Entry Four
Diamonds Amid Sand
The Quicksand seemed the most likely place to go after my failed attempts to get anything further out of the Ossuary. Â My decision to do some research on Ala Mhigo has proven as fruitless as most of the trees in this Twelve-forsaken desert-country. Â Still, I am nothing if not determined. Â If all else fails, I could go to Little Ala Mhigo, despite the advice I'd gotten earlier tonight.
I am grateful, though, for the kindness of Lieutenant Markus Valhoun who unexpectedly bought me a drink.  I'm not even sure what it was, only that it was served by Momodi (and thus, safe) and cooler than the air.  The Lieutenant served as a reluctant conversationalist, but as is oft my wont to do I drew it out of him gradually.  In a way, he reminded me much of Sa'vern in the way he was so taciturn and his firm belief that his only existence was as a soldier of war.  It is as if they were both tempered in the same crucible and wrought from the same forge.
Perhaps I am little more than a soft-hearted idealist, believing that the indomitable spirit of Mankind can conquer all things, but we got more conversation than we bargained for when we spoke of it. Â A rather loud-spoken young man entered our conversation, unasked and unbidden, quickly turning the conversation to a sour bent of politics. Â I half suspect he was drunk and put-out by the attentions -- or lack thereof -- of the Miqo'te and Roegadyn we'd seen him with earlier in the night.
He inquired after my studies as a scholar, giving me a few ideas on places in which to attempt to further my knowledge on Ala Mhigo. Â He advised against travelling to Little Ala Mhigo itself, though, saying that they cared little for outsiders and would not be forthcoming with their information. Â He did have a valid point about finding a Patron or Sponsor for my studies, someone to foot the bill for the enormous amount of travel I'd have to do. Â To speak nothing of the eventual bribes, especially here in Ul'dah it would seem.
His perpetual line of questioning left me little room or breath to speak to the Lieutenant again until Sir Velhoun took his leave. Â Afterward, however, the remaining man told me I should have gone after him. Â When I inquired as to why, he implied that the Lieutenant was clearly interested in more than just a passing drink. Â I found the idea almost laughable, considering that I'm not even in the market for anything more. Â I sincerely doubt that the Lieutenant had such designs though; the man had only just met me, after all.
I bid the remaining man, whose name I never got, a good evening and took my leave of the Quicksand. Â I would try the Ossuary again, this time, perhaps feigning an interest in thaumaturgy, as was suggested to me earlier in the night. Â
By the Grace of the Twelve, let me succeed this time...
Diamonds Amid Sand
The Quicksand seemed the most likely place to go after my failed attempts to get anything further out of the Ossuary. Â My decision to do some research on Ala Mhigo has proven as fruitless as most of the trees in this Twelve-forsaken desert-country. Â Still, I am nothing if not determined. Â If all else fails, I could go to Little Ala Mhigo, despite the advice I'd gotten earlier tonight.
I am grateful, though, for the kindness of Lieutenant Markus Valhoun who unexpectedly bought me a drink.  I'm not even sure what it was, only that it was served by Momodi (and thus, safe) and cooler than the air.  The Lieutenant served as a reluctant conversationalist, but as is oft my wont to do I drew it out of him gradually.  In a way, he reminded me much of Sa'vern in the way he was so taciturn and his firm belief that his only existence was as a soldier of war.  It is as if they were both tempered in the same crucible and wrought from the same forge.
Perhaps I am little more than a soft-hearted idealist, believing that the indomitable spirit of Mankind can conquer all things, but we got more conversation than we bargained for when we spoke of it. Â A rather loud-spoken young man entered our conversation, unasked and unbidden, quickly turning the conversation to a sour bent of politics. Â I half suspect he was drunk and put-out by the attentions -- or lack thereof -- of the Miqo'te and Roegadyn we'd seen him with earlier in the night.
He inquired after my studies as a scholar, giving me a few ideas on places in which to attempt to further my knowledge on Ala Mhigo. Â He advised against travelling to Little Ala Mhigo itself, though, saying that they cared little for outsiders and would not be forthcoming with their information. Â He did have a valid point about finding a Patron or Sponsor for my studies, someone to foot the bill for the enormous amount of travel I'd have to do. Â To speak nothing of the eventual bribes, especially here in Ul'dah it would seem.
His perpetual line of questioning left me little room or breath to speak to the Lieutenant again until Sir Velhoun took his leave. Â Afterward, however, the remaining man told me I should have gone after him. Â When I inquired as to why, he implied that the Lieutenant was clearly interested in more than just a passing drink. Â I found the idea almost laughable, considering that I'm not even in the market for anything more. Â I sincerely doubt that the Lieutenant had such designs though; the man had only just met me, after all.
I bid the remaining man, whose name I never got, a good evening and took my leave of the Quicksand. Â I would try the Ossuary again, this time, perhaps feigning an interest in thaumaturgy, as was suggested to me earlier in the night. Â
By the Grace of the Twelve, let me succeed this time...