Dead Man's Favor

People like to think they have something to contribute and share. I am no different. I have thought long and hard about things to write, and decided that I will write something new.. and not final fantasy related. See what you think; I hope you like it.

No matter how far I travel, I never get enough of the sunset. Colors sparkle, birds sing... it’s a wonderful canvas. When I found myself traveling these long spans of desert near the sea, I couldn't keep my eyes from the tall rocks with the whimsical formations. Some even created little plates that served up a little bit of sky. As my mentor said "The Koyangi masters would burst into tears if one of their meditation statues were knocked over by the wind." And then giggle. Always giggling that girl. "We would open our shutters to the gales and be that much more powerful for it." As soon as I saw those tall angled shelves at the tops of dangerous rocks with full view of the sunrise and sunset over the sea... the only thing that came to mind was: Evening Picnic.

I layed back down against my packs resting against a rock on a particulary slanted shelf. I couldn't have estimated the height for he life of me--you get very blasé about heights when you can fly with a thought. My meal was gone, but the little fire I had built with sage brush was slowly moving with the incline down the slate. I considered letting it fall, and meditating upon the falling embers, but the idea that it might fall upon some wondering creature below stopped me. With a small mental effort, I changed the shape of the shelf at the spot where my fire laid. Like a growing flower, the rock came to life and spread out to encase the fire in a spreading table. No small feat for the powerful Koyangi Masters. I sat back, and meditated on the shape produced as I slowly drank my tea.

Loud shouts came echoing across the pass grew beneath the rows of rocks I rested on. "Hurry! They're gaining!" one frantic voice announced. "Clay! Hurry."

I peered over the edge of my perch and saw two men running as if all evil were chasing them. Following close by were the obscure shuffling forms of the cursed. By their shuffling gait and guttural noises, I placed them as the worst of the bunch.. Mongoloid creatures lovingly called "orc." Some colony or another must have dug itself up to the surface nearby and was attacking the local farmers. I put my tea down and settled on the edge, waiting for a chance to pounce.

The trick is an old one taught to me by my mentor. She used it quite often growing up; it was a childish one. It was my favorite.

As the monster men passed below me I measured my time and let myself fall off my perch and fell down face first towards the creature's head. It wasnt a really unique trick. Koyangi over time learned to create things out of thin air to impress the uneducated. But it was one done with "flair and fur" as my mentor always said.

I fell from my perch with a fast spin, becoming a spiral dancer flittering down the air towards the approaching orcs. One of the two humans forgot his impending doom when he caught sight of me and stood there staring at me, his eyes wide.

I reached out and gathered the materials from around me. The air always is full of little particles and minutia to pull from and rearrange for my own purpose. I pulled them together to form a paper thing cloth that trailed down with me in slowly growing measure as I fell.

Wham.

I landed on the orcs head and knocked him down to its butt. I deftly leaped away from him, somersaulting myself next to my astonished human, his friend still running for his life.

"TADA!" I said, holding my landing pose, as if waiting for applause. The astonished man started, and started clapping in spite of himself, eyes wide and mouth open.

My target orc was struggling to his feet. This was hampered by the brightly coloured head gear that adorned his head and stretched across his face and mouth The second orc stopped and tried to help his companion, and tugged at the hat, causing his friends head to bounce back with each pull.

The hat that I created was a little special joke between me and my mentor, Sasha. It looked like an inverted squid with many tentacles reaching all over ending up in a mask that covered the face. The game was to see how many tentacles could be made in the shortest amount of time. This one had seven in the few seconds it took me to fall.

Sasha would be impressed.

The second orc attempted to aid his fallen comrade by pulling one one of the tendrils, only to manage to pull his friends captive head backwards into a very uncomfortable looking position.

I laughed in spite of myself. "Little warriors," I said in perfect Orcish. "Want you live? Want fight one of the god race?" History between the Orcish tribes and the Koyangi was long and bloody...and most especially one sided.

The first orc, still covered with my mask, immediately stood up, and turn, and ran. His friend followed close behind.

I turned to the lone man with a huge smile on my face. "That went quite well, don't you think?" I said.

At that moment my whole body was wracked with pain. I buckled over and fell to my knees, holding my head. The scattered man was still clapping, looking behind him for his companion still far beyond. I let out a short cry and suddenly, I was no longer standing there.

Another thing Sasha always said. Always leave your audience wanting more. And something about extra fish.

* * *

“Awake.” A deep voice announced. I squirmed about a bit, trying to get comfortable. For some strange reason, my bedding was missing and I reached out to find it.

“Awake. Now.” The deep voice repeated.

Slowly, I opened my eyes with the cloud of sleep and memory of pain floating through my mind. When my vision cleared I saw the image... of a ghost.

It floated above me, and impending tall figure of a male Koyangi. He wore a dark purple uniform of the ancient noble; even his fur and coloring were distinct ruling family of old times. And his face was full of command and anger.

I quickly stood up and looked about me. All about was burned and ruin. It had the appearance of a great villa burned and ravaged, without a roof or a complete wall. The view outside showed to me where I was exactly, and sent chills down my spine.

I was in the destroyed capital of the ancient Koyangi civilization.

The ghost grew increasingly angry. A force of energy grabbed my by the shoulders and forced me to my knees. “KNOW YOU WHO YOU STAND BEFORE?!” The ghost bellowed. “KNEEL BEFORE YOUR BETTERS.”

I didn’t even think to fight against the pull. The strength of the mind behind that ghost was greater than I had ever seen before, and I knew I was no match.

The ghost floated down closer. “What is your name, commoner?” The voice asked. His voice crackled with energy and sent vibrations through my ears.

“Darlene.” I said. “But we haven’t had the gentry in century—“

“DO NOT SPEAK UNLESS SPOKEN TO!” He bellowed again, cutting off my comment, and causing my ears to vibrate with pain.

“Darlene, you are too willful, but the binding shall correct that.” He announced. “I have a task for you to perform, and I cannot risk such willfulness interfering.”

My eyes grew big, and for the first time I considered trying to run, in spite of the likelihood of death. Bound. To a ghost.

Before I could do anything, I was plucked like a child into the air and floated before him, face to face.

His breath was cold as ice and even at a whisper caused my ears to balk at the alien nature. “You seem like a woman with a question.” Then the vision began.

A hawk once fell in love with a pigeon. But the pigeon feared the hawk as its natural enemy. With long talks of love and pretty words, the hawk finally talked the pigeon to meet on a wooden table, made in a perfect circle, exactly as long across as the hawks wing span. The pigeon sat at the edge on one side, and the hawk stood on the edge on the other. The hawk edged along the side of the table to meet the pigeon for an embrace, but the pigeon would edge away the same distance. Until finally when the hawk traveled the whole edge of the table, the pigeon gave into love and embraced the hawk.
How far exactly did the hawk travel to meet the pigeon?

“PROPOSTEROUS!” The ghost exclaims, and threw me down to the ground with great force. “IMPOSIBLE! You dare deface the Koyangi traditions?!?”

I stood up, and faced the ghost, relieved he was fooled by my binding question. “I did NOT deface anything!” I announced. If I was going to die, I will die on my own terms. “The binding ritual was forced upon me, but the only requirement is that there is an answer, and it is my own choice! I will not be bound to someone like you.”

The ghost floated down to my level and his feet touched. His long tail, adorned with an ethereal fabric swung about him with an agitated fervor. Again I was lifted up to meet his gaze by his invisible power.

“You have more presumption than is healthy for a commoner.” He whispered. “None of the others that I had bound to me were so rude. However, I have a purpose for you and I will not be denied. If you will not be bound to me; I will force you another way to do your duty to your betters.”

He reached out and put his hand over my heart. A darkness as thick as a cloud of dust flowed out about it and impaled itself into my chest. I let out a stifled scream of pain.

“If you will not be bound to my will by tradition,” he said. “I will bind you by force.”

His hand jerked and I collapsed to the soot ridden floor.

“I have placed a curse upon you. If you do not do as I command by the end of the next setting sun, my curse will kill you.”

I rolled around a little, catching my breath. “What do you want?” I gasped.

“Bring me my Aap-vissen.”

* * *

The ancient homeland of my people were ravaged by the hordes of the many other god children in the land. They were a very arrogant and crewel people back then. The wrath of their victims over the years left century’s old building, statues and monuments to rack and ruin. And in the time between, creatures and wild animals moved in and made it their home. Much later, the spirits and trinkets of power and other things manifested itself to make the place a total hell on earth.

And here was I in the middle of it.

Still, as Sasha would say, “why stare at thunder beast when you can chase a fish.” The constant twinge in my chest reminded me that I had a job to do, and there was no getting around it. I need to find and capture a huge raging monster and give it to another one.

I suddenly missed my sunset.

Avoiding the creatures of the region was a question of stealth and attention to detail. While I was confident in my own abilities to defeat most of the creatures, I was certain that attempting to do so would leave me with a new sunset and no present for my crewel benefactor. I decided to take to the trees, and bounce and fly from peak to peak as I could to search for the dreaded herds of Aap-vissen.

At one point, the Aap-vissen were simple, small fuzzy animals that were domesticated as loving pets. The small primates were the prize of many families, and whole dynasties of animals were kept and catered to. After the destruction of the capital, most were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. And through accidents or purpose (these were some first class bastards, once upon a time) they were changed over time and became a huge four legged monster that traveled in large herds. They’re feeding frenzies have been known to consume whole animals in a few seconds.

And my insane ghost wanted one delivered. Wonderful.

What wrenched me the most was that he claimed that he had bound other women to him and sent them on this fool’s errand. A bound woman would have no choice but to follow instructions blindly; yet another reason why I made my own binding question so difficult for Koyangi to understand... well, most Koyangi at least. Considering the obnoxious ego of the ghost, I have little doubt that he left those poor souls with little of their own will and did not survive. I refused to be one of them.

My flight across the branches of old trees and peaks of ruins, I heard the loud chattering of my target. At the top of a great tree, I saw a huge villa in great ruin; however this one was full of activity. The large primates had a ridiculous look of a huge but stubby body, and large over sized legs built to support most of their weight. Their front arms, once intended to swing from trees were long and still strong but ended with powerful claws. And their faces seemed to be a frame of long matted fur intended display rows of great teeth. Hundreds upon hundreds seem to be surrounding the place.

And the smell. O ye gods, the smell.

I cocooned myself in a protective shell intending to keep my smell and other noises from being carried upon the wind as I looked about the compound. In the front, the two largest of the creatures were fighting amongst themselves. Together, they danced around and each would randomly swat out at the other in turn. Without warning, the smaller of the two leaped on the other and embedded its claws within the neck of the other, completely decapitating it. With only a gasp of breath, the others in the herd leaped upon the fallen member, and began to eat. Many in their frenzy started eating on others still alive.

I tried to swallow. Didn’t do too well.

The villa itself was laid about in the usual manner, but was crawling around with these ravenous creatures, except a small house in the back. Once I spotted it, I flew about the trees, giving the largest group of creatures the widest area. Unlike most of the buildings, this one was nearly in tact—most likely a servant’s quarters. I quickly found an opening and snuck inside.

The building inside smelled of ruin and dust, but thankfully free of the earthy smell of the creatures outside. Still, the sight of the feeding frenzy left me so rattled that I walked as quietly as I possibly could. I looked about for a suitable spot to spy out the area in safety.

In a room that appeared to be for children, I settled myself onto the ground, and took the position of meditation. With my mind, I sought out the house. I floated out, as if a disembodied eye, and flew through the halls and closets of the great villa. Everywhere I looked was skeletons, feces, and large groups of creatures. A moment I found a small group of baby Aap-vissen, only to be shattered when I realized it was in the most defensible section of the building. The twinge in my chest grew even sharper.

That’s when something hit me in the head.

It is considered an impoliteness to compare the Koyangi to a feline, in spite of the obvious comparisons. But in cases such as now, there is nothing that I could do to keep my fur from standing on end all about my body, nor my tail from growing in size. Nor... the fact that I was on the roof, hanging upside down, reading to fight whatever had attacked me. But I realized something.

Whatever hit me... squeaked.

With a little effort, I let go of the roof and landed on the ground again with out a sound or a movement of dust. A large fuzzy stuffed animal, worn by age, but still maintained its pink hue. It was the shape of a large friendly looking mouse, but on its belly was stitched some simple words. Words that instantly sent me into anger.

I’m certain that my voice drew some attention, but thankfully, I am very fast.

* * *

“How do you get so good drinking such awful stuff, Darlene?” The young voice of Namir spoke out.

I was back at my spot at the sea, with the sun slowly rising up in the background. I invited a number of my good friends and students with me for a morning tea up on the heights. As effective and powerful as Sasha’s methods were, only the very young and forgotten were ever able to dedicate themselves to it.

Namir was fascinated by the little stone flower I had made to hold the fire, even if she didn’t like the teas I brought. Laura and the only male, Sanders, who to accept Sasha’s teachings and break away from the normal were lying on their bellies, looking over the edge and chatting. The others were sitting about me as I finished my story.

“What I don’t understand is why did you accept a binding question if you don’t want to be bound.” One asked me.

I laughed. “I never said I don’t want to be bound.” I explained. “I just want to be bound on my own terms. Like the humans do. They call it 'marriage'” I sipped my tea again. “But there’s too many things you can’t do in Koya towns if you don’t have one.” I waggled my finger at her. “Would you be willing to miss out on every winter festival?”

The questioning girl’s eyes widened in understanding. “I never realized.”

I poured myself more tea, heating up my cup. “Most people don’t.” I explain. “And none of the women that ghost had bound would have had any choice.”

Laura turned over and looked at the sky. “I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to bind myself to Sanders!”

Sanders gave her a dirty look. “Says you!” He announced.

Everyone chucked as Laura began wrestling with Sanders, trying to force many hugs on him.

“So, what exactly did you do to get him a Aap.. what was it again?” Asked Namir.

“Aap-Vissen.” I supplied. “This is a perfect reason to remember your history. The Aap-Vissen were long bread as pets, but not everyone could afford to keep one.

“The ones that couldn’t were often placated by the idea of having something almost as good... as stuffed animal. They were just as popular among some of them, and much less problems to care for.”

Everyone considered this, as cries of “get off me” came from Sanders. “You mean...”

I nodded. “My ghost was lonely for his fuzzy mouse.”

Kitten of No Short Order

My first job was White Mage. (well.. actually it was Thief, then Warrior and once I tried out White Mage, I just loved it, so I took it far). Once it was time to get my artifact gear, I was really excited. And the story itself was really neat.. kinda integrated into the Zillart/CoP storyline.

Anyway, the first item was the artifact weapon, called "AF1" quest. Narcheral basically wants me to find out if "everything is okay" at some point. I was using a holy maul at the time, mainly because I loved the pretty lights it made as I hit things. But the free weapon was undoubtedly a nice item. Once I hit level 40, I enlisted of all people a dragoon and my little sis, Auronte. We traveled to the "secret" beach in the Dunes (nice secret, that everyone knows about) and waiting until the night time. The little ??? spot right by the bard runes spawned a very annoying NM, the Marchelute. These monster types have this move called "Dimensional Death" that can do amazingly bad amounts of damage, depending on the strength of the mob. Thankfully, the dragoon was high enough to kill it with Auronte giving support (she was same level as me at the time) even though I was out of mp at the end from casting cure. I tried to melee a little, but I couldn't hit the broad side of an elvaan...so.. I just cured.

The second artifact quest was a bit of a let down; Narcheral wanted to send me on a "fetch & carry" mission. He wanted a pair of Moccasins and a bottle of yagudo holy water (just call me kitty parcel service). I went there with two friends and killed quite a few abbots until water finally dropped. It was a very fustrating experience, since out of the times I spent there, some days we had enough holy water for a baptism and other days were dry as a bone. But that one time, one of the first times I really tried to fight easy prey or higher mobs as a white mage, things just wouldn't drop. And the Moccasins just refused to drop at all; until I found out they were craftable, and bought a pair in the Auction House in Jeuno. Hehe.. felt like I was cheating, but there you are. Only time I have ever gotten a pair of those feet armor to drop was from a Quadav in Beadeaux.

The final step of the white mage artifact armor was a really huge test of friendship and took a great deal of time before I was able to get it. For the longest time, I simple wore other body pieces--one very pretty blue one I was particularly fond of--but eventually I was able to get it along with another white mage.

The last part of the story was the discovery of a returning of an undead soldier from the old war (remember that wonderful movie at the start of the game?). The priesthood of San'd Oria want proof of what was happening and asked for me to obtain a bell from the Necropolis. That involved yet another long hunt killing four different shades who repoped only once every 15 min or so. But eventually, my bell dropped.

The last NM is a really painful one; one that requires a number of committed people to kill it. It was one of those shades again, but one with a Dementional Death move that does tripple digit damage every time, and many hate reset moves. I have seen a mob of level 75's beat this one up, but we only had an alliance of 65's, and we had many casulties. But I ultimatly had my AF.

The last part of the artifact quest are the coffers. The coffer quests suffer from the greatest of all problems: everyone needs them, and they are first come first served. And what's even worse is the fact that each coffer also offersthe chance for gil, gems or even expensive items or scrolls. Additionaly, there are often hazards and pratfalls along the way; especially considering that you MUST open the coffers as the job that you are seeking, no matter how many level 75 jobs you may hold.

And that is my tale of my artifact quest for white mage. It wondered very badly, even for me. But I hope it helps someone.