Something we may have neglected....Follow

That's PRECICELY why I drag Icy across the globe to see all the new CoP places, and why we're frantically trying to finish Promyvions.
/cry v. beautiful

wow that was so touching... makes you really rethink the reason your playing this game, I hadnt noticed it before but I slowly became a lving fiend a "slave to the lv grind" if you may, After reading this post I realised I've been trying to so hard to get the "shinez" I forgot about the exploring part of the game.

Reminds me of the time when I explore dangerous place and the other people in my LS wanted only to lvl up.I gave up on the game because I thought that I was only lvling that you could do in it.I was wrong.That whm is a proof that Vana'diel is not only for xping.Great story.

The thing is now a days people dont care for others, all they care is to price Gauge everything. And I am better than thou cause I am lvl 75 in 5 jobs.

I must say I loved the story. I never looked at things this way. Thanx.

That was a really sad, depressing story, at least it has a good ending. I totally feel for the taru whm... When I first started the game, my friend and I did everything together, from level 5 or so on, I was the healer, and he was tank and DD. We explored a little together, but one day, after a few hours of levelling in Dunes, a decent party ended, and I wanted to just leave dunes and keep walking in one direction until I found something cool. My friend, however, wanted to stay and level. We argued for quite a while, and I begged for him to come with me, but he wanted to level. It was then that I decided that we needn't do everything together, and I set off on my own towards Konschtat Highlands (sp?) on my own. I saw such beautiful sights on my way there, and filled my screenshot capacity that I had just emptied the night before. I finally found my way to Bastok, and did some roaming around before logging out, but to this day, from Dunes to Bastok is my favorite trek, and I like walking it, I loathe when I need to make haste there, and take a chocobo. My friend has now stopped playing FFXI, and is level-grinding WoW, but here I remain. I feel so lonely in Vana'diel now, all of my exploring is alone, when I see beautiful sights, I tell my LS, but it's not the same. I didn't think about it too much, before, but now that I've read this story, I feel more alone in the world than ever. I think I am going to log on, now, and head to Windurst, and see if I can help someone get their Kazham keys. I want to do something for someone else, and I'm sick of farming.
Here's to the adventurers.

Great story T_T

It really reminded me of what happend to the first LS I was in. There were only 6-7 people on it but we all got along greatly. Since we were mostly all low level we did missions,quests, and exping together. As the ffxi world progressed we slowly drifted apart, one of the members quit. Others joined Static Linkshells and blew me and the other few players on the ls away from there reach. I started to notice that I was maybe only level 30 while the others were reaching 50-60. Eventually one day came when the leader of the ls decided to tell everyone to go to a new ls because we only had 2-3 of us left. I did not know was going on, but I sadly moved on and joined many new lses. I still keep this original ls. I opened it today and wanted to cry, for the message on it was "Friends Forever"

/sigh This story has gone and make me feel all empty by now..
reading the other ppl's story's here to. I've been playing for aybe 3 months now. And in one of my first days i got a linkpearl from Sethe. Now the ls never realy was much for doing things togheter. But i consider some of the ppl in there close friends... Although because of this lvling thing im sure we will drop apart..How sad it may be. I may aswell be the cause myself to i don't know. Since i just started a ls on my own for just ppl from windurst that wan't to do Garrison's and balista. Why? Cause it's a thing i might enjoy doing. And with the garrison ill help windy aswell. I do hope we can keep things togheter though.

Remember a friend got the Summoner job and i walked into him in East Sarutabaruta with Carby it looked awesome. i rushed to 30 and got it myself. Headed to Beaucedine glacier for the ice element. After hating rangemount pass didnt even take the time to look around. Got the element and warped. To bad i think it can be a nice place. Maybe ill walk there again sometime..

For now i kinda envy the few on my friend list that managed to keep the feeling like this little Taru WHM.

Says it all really...

I remember back when I first started, being led around by my then girlfriend, now wife, Khymaera and our mutual friend Rihai, who had been playing a while beore I had. It was a rush of Sarutaburata, a blur of Tahrongi Canyon and Buburumi Peninsula (I don't really remember much besides being afraid for my life) and the boat ride. Being helped with getting my subjob items by Kimille and some members of my first linkshell... that first linkshell where we originally drifted away and came over to Clan Fistus.

Clan Fistus was something, but things did go downhill in ways, personality clashes, rarring, angst, drama-drama-drama and things all over the place. Eventually Scandelous was formed, and with it a feeling of remnants and renewal. A lot of the CF crowd are gone, to other Linkshells, or WoW, and we have at least one person poke their nose in from time to time (two now with Trista) and it feels like we're starting to move towards a kind of a cohesion amongst some of us, which has been looked forward to for some time.

We're getting new people in, and where that'll build to, I really don't know. I'm de-burned from having helped a bunch of other people in the past, but unfortunately my chosen / fated roles don't exactly lend much to helping others except in battles, or farming stuff. (NIN/WAR / NIN/THF) But... its something, and being one of the people that made the transition feels like something else.

I've gained a few linkpearls along the way, usually given by others, but Scandelous is my home really. Its where my friends are, my loved one, people I like, and like to chat with. Most of the extras I've received have been tossed... no intention to being stolen away to a 'HL-linkshell' or to someone else's group. This is my community, and one that I've watched and taken part in for a while now. (Don't ask me when I joined CF. ^^; I've been in Scandelous since it was made tho)

As for adventuring... As those that were around know, I did a huge Questing stint a few months back that lasted a couple of days without sleep, (including helping someone with their Giddeus key... I'm a sucker that way. ^^ ) That burnt me out for anything besides levelling for a long long time... but with CoP, and gradually picking away at the main Missions, I've slipped back into mode of wanting to do more than level, farm and synth... I actually go out and actively seek the quests, most of them in Sandy apparently, learning the background and history there. I'll go where those paths and adventures take me, and enjoy them for the sake of the story, of seeking and seeing something new and different... and if I get a dinky reward, or just get redundant fame since I'm a Hero already... then so be it. The games a bit richer, and the world's a bit more than just running around hacking away at things ad infinitum...

But thats me... levelling to 75 is something I really want to do, but going out to do AF runs together, or facing the next Boss Battle, or exploring Attowha Chasm and trying to find Tiamat (and going Mijin-Gakure when a trencher antlion decides to eat me... Panzer Dragoon anyone?) and just going out and just... things. :)

In ways I envy my friend Trista, who has her own linkshell where she works and helps the people that shes drawn into it, and act and interact together... shes frustrated because shes the highest one, and the bard, but she does it because she wants to spread that sense of community, that by helping people, that might touch something and they might go out and help others the same. In a way that makes me smile, since I'd known her and Prier since Qufim, after which I helped them on Kazham runs (as my main warrior) and learnt that Orcs whistle when they fall over in Yughott Grotto. ^^

But... touching story, that I can understand and emphasise with completely... and that I wish and hope has a happy continuation. :3

C'est la vie.

I read this story to my mom who has no understanding of the game whatsoever and she got all teary eyed to. So please apply this to real life and put down the controller/keyboard every little while and stop to appreciate your real life friends and families which is true as well she wanted me to throw this in here. <nominated best story of vanadiel>

/cry

Friendly bump to prevent this from being lost like the bond of these six friends.

T_T I found this in someone's signature and was moved after reading it. FF11 isn't the first online game I played, but, it's been the most fun.

It was a long time ago that I began my journey in Windurst. A young Mithra thief, I was taken in by all the wonderous sights. My days as a thief were short lived though. Think of it this way. When you are surrounded by a magic-wielding Tarutarus, you can't help but be curious. I still wanted to draw swords so I began practicing as a red magling.

Sarutabaruta(sp) was my home for months. I guess I was scared, or felt alone. That all changed when I applied at the guard house. They were looking for new recruits, literally picking adventurers off the streets. They asked me to visit some ruins in the towers. I had seen these towers, wondered what they could be, but I was no match for the goblins who roamed within.

One day, I was wandering the fields when I saw an elvann and tarutaru running by. Despirate for help, I asked them to wait. As luck would have it, they too had recently joined and were on the same mission. Our changes for success grew, minus the bad navigation of the elvann. To this day, I never let elvanns be my guide.

We accomplished the mission, I don't recall much of it anymore, and returned home. They were my first friends. They were the first people to invite me to a linkshell. Finally, I learned what those colored dots were. Hah, I didn't know why people had money bags beside their name either, let alone know I could buy items from them.

We did some adventuring together, but again I struck out alone, wanting to see more. Eventually, I learned about spells I'd gain if I leveled my job. So I set out to the Canyon. Before then, I'd never met many high level people. I saw them run across the desert, seemingly tapping things to kill them. My parties meanwhile, attacked Dhamels. Heh, I can remember the first time someone told me about them.

When I came to the Canyon, it was with a group. I was scared and begged them to slow down. I must not have had a map or something. The twists and turns left me disoriented. I know where we camped today, and laugh when I realize how easy I can navigate the area. But back then, it was dusty, I was uncertain, and we were about to fight new monsters. When I saw the dhamel charging in, I was scared. But we managed.

I started to gain more confidence. I traveled to the canyon more, began learning the directions. Then, one day, I ventured further north. That's when I saw it. The Crag of Mea. I had seen Holla's crag in the opening scene, but this time I was really standing in front of one. I tried looking up to see how high it went, but it was huge! The maze to the east would be my next stop. It was also where I started to realize the need for groups to grow stronger.

Throughout my time in Vana'diel, I always tried to play in character. It was hard to do in groups. Some didn't appreciate it, others said I was wasting time. But, I never let it get to me. I was a kitty red magling (yes magling). I was determined to do it my way.

I don't recall how many months I spent in just those three places. Now-a-days, someone would laugh at my progress, or lack there of; but I know I enjoyed it. I still had my friends, and more in the linkshell. They would occassionally level with me too. One day, a warrior approched me. I was wondering the canyon. I think I finally had enough of experience grinding, and decided to solo things, even if it took weeks to gain a new level. If I had a partner, I could work faster, so I accepted his company. The warrior had seen lands I had only read about. When he offered me the chance to visit the Dunes, I accepted.

We set out on what was the most awesome adventure I ever had. Buburimu Peninsula was full of nasty stuff, but I remember he taught me how to avoid goblins, and we safely made it to Mhaura. I wasn't upset with not getting to explore the peninsula more. All the goblins had made me too nervious, so I figured the whirlwind tour was plenty. The warrior showed me to the ship. "This ship travels across the ocean to Selbina." he said. Selbina is of course connected to the Dunes. I was nervious so he accompanied me, even paid my fare I think. We waited for the ship to arrive.

"Before we get on, I need to tell you something." He told me the ship wasn't exactly the safest mode of transportation. I cursed myself for going this far. I had no way of getting back to the safe gates of Windurst now, and here this guy is telling me there might be pirates and worse!?! I got aboard the ship and we were off.

The cargo hold isn't the most fun place to stay if you're a mithra like me. I wanted to go up top and see the ocean. The warrior sighed but agreed to accompany me. We walked to the top of the stair way. I heard the sounds of swords clashing. The warrior demanded I stay back, so I cowered at the bottom of the stairs. He opened the door. .... ..... His hand had barely let go of the handle when it happened. After my eyes adjusted to the sunlight, I saw the most terrifying figure in front of my guide. "Get back" he shouted. They were his last words. The Sea Horror as they call it, stuck him down in a single blow. I was terrified. I ran down below as the monster continued its destruction on deck.

In Selbina, mages laid the falled adventurers' bodies along the dock, my friend among them. They began chanting strange words and suddenly, they brave warrior was alive again. I wanted to go back, but not on that ship. He seemed fine about the ordeal, I meanwhile was tramatized. He showed my the dunes. I'd never seen so many people collected in one place. "These people are all awaiting parties. You should join one too." And that's what I did, until I finally worked up the courage to return to Mhaura.

{OOC: Gosh this is long >.<}

I had recently learned about "sub-jobs". It was interesting how people could use TWO jobs at once. Obviously I hadn't leveled any other job before, so I wasn't in a rush. I met a tarutaru and hume also searching for the items. I see the tarutaru occassionally to this day. The hume was her friend, a much higher level paladin. He was helping her kill Bogy's. He offered to help me too.

I had my subjob at last. Now I wanted my chocobo. My linkshell friends told me Jeuno was the place to go. Returning to the dunes, I set off to Sandy Oreo. (That's not a typo, that IS what I call it.) I too saw my first rainbow arch across the sky over the Crag of Holla. And finally, I reached Sandy Oreo. It was like a huge castle. But I wasn't happy with how rude most of their citizens were and with the advice of my linkshell, I prepared to run to Jeuno via Jugner Forest.

They told me if I avoided monsters, I could make it. I tried once. Halfway through Jugner, my heart racing, I musta stepped on a branch because the next thing I knew, I was back in Sandy. The second time, I made it. Narrowly avoiding the goblins, I even came face to face with a lightning elemental. It scared me almost as much as the Sea Horror had. It's silly when I think of all the things I was afraid to do, that now, I take for granted. My trip wasn't over yet. To my displeasure, I had one more area to clear.

I unfolded my map. Having had good luck staying almost the walls in Jugner, I decided to use the same strategy. It proved well, up until a few yards outside of Jeuno's great bridges. I could see the ruins ahead. But then, I saw a large black tiger. I literally almost ran straight into it's open maw. It must not have been my time, for the tiger ignored me and I raced to the gates as quickly as I could.

"I'm in Jeuno!!! I'm in Jeuno!!!" I shouted. Again, I can't recall how long it took to get there. It was maybe a year ago. So, that means, 4 months I guess. In 4 months, I'd still not reached Lv20, and I was only now stepping foot into the great city of Jeuno. I was in awe. Like others before me, I wandered the streets, forgetting all about the chocobo.

{ >.< This is REALLY getting to be long... Bare with me please... I can't help be feel like that Tarutaru WHM did... }

I got my chocobo, and again, overjoyed with my acheivement, I let my linkshell know. They were happy for me. Many of them were making it to Jeuno now. I think it was around this time, I journeyed back to my home in Windurst. It had been months since I was last there. The trees and waterways were soothing. It was on my way home it happened. I had read about a notorious monster, a crawler called Spiny Spipi. I never imagined I'd meet him. Boco, my chocobo, reared up, giving a loud "Kwue" as the yellow beast appeared. I stared at him. Could it be, Spiny Spipi?!? I saw another approaching. It was now or never. I jumped from Boco, and cast my spell. I drove my sword through the beast, slaying it. The Mist Silk Cape I had wanted for some time was finally mine. It still is today.

{ Fast-forward time }

The level-grind got worse. I too fell behind most in my LS. I played every day, but I didn't want to level all the time. I was still finding my place in Vana'diel. I played in Quifm (another interesting first time), witnessed to horrors of Wraiths killing scores of adventurers every evening. I hated it. The people in my LS laughed. "Just wait until you get to the jungle." They were right. I hated the jungles even more. About that time, I learned of advanced jobs. Those who know me know I LOVE Carbuncle-sama! I'm the one who shouts in Jeuno asking for a plushy Carbuncle-sama doll at times. It's fun.

I wanted to be a summoner, and once I reached Lv30, I went for it. This was still before the trial-size avatar battles, but I didn't care. "I want to be with Carbuncle-sama forever," was my response. I didn't care how people spoke of him. I was so happy when I finally had the summoner job, and eventually I did, with the help of my LS, collect the avatars. I played the solo fights, but they buffed me and gave me pointers. Scariest fights ever, the music, the area, SCARY!!!

Everyone was a summoner now... Not only that, but, I wanted to fight. I wanted Carbuncle-sama to fight. "Summoner, you're a healer yes? White mage?" I hated it. "I'll let you join my party, we need a healer." Why??? "You sub red mage? No white mage job?" Why not?!? I'm a summoner. I'd had enough.

I returned to Jeuno. It had become my home, like it was for so many others. I was lost. I began whining to my linkshell for help. They were getting stronger, boosting of hundreds of thousands of gil. I was lucky to have 10 thousand if even. "If you want gil, you should become a bard and do BCNM40 with us. You'll make millions." It was to good an offer to pass up. I accepted, and became a bard.

Today, I carry about nine instruments. I sing tales of adventures I've had in Jeuno, and enjoy adventuring. I never knew I'd go this far. It was hard starting from scratch. Bards were scarce. No one really wanted us around. I again became lonely and solo'd much of my early levels. I rode to the Dunes again. It was worse this time. The first time I was there, dying didn't really matter. Everyone died eventually out there. But now, I got ticked at the slightest errors. I refused to join parties who acted rash, or who were too pushy. Eventually, I made it. I leveled in Quifm again, but when it came time to return to Khazam's jungles, I refused. My red mage job is still the level it was almost a year ago. Khazam was the last place I trained it. I was enjoying being a bard too much to ruin it now. I shouted for days in Jeuno, begging to change the old ways. "Seeking adventurers! Let's team up outside Jeuno instead!" Finally, a group of people accepted. They bravely followed me into Sauromugue Champaign. The experience wasn't great, but we were having fun.

Eventually I became Lv40. That was my goal right? The others in my linkshell had already amassed millions from farming this and that. After playing the BCNM40 a few rounds, I became a pro at it, and was bored. When you can win with your damage dealer disconnecting mid-battle, and narrowly miss horde lullaby, trust me, you get very bored of it. Several people would send tells. I hated it. They didn't care about me as a character. They just wanted a bard, and I was available. I have never played BCNM40 again to this day.

As the economy in-game began to inflate, I grew tired of the system and openly protested people's ways. Even to those in my linkshell, I grew bitter and attacked them too. Driving away the friends I had made, I stopped equipping the pearl, and continued to level. Eventually I returned, because I could find no other people as kind as they were. I decided to agree to disagree, and enjoy the friendship we had.

Anyways, since Nov '03 when I started, I've seen many many areas of Vana'diel. I love to stroll through different places, taking in the sights, just enjoying myself. I leave my stats open for people to see, even though I have to turn down invites because I'm in the middle of a quest. Today, I've finally collected all my artifact armor, defeated the Shadow Lord, and have made countless friendships. But I'm still the same as the little mithra thief who left Windurst one day. I still have my adventurous spirit.

I feel like that Tarutaru white mage in a way. I try my best to always stay in character, and to enjoy being in Vana'diel. I think others have appreciated the humor I bring to my parties. I even get them to play along. Of course, for me, it's as if it were natural. And so, I say to you, should you come across me, Myuui the Huggable, Fluffable Kitty Bard, explore and adventure. This is Vana'diel, my home, and my joy. Share it with me =^..^=b.

--
Myuui, BRD61/RDM30(32) of Alexander
The huggable, fluffable kitty.
Paragon of Bard Excellence.