Bound By Honor: The beginingFollow

This is the first time I've written something like this since high school at least. I was inspired this past weekend by the accomplishments of my friends, so I decided to tell of how we met. So to my friends and peers I present our story...

This is not one of those once upon a time tales. Nor does it take place in a land far far away. I will take you into my past briefly, for I can’t tell you my side of the story if you don’t know about me. The tales of the Little Taru have spread across Vana’diel like wild fires. For those of you who have been lucky enough to hear the tales of my brave friend then you have heard of me at times, I am the Elvaan Monk that Kitaru speaks of. This is my version of how we met. This isn’t about our adventures, and Altana knows we’ve had a few, but more about the friendship of four. Please keep in mind that our story is not a short one…

The Rebirth
A young Elvaan Dragoon sits in his Mog House. Lost in thought he cleans his lance methodically. Not knowing where the path he travels will lead; his long time friend startles him. “I’m sorry, what was that dear Moogle?”

“Something troubles you sir?”

With a pause and a sigh, the young Elvaan set down his trusted lance. “Aye, old friend. I’m starting to wonder if the tales of my destiny were wrong. The spirit of the Dragoon no longer burns with in me it seems.”

“Well then master what is it that you will do?”

“That I have yet to determine, but I shall return soon…” looking at a lance he had trusted in many a battle he left his mog house. Once outside the gates of his home nation of Bastok two old and trusting friends greeted him. “Khocha, what did I tell you about tormenting the Tarus?” The wyvern put the little Taru down, “Now go, and find a wasp or something to mess with.”

“You’d think after all these years he’d know who I was, brother,” the Taru samurai says as he dusts himself off, flinging the wyvern drool at his old friend.

“Geke, you know he’s just playing with you,” the Elvaan says with a slight laugh.

Noticing something different about his friend Geke inquired, “Hey!? Where’s your lance? You’ve never left the gates of Bastok with out it.”

“Very observant of you Geke, I shall only be outside our beloved city momentarily. I leave for the Crag of Dem soon.” Staring at his wyvern tears in his eyes, “First I must release a someone whose time as my friend only rivals your own.”

Months later the Elvaan enters his home, “Master, You’ve returned. What tales have you for me?”

“I have found it. The way of the Monk, that is my destiny,” the Elvaan answered softly. “In my many journeys to and from San d’Oria and time spent in the Wood Worker’s guild honing my trade I’ve met many different people. Those that intrigued me the most were the Fighting Monks. After speaking with a few of them the fire started to burn again.”

“Then I assume you will be leaving again?” The Elvaan only nodded to the moogle as he gathered the rest of his supplies including his once loved lance. “Master, a Monk does not use a lance.”

“I know this moogle. I do not intend to use it, but sell it.” And he stormed out the door headed for the shores of the Zulkheim Region. “See you in Jeuno, Moogle!”


The Meeting
Almost a year later…

“You are the Monk called Aravan?” a small voice asked through the bustle of Lower Jeuno.

“That I am, and who might you be sir?”

“I am Kitaru the White mage, I’ve heard that you seek to challenge the monsters within the Burning Circles.”

“Well I see my paying the auction house attendants worked. However you, Kitaru the White mage your name is regarded highly by the people of Vana‘diel. I have even sat in the shadows and listened to your tales.”

“Yes that is me. I was interested in what the attendants were saying and I think that we can help each other. You see the monsters with in the Burning Circles drop something that I need and I’d be more than willing to let you have anything that they drop as long as I get this one scroll. I know of a Ranger that would assist us, too.”

“Shall we meet in Bastok, there we can discuss the battle plans and how we will divide the loot.”

“That works for me, I shall see you in a few days then,” the Taru offered his little hand out to the Elvaan who in return shook it and they both went their separate ways.

A few days later Aravan met with the Taru White mage in Bastok’s market area. “Aravan, I’d like to introduce you to a close friend of mine. I give you the Mithran Ranger, Solrain.”

Aravan bowed to the Mithran, “Lady Solrain, I thank you for helping.”

“No need to thank me, I do this for Kit. Oh, and I must warn you now…I have two tails,” the Mithra replied.

Shocked and puzzled all at the same time the Elvaan responded, “A Manthra of Lore?” The Mithra only nodded. “Regardless, the task at hand is what concerns me. Let us go to the Steaming Sheep and discuss this over a pint.”

Hours later the three stumble out of the pub. In a slurred attempt the Mithra proclaimed, “This time tomorrow we will do this again except as rich as the Archduke!” The other two cheered in agreeance, and wandered to their respective Mog Houses avoiding the Iron Musketeers.

The next afternoon the three warriors awoke, slightly feeling the affects from the night before. “Lets get our supplies and head to the Mines of Palborough,” the Taru said with a grimace on his face. The three slowly went to the auction house, the chatter of people needing to go to the different crags, the shouts for new bazaar sales and the protests of the of the Slaves who camp the named monsters of Vana‘diel making their heads ache even more.

“Aravan, here use these in our battle today they should help you a lot,” she dug into her gobbie bag. A few seconds later she pulled out a set of the Legendary Ochiudo’s Kote and a Jujitsu Gi, from the Named Orc of the Davoi stronghold, “they’re from my days as a Samurai they’ll serve you better than me right now.”

“Are you sure? These are highly sought after items yet you trust a total stranger with them,” looking at the offering and back at the Mithra.

“Yes, as a matter of fact use them until you are finished with them, like I said I have no use for them at the moment. Plus if you do anything ‘stupid’ I’ll put your name up in every auction house and pub in this great world.”

“Agreed and fear not, trust and my word are two things I do not break.” After looking himself over he smiled, “thank you my friend you don’t know what this means to me, if there is anything and I mean anything you ever need just say it.”

As they crossed the gates of Bastok Mines, with a too weak Mithra punch, “I’ll keep that in mind Monk.” The three laughed as they crossed the Gustaburgs and on they’re way to Palborough.

They fought the Jellies of the Waughroon Shrine countless times not once did they fall to the evil slime that dwelled there. Over the course of these battles the three learned the each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They learned how the other would react in times when most would panic. Most importantly though they learned to trust each other, and from that trust a friendship that rivals that of a Dragoon and his wyvern was born. Yet one member of the trio was becoming discouraged, “My friends I don’t think these Jellies hold the scroll that I seek and I only have one more orb left.”

Motioning towards one of Solrain’s blades Aravan asked, “May I see your dagger please?” The Mithra nodded drew her dagger spun it and handed it to the Monk. “With the remaining seals I have left I will fight by your side until you get that which you seek my friend. More so, from this day forward should either of you need my assistance in any way, be it combat or times of peace just call and I’ll come. At this Burning Circle on my blood this I swear,” the Monk removed his Kote and cut into his hand with the dagger.

The three never did get the Jellies to drop the scroll of Erase that Kitaru wanted so badly, but with the loot from their battles they were able to pay the high price in the auction house and get it for him. While celebrating at Lower Jeuno’s Merry Minstrel, Solrain pulled out two orange link pearls and handed them to her comrades. “Guys, I was thinking. We are getting to the point in our training where we will have to visit Maat. Along with that we will also need to start hunting for the ancient pieces of armor known to our professions.” The other two looked at each other and nodded as if they knew what each other was thinking, she was right and they knew it. “Many don’t survive these tasks my friends but the three of us, I believe we can do this. That’s why I had these pearls made.” They looked down at their respective pearls and engraved in them were three words…Bound By Honor.

Aravan lifted his glass, “I’ll drink to that!” They all toasted to their new shell and partied the night away.

Where their path has lead them…
They met Maat’s first two requests. The first of his challenges they did on their own with the exception of the coal that he requested from the bombs in Garlaige Citadel. This help came in the form of a well-known Mithran Red mage and a group of her friends. The Fragicite of the northern wastelands of Xarcabard proved to be slightly more challenging, but an Elvaan Samurai, who would eventually come to their aid in the future, and a brave Elvaan Red mage answered the three’s calls for help. They currently quest for their Ancient armor, however not as three, for a Paladin named Mullen has joined the ranks of Bound By Honor. How he came to join their ranks is somewhat of a mystery still, but none question it because, well, it seems to bring things full circle.

So if you are ever in Lower Jeuno, swing by the Merry Minstrel you may just see this odd bunch of adventurers mingling and joking about, waiting for their next adventure to come to mind. Don’t be afraid to say, “Hello” or wave to them, who knows they may just offer you a drink of the Minstrel’s finest ale. And if you are ever looking for help in Jeuno, you may just get your help from the members of Bound By Honor, because this is one thing they have sworn to each other, “Help those that need it, because we were helped when we needed it.”

If you are traveling through out Vana ‘diel and you see a naked Taru White mage pulling monsters through an area, don’t be surprised if you see a Mithran Ranger, a Hume Paladin and an Elvaan Monk laughing as they prepare for battle. When you see them speeding across the land away from their home away from home, the Minstrel, you know an adventure is not far off in the distance. One thing will remain true as long as they remain on Vana‘diel, the four will always be… Bound By Honor.


Edited, Fri Apr 8 01:04:14 2005 by AravanTheWanderer

More stories!

Thanks guys^^

and Nights, not just Kit's stories.

lol Gotta watch out for those dudes... they messed up :p

First off I must say Ara, nice story. It brightened an otherwise crappy morning after a crappy night at work, also it reminded me of what I like best about this game. Kudos my new friend. And to reply to Solrain's reply, my old friend you are not messed up, we wouldn't change you in any way.