in there!
I have a special update planned for next time, assuming things go well in game. The key word is "dragon". See you then ^_^.
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Date entered: 27th January 2003