By MaryBeth Zofan

It’s that time of year again! The denizens of Eorzea are scurrying to prepare for one of the most looked forward to times of the year: The Starlight Celebration.

Model wearing dream outfit.

The end of the year festivities are expected to be bigger than ever, including wide-spread decorations and newly created costumes. The holiday cheer is in the air all around as each city-state prepares for the festivities.

While there are still few concrete rumors circulating about this year’s festivities, there have been leaks of the newly designed costumes. Weaved from beautiful red and white pre-cut cloth, the dream tunic, boots, and hat are as festive as an outfit can possibly get. Even local chocobos will likely be getting makeovers for the festival.

Communities are preparing their own celebrations for the festivities as well. Secret gift exchanges are perhaps the most popular form of celebration in these smaller communities. An increasingly prominent group known as Sanctus Refero* is attempting to host such an event on a grand scale with some slight twists related to guessing who the gift came from and getting yet another gift upon a correct guess.

A festive chocobo from last year's festival.

A winter gala* is also scheduled to go along with the festivities, being hosted at the Mavanix mansion in Ul’dah on the 11th sun of the 12th moon. The masquerade is expected to have a large turnout based on the large-scale marketing.

Other communities focus on gift exchanges, being thankful for their friends and family. And of course, the city-states are planning their own little festivities to bring even more holiday joy to their citizens.

Let’s not forget that the new year is also just around the corner after this festival. So everyone enjoy happy and safe holidays!

((*The Sanctus Refero and masquerade events are taking place only on the unofficial RP server, Besaid. See the RPC’s Bulletin Board for details.))

By MaryBeth Zofan

If you’ve lived in Ul’dah long enough, you’ve no doubt heard stories of the goblins. A member of the beast tribes, goblins are rumored to be both hostile and amicable, depending on the individual goblin.

Healer Vavaki of Frondale’s Phrontistery has spent much of her time researching genealogies of the beast tribes. Likely inspired by the works of Frandelont Raimdelle (author of the Raimdelle Codex), Vavaki was willing to divulge her own notes on the topic of goblins.

“The goblins are short little monstrosities, though amicable enough. Time was they could be seen throughout the streets of Ul’dah peddling wares. You will certainly know one if you come across them. They never take off their distinctive masks, and always bear seemingly unbearable packs on their back.

But I fear you won’t come across them. None have, in fact, for quite some years now. Some say they only make one great pilgrimage every hundred years to the cities of man. But who is to say? Perhaps the recent rise in adventurers among us will bring them back once again.”

Artist's depiction of a goblin

Having not been seen for years now, one can’t help but wonder if goblins even really exist anymore. If so, where are they hiding? Caves? Jungles? Icelands? Unlike many of the other beast tribes, goblins are rumored to be quite adaptable, able to live in just about any environment…so long as there’s something to be gained from being there.

Interestingly enough, there are no concrete rumors about -what- lies behind their distinctive masks. Several theories exist as to -why- they wear the masks though. Some think the beasts simply wish to hide their disfigured faces from the rest of the world. Other more interesting theories link the wearing of the masks to a form of religious worship. The most scientific explanation is that they need the masks to filter out toxic gases from the caves and tunnels in which they hide in. Though that begs the question of why they continue wearing the masks when outside of the caves.

The massive packs the creatures bear on their backs are said to be filled with the various wares in which they peddle, wares that only the goblins often know how to obtain. Of course, it is said that nothing is free when it comes to the goblins. Rumored to be masters of information, some goblins have no doubt sold their wares for more than just simple gil. Sometimes they may require something more such as pertinent information or some mundane task on their behalf. Regardless, many of them were known to be gatherers or crafters that supported Eorzea’s economy outside city walls.

Greedy monstrosities or innovative survivors? Until the goblins choose to make their presence known to man again, we can only speculate. The rise of adventurers could very well be enough for the profit-seeking goblins to return to the surface world. In fact, there are already rumors abuzz regarding the sighting of goblins out in the wilds again. If they truly are making a return, you can bet that scholars of all varieties will be ready to obtain more information on them and their culture.

By Mirara

In a society where gil makes the world go ‘round, there are those who have no problem taking advantage of the masses for financial gain. Greed and lust for power are often the primary roots for many merchants. But this story focuses on a group who, so far, has managed to elude such a reputation: The Silver Anvil.

The Silver Anvil was founded by a somewhat mysterious woman known today simply as Mistress Hiname. Mistress Hiname, as the story goes, became frustrated over her wares being used for deeds of heroism without any credit being pointed to her own craftsmanship. The guild she would go on to form had a simple task, but a grand goal: One day, being the greatest goods distributor on all of Eorzea.

While the guild has yet to reach that point, it has continued to make progress. The only catch is that it’s doing so without its founder. Mistress Hiname suddenly vanished not but 3 moons ago, leaving the fate of the Silver Anvil in the hands of its second-in-command, proprietor Nikolai Petrilio.

Skilled in mathematics and various sciences, the young Sir Petrilio seems an unlikely successor for a business oriented guild. Yet he has brought the group into the public eye with near ease. The Anvil’s regularly scheduled auctions tend to draw crowds and sometimes the auctions even give birth to rather competitive and fierce bids.

Typical Silver Anvil auction.

But amidst this commercial distributor lies a group willing to make sacrifices for their customers. The items in their auctions often sell for far less than the going prices in the city market wards.

Presently the Anvil is seeking carpenters, tanners, culinarians, and alchemists to further expand its horizons. The group is also seeking mercenaries to further assist in the acquisition of new materials and the ease of deliveries.

Nikolai Petrilio was unavailable for an interview.

By Mirara

The Silver Bazaar got some extra attention from adventurers recently. A “test of courage” was hosted there by adventurer Oria Argall and the turnout was quite impressive.

Gathering together around a campfire, the hostess started the event with a tragic story of love and betrayal. This would set the mood for the actual test.

The story goes that one day a miqo’te came to Ul’dah. Her fur was solid black like the night and her eyes shone like the stars. She was brave and fearless, her prowess said to be unmatched. But she was weak to love. She fell, and fell hard for the son of a wealthy merchant. The son was quite taken with the miqo’te woman and pledged his love and loyalty to her. However, the weight of their differences slowly became noticeable and the two decided to run away from Ul’dah. One night the two, holding hands, fled the city and escaped as far as the Silver Bazaar. They were unaware that the young man’s father had heard of this affair and grew furious. The merchant hired a group of mercenaries and sent them out to find his son and bring him back to Ul’dah…and kill the woman who kidnapped his heir.

Test of Courage participants gather for the ghost story.

The couple, startled by the arrival of the mercenaries, fled into a nearby cave hoping to elude the men. The cave had no exit though and the two were trapped. The couple fought tooth and nail against the mercenaries. The man would see no harm come to his beloved and she would not be separated from him. It was a lost battle from the beginning and the love birds were slain on the spot, their blood covering the ground.

Following the story, adventurers were to go inside the cave and tell what they saw. The story of the dead couple remained at their forethoughts as each group went in one after another.

Amalthea Ghoulheart went first, prepared to do battle! All she saw was a dark shadow in the water. She tried to touch it and splashed the water but it only shied away.

Zink Spink went next and came running from the cave screaming. He said he had touched the monster in the water and said it had glowing eyes.

Vale Hartstrong and Ami Faye volunteered to go next and came back scared, they said the monster spoke to them and said their “mommas wear combat boots” and to “send in a bard.”

Endemerrin Rosethorne, the bard, sighed and went into the cave. He came back with a shrug and said the monster asked for something of beauty to come in next.

Reslon Icewind, feeling quite beautiful, sauntered into the cave but when he came back he was disappointed. All he saw was a cave full of drakes.

Renaise Galwind and Coralie Nettle went in after Reslon. The group outside the cave heard a loud boom from inside the cave and began to worry for the two, about to go inside right before Renaise and Coralie returned. Apparently Renaise had seen something shining in the water and attempted to grab it when he was struck by lightning.

Kimi Lachiel and Lurial Vashir decided to brave the cave next. They claimed to have seem the ghost of the miqo’te from the story, the wind supposedly picking up in the cave as they heard the sound of wailing. They said the miqo’te woman only wanted friends.

Oria Argall decided to go last and egged Castiel Mavainx into accompanying her. Castiel came out with tattered clothes carrying an unconscious Oria! He said they had been attacked by a wight. The event quickly came to an abrupt end as Miss Argall was taken back to town. She is said to have made a full recovery from the attack and was not available for further questions on the matter.

Silver Bazaar officials insist that they have never seen a wight in the cave and remain befuddled over the mysterious attack.