- PS2 ››
- RPG ››
- Final Fantasy XI
Strafe Maru's FF XI Adventure Blog -- Day Two
- May 04, 2004 14:34 PM PST
- Email this!
Strafe returns to the land of Vana?diel and embarks on a quest to rid the land of savage beasts!
Final Fantasy XI is not a typical Final Fantasy game because there is no linear path. You can do almost anything and adventure seems to be around every corner. To give you a taste of the world, I will be keeping a diary of my travels and posting updates to the site. If you see me in the game, be sure to say "Hi."-Strafe
WARNING: What follows may contain SPOILERS that involve various quests, missions, and revelations. While I am undoubtedly progressing rather slowly through the world of Vana?diel, there is a chance that you may read something you have yet to discover while playing? just so you know.
Today I decided to acquaint myself with the city itself and those that live in it. However, after taking a brief stroll through Windurst Woods, I became aware of what a daunting prospect getting to know the city would be. Windurst is divided into four quadrants (Windurst Woods, Windurst Walls, Windurst Waters, and Port Windurst), each of which is vast and somewhat densely populated. During my constitutional through Windurst Woods, I came upon the queerest sight I have ever encountered, a captive Dahmel.
The Mithran Isles are very small in comparison to the other continents in Vana?diel, and the animals found there are mostly small birds that prey on various sea creatures (which are also quite small). You can imagine my surprise to find a beast twice my size that seemed tame enough to be kept within the city proper! These Dahmels are indeed strange and mysterious to me? I should hope that I?d never have to face one in single combat as one of its massive (yet still somewhat spindly) legs could easily crush a hapless Mithra (I shudder to consider the fate of a Tarutaru!).
While gaping at the Dahmel, I met a fellow Mithran sister named Illu Bohjaa. During the course of our conversation, she related to me a problem that she had been grappling with for some time. It seems that the giant insectoids (known as Crawlers) have been ravaging the countryside and destroying the food supply for the magnificent Dahmels. I said that I would attempt to help, but I fear that, given the trouble I?ve had fighting even the smallest of feral beasts, I might be incapable of such a task.
Determined to learn more about my new home, I pressed further into the city to Windurst Walls, the most opulent portion of the city and home to the Star Sybil. The Star Sybil is the spiritual and governmental leader of Windurst, and the fulcrum around which all activities in the area revolve.
While at this stage in my career development, a meeting was most certainly out of the question, I couldn?t help gazing at the Star Sybil?s unconventional domicile, Heaven?s Tower. Fashioned out of the trunk of an enormous and ancient tree, Heaven?s Tower is quite possibly the most impressive thing that I have ever seen.
All at once, I was filled with a sense of duty to Windurst, and, remembering my promise to Illu, decided to hunt the beasts plaguing the land. I was never able to sit still in polite society for long? a Mithra belongs on the plains, hunting and stalking through the deep brush!
I found this outing somewhat more productive than yesterday?s, and learned a great many things about the creatures surrounding Windurst and their habits. While the Crawlers that I had been contracted to destroy were extremely powerful and very dangerous, I found that through careful training and creative attack execution utilizing both spells and sword (don?t forget the shield either!) the Crawlers would fall one after the other. I spent much of the day deep in meditation, repairing the wounds garnered from battle after battle with the chitinous chumps.
Upon returning to Windurst, Illu rewarded my efforts with a tremendous amount of Gil! I was shocked a second time when Illu informed me that she would match that reward each time I brought her evidence of the decreasing Crawler population. I quickly ran to Port Windurst, where some helpful adventurers had told me there was a cluster of shops. Once there, I purchased some new spell scrolls and a new tunic to better protect my furry bottom. While these items completely exhausted my bankroll, I?m positive they will assist in my ability to survive in the perilous wilds.
Before returning home, I stopped off at the Leviathan?s Gate (the entrance to East Sarutabaruta) and met with the Captain of the Guard to discuss my future in the Windurst Guard. Indeed, she suggested that I speak with Hakkuru-Rinkuru at the Orastery, as there was apparently some trouble with an experiment. Eager to make a name for myself among the heroes of Windurst, I accepted the mission, but thought it may be better to begin anew on the morrow. I said my goodbyes to the Captain of the Guard (and thanked her for her confidence in my abilities) and was off to my Mog House for some much needed rest.
I found Max only too happy to organize the booty won from the day?s battles, although he seemed as mystified at the value of these bizarre trinkets as I was. As sleep crept across my brain, pushing vexing questions and nagging concerns neatly away, I paused to allow myself a flash of excitement over the prospect of another day in Windurst.
