I'm available almost any time, but anytime *before* 4 PM CST (GMT-6) on weekdays would be best for me, since I don't have a job.
As for Takanaki's request...
Garrison battles basically involve fighting a series of difficult battles at an outpost while protecting a group of NPCs who will also participate in the battle. The names of the NPCs are different for each nation:
Patrician (San d'Oria)
Candidate (Windurst)
Recruit (Bastok)
You can only start a Garrison if you're a citizen of the nation which controls the region in which you plan to play the Garrison battle. Even if you're not a member of that nation, you can still participate in the battle, of course. You also require the Garrison item, which is different for each region. Here are a few examples:
Red Cryptex - Ronfaure (West Ronfaure) Lv. 20, Orcs
Jade Cryptex - Norvallen (Jugner Forest) Lv. 30, Orcs
Darksteel Engraving - Gustaberg (North Gustaberg) Lv. 20, Quadavs
Silver Engraving - Derfland (Pashhow Marshlands) Lv. 30, Quadavs
Seven-knot Quipus - Sarutabaruta (West Sarutabaruta) Lv. 20, Yagudo
Thirteen-knot Quipus - Aragoneu (Meriphataud Mountains) Lv. 30, Yagudo
Sack Of Mithra Fangs - Kolshushu (Tahrongi Canyon) Lv. 30?, Goblins
Sack of Galka Fangs - Zulkheim (Valkurm Dunes) Lv. 30?, Goblins
Ram Leather Missive - Qufim (Qufim Isle) Lv. 30, Giants
Coeurl Leather Missive - Elshimo Uplands (Yhoator Jungle) Lv. 50, Tonberries
Dhalmel Leather Missive - Kuzotz (Eastern Altepa Desert) Lv. 50, Anticans
Behemoth Leather Missive - Valdeaunia (Xarcabard) Lv. 50, Demons
The battles are level-capped based on the difficulty of the surrounding region. The lowest-level Garrison battles are capped at Lv. 20, while the highest ones are capped at 50. The number of mobs spawned is dependent on how many players are in the organized party or alliance. They come in waves, so the typical strategy involved is to have one or two BLMs Sleep one or more of the mobs so that people can rest up between battles. The larger the alliance is, the more difficult it becomes to coordinate the communication involved, which tends to lead to screwups.
If you die, you do lose XP, but it's of the amount related to the Level Cap instituted by the garrison you're fighting in.
The monsters will periodically drop Mannequin parts and other goodies, but the real reward comes upon a successful completion, where you kill all the beastmen and still have at least one NPC remaining. I believe the reward quality/amount varies on how many NPCs are left standing...but the entire group gets a gil reward, and the final kill will drop a piece of Garrison armor and a Dragon Chronicles Page (free XP).
Garrisons can only be done once every 24 game hours, so generally, people will do this BCNM-style, bringing several quest items, and doing them in series.
Does that answer your questions? :)