An Elvaan Tale - By Skyloki Ardonius RanperreFollow

Everyone has a story, everyone has an adventure to tell. Mine began 20 years ago, and I’d like to share with who’ll ever listen.

When I was 16, I left home for the first time. Being part of an important family (The Ranperre’s) it was hard to get away. So many expectations, so many “responsibilities”. But it was my time. My decision.

With 100 gil, my fathers old sword and 3 dhamel steaks (mom’s specialty), I left San d’Oria for the first time. I did not know the world was so big. With the promise of gil, adventure, and fame, I held my head high, as I walked through those great castle gates into West Ron.

I got to work right away, I jumped into any fight I could find. I fought from San d’Oria, all the way across Latheinne Plateau and finally made it to Valkrum Dunes. It took roughly 6 months, but I went from being a kid barely able to hold his fathers sword, to a young man able to squash easier foes on his own. But “The Dunes” was a new experience for me. It’s where new adventures go to shape the rest of their lives. My first “party” (a small group of adventurers, teaming for a common goal) was quite the experience. I met a tiny hume fellow (they’re all tiny to my 7’2” frame I suppose) named Joosie. He was already a Master Paladin and Ranger, but he was in the dunes to start the path of a Master Bard. He gave me tips on how to get the most out of adventuring and even gave me a Link Pearl to his Shell: The Immortal Knights. I now had a new family.

Another year had passed since my parties in the dunes, and I found myself in the mega-city known as Jeuno. The city is so big, the Castle touches the clouds……so they say. My stories are already widely know throughout San d’Oria, and even some people in Jeuno know my name. Skyloki, the Up and Coming, Master Dragoon. Yes, I know….all the jobs I could have picked, and I choose the one my family is famous for. Must be in my blood. My trouble then was, of course, gil.

All the stories I heard of adventurers with so much gil ,they didn’t know what to do with it….and there I was with nothing. Who knew armor and weapons would cost so much. I spent most of my time cooking, to make ends meet, I got very good at it too, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with my job.

One day, I heard a peculiar shout in Jeuno. “20k for any Black Mage that can help me with a BCNM”. 20k? Are they for real? ( I thought). I inquired as to what they were doing, and to my surprise, this was normal. Black Mages making 20k a day lending their services to others. So, I checked my funds and bought a ticket to Windhurst.

Talk about a tiny town, everyone there came up to my knees, I had to practically crawl to get anywhere inside, but no matter, I was their to learn the ways of the Black Mage and to start my trip toward fame and fortune

Black Mage came easy to me, and by the time I was 19, I was a master. I made it back to Jeuno and soon after, I was a millionaire. But, my dreams of being a Master Dragoon, still nagged at my soul. So I bought some new armor, a new lance, even got a new Wyvern (I let my first one, “Raiden” go) Himmelskralle was my new friend in battle. And he is still with me to this day.

Another year had passed and I was approaching my goal of Master Dragoon. When I heard a shout in Jeuno . The taru, said he was in need of Black Mages for something called “Dynamis” I inquired as to what this was, and upon explanation, decided to lend my services. It was there I met a San d’Orian legend “Cefirot”. I heard stories of him as a kid, and yet there I was standing right next to him. Not long after, he was running the dynamis, and he asked me to become an officer. I was excited, barley 20 years old and an officer for the great Cefirot.

Shortly after my officer appointment, I finally hit Master Dragoon. But I wasn’t satisfied. So I went home for a couple weeks, and asked my mom for some advice. She said that before she met my father, she was a state Red Mage. Red Mages were important in the battlefield, because of the healing and support abilities. On top of that, with my Black Mage knowledge, I already had a jump start. So, I started down the path of the Red Mage.

I reached Master Red Mage fairly quick (not even 6 months) and was becoming a hot job to invite to parties. Especially since they opened the trade routes to Whitegate again. Not a day went by that I didn’t get an invite to a party, and some parties lasted as long as a week.

By then, I had explored over 95% of the known world (well, the world I had access to). In Sea Serpents Grotto, I found a town, where I learned the ways of the Samurai. Back in Jeuno, I learned the ways of the Bard. All the while, increasing my cooking skills to that of Master as well.

Now, I’m home. Nearly 20 years after I set out. My 36th birthday creeping on me like a wounded Orc. My adventuring days are done. My wife, is glad I’m home. My 2 sons, proud, worthy of the name Ranperre. My daughter, already has the look of a San d’Orian Princess (only 3years old).

I followed suit, and joined the San d’Orian Guard. My experience landed me Captain of the Royal Dragoons. My father was so proud at the announcement, he wept.

I do not fear the life I have, rather I embrace it. Through my 19+ years of adventuring, I have made good friends. Inherited many items, amassed a fortune, and found happiness.

No more bloodshed for this Dragoon. No more losing friends on the battlefield. No more Orcs threatening the country I love. Only peace.


Goodbye Sylph, you were great. Take care friends.



Special Thanks go to: Cefirot, Angie, Xavierus, Craetos, Reticia and the whole Visions gang, Joosie and his Immortal Knights, Cailet and her Dangerous Company, Xionoshi and his Armada.

Extra special thanks goes to: SE for making a game were real people can have fun and meet other good people.



Edited, Jun 13th 2008 10:14pm by Skyloki

I enjoyed the story, i was going to copy and edit a piss-take version, but due to the nature I thought not, I would like to ask a question however...

Why have you decided to leave?

Myself personally, im finding the game increasingly hard to find enjoyment out of. I only have the one 75 (although I do have goodish armor and full merits for it), and all the different jobs I keep lvling now I get bored of by ~50.

I want the game to feel like the first year of play. I sometimes lvl a job 1-10/12 in south gustaberg& surrounding areas just to remenice old times.

My advice to junior players or players not quite at 75:

Do not rush getting there, enjoy every quest, party, NM camp, ls event, etc you take part in, because once you hit 75, the euphoria of ffxi gradually starts to deplete, and endgame is fun BUT, it is 'endgame'. What do you do with other games you love after you reach the end of them?

Its not quite as bad as i might make it sound, Im always browsing alla's forums on my mobile whilst out and about or on public transport every moment i get. And I do have the odd day ingame I enjoy, like friday I did Limbus with my ls friends, then got 10assault rank points closer to a Perdu blade.

I do however miss the days when I would wake up, and all I would want to do is play ffxi from start to finish. I dunno when that stopped, but I only ever play for 5-6hours in an evening now.

Sooo Skyloki, 'why' have yo decide to leave our world?

Poisonhand Gnadgad is presently beating the sh*t out of the Ronfaure fort. So much for those Orcs, huh?