Hydaelyn Role-Players

SpoilerThis spoiler location would actually contain a youtube link of the song I'm parodying... if you don't know this one at least the chorus which I switched up... may god have mercy on your soul.

SpoilerHe is on a mission. The world around him has changed, five years are said to have passed, new and exciting dangers lurk around each corner. John has so many questions, but has a goal to achieve. While traveling through the Black Shroud, John came about two ghosts from the past.

There was Eva, whom John saw during the battle and recognized immediately as she looked almost exactly like her mother, but... gifted and with her father’s eyes. She was looking for answers to it all and John remarked that “I ain’t got all the answers either, but I know what I need ta do.” She attempted to give John a blue pearl, John accepted the pearl and quickly shoved it in a pocket, remarking that “Ya ain’t gonna accomplish a damn thing just ‘cause ya named it after yer daddy’s shell. Don’t make it what he’d make it or what I’d tell ya ta make it... make YOUR pearl into what YOUR heart calls fer, lass.” Seemingly energized by his somewhat wise words, she understood and darted off.

Then there was Azeiel Kamba, the daughter of Azriel Kamba. This is where John got confused. He was told five years have passed, but seeing an exact copy of Azriel lead John to believe he was thrown back forty years. After getting moonshine dumped on him and slapped in the face, the two had a hearty conversation. John was determined to get the young Az to stop being a tart and smile -- which he easily succeeded at.


Just south of the Black Shroud, John is traveling towards Ul’Dah by foot. A couple days ago, he was informed by the botany guild that his son is in Ul’Dah, and since he doesn’t have a lead on his daughter, he figured he’d find the one kid that he got information on. While walking through Wallwick Wood, John comes upon Highbridge, settlement in the eastern-most part of Thanalan.

Still nursing his injuries, he rests frequently yet shortly. A camping pack on his vested back with his greatsword in a sheath. “Best rest here, not sure what ta expect ahead..” Upon entering Highbridge, John sees an airship flying overhead from Ul’Dah to Gridania. “Huh, wonder whose takin’ the sky road today.”

~In the Airship Above~

The airship is filled with chests and bags with a blond male highlander atop the boxes. The man was none other than Alex, the very son John is heading to Ul’Dah to find.

The pilot remarks “Surprised we were able to take off with all that stuff you got....”

“Herbs, mostly. The boxes are the heaviest part of them. Spent four months in Ul’Dah gathering them.”

“Ah, one of them botantists. No wonder ya took to the sky! Hah!”

“And risk this cargo to get sieged? Yes, I’m no fighter, but you don’t have to belittle me for acting on caution. These supplies will save lives.” Alex crosses his arms, rather irritated.

“...fergive me.”

Alex waves his hand dismissively. “It’s alright -- oh, I think that’s Highbridge we are coming up on, right?”

“Aye. Last settlement in Thanalan until the Black Shroud. It’s besieged on once in awhile because it’s way out here.. it’s an easy target.”

"Ah... if things lighten up soon, I'll be sure to see if they need medicine..."

Spoiler[youtube]jxBKgOyMzSc[/youtube]

SpoilerCrossing the Drybone to Camp Drybone then heading south, and still taking it easy after a few days rest at Highbridge, John sings...

“Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born
Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts
And goblin' brand new pair of brogues to rattle o'er the bogs
And frighten all the dogs on the rocky road to Ul’Dah

One, two three four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Ul’Dah, wack-fol-la-de-da”

John scoped out a rock sitting on a high spot for him to rest and watch. Always got to “watch yer six” as John would say. With a solid KATHUNK, John jabs his greatsword into the barren ground. In the distance, he sees hounds harrasing rams that have come off the mountain an seem to be competing for water.

“Ah, fightin’ over water. Everyone does it out here. Can’t blame ‘em.”

His glance changes to the crystallized destruction Bahamut rained down five years back.

“I... wouldn’t have survived that one...” He rubs the back of his head. “I don’t think -anyone- would have survived that one... Garleans, Eorzeans... monsters, demons, dragons -- none of them. Don’t think it’d taken fancy to lesser of its kind in the slightest. Such terrifying power.”

John turns and and sees Camp Drybone in the distance. “I know m’boy’s still kickin’, but that journal I found of his says he fergot us! What kinda magic makes ya ferget yer own (birth) twin sister! He remembers things but not what we look like -- I don’t get it....”

His glance turns back to the hounds and rams, a stray hound spotted JJ and started charging him. As the hound lunged, John pulled his hand back (his gauntlet clad in spikes on the back of his hand) and delivers a big slap to the side of the hound’s head and sends it flying a short distance dead. “Ah... sorry friend. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out here and I gotta find myself a new breastplate... wait, a breastplate is the opposite of a dinner plate... nevermind.. that makes sense...” John gets up and plucks his sword out from the dirt, going in the way of Drybone and starting his song back up.

“...In Drybone that night, I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight next morning light and early..~”


---


Three days ago, a short while after the airship flew over Highbridge, Alex landed in Gridania with herbs medicines in tow. Upon dropping the crates off at his guild, he was told a “big scary man” was looking for him the other day and that they told him you were in Ul’Dah. Initially scared, Alex left the guild and went directly into the Shroud. He pondered who found him out and if they were still in town looking for him -- or if they were at his home waiting for him. You see, while Alex doesn’t dabble in illegal things, he occasionally dabbles in pissing off wrong-doers.

Alex returned to Gridania on the third day having caught little sleep while hiding out in the Shroud. Alex makes it to the Botany Guild and crawls under a table, a pillow lay wating. Alex has slept there many times before on long nights. This was no exception.

Later that evening, Alex woke up. He cautiously stalked his house and entered it. No one was there but Alex’s canned foods were all eaten and a letter lay on the table beside the canned carnage.

“Its da. Seems like I got thrown in time from that battle in Mor Dhona in 72. Heading to UlDah your guild said you were out that way. I imagine you know where your sister is. I hope. Got a lot to figure out. Seek out that blue pearl I told you two about growing up. Its been reformed by his daughter. She should be around Gridania. Spends a lot of time at the Fane.”

The letter, with poor grammar, ends.

As if struck by lightening, Alex looks utterly shocked. His hands shaking, he puts down the letter. He knew this had to be his father. He remembers the blue pearl as being the emergency-go-to-pearl-to-find if they were able to.
Alex needs a plan.
Alex needs to find this woman.
But most of all: Alex needs rum.

Spoiler[youtube]cFBRaIOI85k[/youtube]

Spoiler[Excerpt from the Journal of Alex Silversheath 7/19; the paper has some chemical stains and wear-and-tare]

I have been poking around the Stillgate Fane for what seems like an eternity but in reality has been little less than three days time. The man who ran the Blue Pearl, Crystalline, is named Dyterium Zelorius, I remember that clear as day “Uncle Dy” as we called him. His daughter, however, her name evades my memory. We were about five when ma and da moved us and abandoned the Blue Pearl. Dyterium’s daughter was a little younger than us, but I can’t remember her name.

On that note, I still can’t remember my own sister or fathers’ names... or their faces. I remember everything else. Like how my sister would be quick to beat up the bullies that bothered us or that da had a fondness for pinwheels. I remember everything about my ma, Emilynn... it has to be that both my da and sister were at Mor Dhona those five years ago. Does this mean that Dyterium’s daughter was also there as well?

I digress. I intended on using these pages to chronicle each woman I talk to and not my lamentations of recent events. I remember Dyterium and his estranged wife were both Duskwights, pale skin and white hair. This naturally leads me to deduce that the woman I am looking for is also a Duskwight but not necessarily of the same hair color due to hair dyes. My initial investigations brought forth eight Duskwight women that frequent the Fane for one reason or another recently that aren’t affiliated with the Fane at this point in time that fit the age range of early to mid thirties. Then there’s three that are directly affiliated with the Fane that fit the age range of early to mid thirties.

I have talked to six of the non-affiliated and three of the affiliated Duskwights and none have yielded to be who I am looking for... three of all of them wished for me to buy them a drink or go for a walk. Under normal circumstances, I would oblige. I will continue to seek this woman with what information I was given and what I have deduced from what I remember as a child, which could actually hinder me as that was over thirty years ago... This is getting frustrating. I have work I am obliged to do but... my family’s alive. Five years. After five years of not knowing what happened...
---

~In Camp Drybone~

John has been resting at Camp Drybone for a couple days longer than he intended due to a sandstorm sweeping through the area. He has been inquiring about the whereabouts of either his son or daughter, current monster activities in area and just other tidbits of gossip. As expected, his search didn’t yield much.

“Ah, the sandstorm should pass by tomorrow.” a Hellsguard man says, rubbing his chin.

“Really? Ya were headin’ north from Ul’Dah, anything going on comin’ up here?” John inquires.

“There was some antlions acting strange.. they were out further from their usual areas. Perhaps there’s a big nasty bullying them down that way. If you aren’t looking for a fight, might want to take a detour to western Thananlan...”

“I’s intending to head to Little Ala Mhigo actually...”

“Ah, well Thal’s Balls, got your work cut out for you, don’t you?”

“Hah! I’ll play it safe, though. Antlions like to munch on torsos and heads.” John pats his unarmored vest. “Thanks, bud!” John bids farewell to the traveling merchant.

John makes a mark on a makeshift map of the area etched on a piece of trash wood, noting the antlion activity. “Hum... a lot has changed... critters goin’ places they ain’t ever been and actin’ all sortsa pissed. The aether feels... different. Perhaps that’s what’s got all these guys all fussied up... hmmm...” He studies his makeshift map.

Spoiler[youtube]aPIBS54p7ec[/youtube]

Spoiler[Excerpt from the Journal of Alex Silversheath 7/20; the paper has some chemical stains and wear-and-tare]

I have inquired about the remaining two female Duskwights in the age range of early to mid thirties following my last entry. First I asked various workers in the Fane that weren’t the Duskwight women, that yielded that there was a quiet one two weeks back that just up and vanished. She had offered her time and kept to herself. The news I found about the other was that she was a poacher of the Redbelly Crew -- I doubt that that one is the woman I seek. Upon asking where this first woman disappeared to, the people at the Fane yielded no concrete answers.

So I stepped out of a regulated regime of study and went and found a Wildwood Woodwailer -- clan-clan discrimination, though horrible, does have its uses I suppose, especially when they’re guards. The Woodwailer stated that the “Grey with the [gifted busom] and tattoo on her face left Gridiana heading south to Bentbranch little less than two weeks ago” -- this woman sounds familiar. In Ul’Dah, I stopped at Sunsilks to get a hole patched up on my shirt and had tea with the Duskwight woman... Ivy Earniria? I recall she was trying to get home to Gridania so I gave her a bit of gil. Earniria? That’s not Zelorius, but perhaps she got married. I recall that she was pregnant and suggested that she don’t work herself as hard as she was working and also suggested not to travel by foot, rather take an airship.

It is now the early evening and I have work to attend to so naturally I will have to put all that off. Black tea and coffee was made for a reason.

There’s probably a proper pun for this... It would seem the Weaver has me wound with a weaver to find my father and sister.... Oh what tangled webs the Weaver weaves.. We’ve got the Weaver’s weavery weaved here... ---


~Towards South Thanalan~

While in Camp Drybone, John obtained a cloak - and by obtained it was actually a discarded shop vendor cover that John poke a couple holes through to make a poncho with a hood. Discarded items are a common-place and John is not above scavenging dumpsters as needed. The tattered brown poncho served admirably to keep severe sun off John (as well as look cool!).


The winds have settled down but the occasional gust blew across the wasteslands and dunes.

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUD! The sounds of John’s darksteel boots running across a plateau fill the air with upcoming dread of death. A silent rush then overcomes the atmosphere as John descendes from the sky, driving his greatsword into an antlion. Then he withdraws it and leaps off the antlion on to another rock. THUMP THUD THUMP THUMP!

“Dammit! I told you guys I wasn’t dressed! Is this any way to treat a lady?” John cackles, still not having replaced his lost darksteel breastplate. John worked at staying on rocks rather than sands since antlion activity was pretty big in the direction of his travel -- as the traveling merchant suggested. John briefly drags his great sword on the rock he’s running on before leaping off it and cleaving an antlion in two. As John lands, he winces slightly, his chest offering a little reminder he’s still alive. He continues running THUMP THUD THUD THUD cloak blowing in the wind.

John’s destination was Little Ala Mhigo, if it still stood. After the fall of Ala Mhigo in 1557, Little Ala Mhigo became known as one of the most known about havens for Ala Mhigo refugees. John had visited this particular place dozens of times since Ala Mhigo fell and reckoned he would be able to find a lead about his daughter -- assuming she had been past the area and was noticed out of the hundreds of pugilists, monks and all around hand-to-hand fighters. Being a Highlander was to his advantage. Though Ul’Dah became one of the more popular flocking points for Highlanders, they still were pretty rare in the grand scheme of things.

It has been fifteen - no - twenty years since the fall of Ala Mhigo and the scattering of the survivors. There was less than a dozen monks that survived that calamity from John’s village (and were disciples of Emilynn’s father). Before the recent Calamity, Dalmund, John knew the majority of them flocked towards Ul’Dah to soothe their aching hearts and battle the fury within them through meditation and destruction. Even to this day, their clothes bear the mark of the Fists of Rhalgr: Style of the Windfist insignia.

Despite the odds, John was not able to gather information of his daughter nor of the monks, as that he assumed his daughter would seek him, or them, out as John has. Perhaps the remaining monks perished during the fall of Dalmund, the battle or just scattered again as they once did in times past.

Ul’dah, the city of money, is John’s next destination. He fathoms his son would still be there or perhaps a clue to the whereabouts of his daughter.

Spoiler[youtube]_pz1KHK2pkM[/youtube]

Spoiler[24/7/05; the sheet is a bit dirty but still legible, various detailed notes precede the text below of clues, information and an all around sound conclusion]

Four days of being in and around Bentbranch trying to find the whereabouts of this woman have paid off. I have been presenting a sketch of the woman, assumed to be Ivy Eva turned out, indeed, to be the woman I am looking for. A young Duskwight carrying a large amount of wood noticed my sketch and said she was heading to Coerthas then to Ul’Dah. I further confirmed she is the woman I am looking for in that he carries a blue pearl given by her. I will meet her in Ul’Dah at Sunsilks.

[the parchment is dotted with small blotches from the pen being held to the paper too long]

If this Eva is indeed the daughter of Dyterium Zelorius, that would mean my sister and I grew up with her... but I cannot remember if Eva is her name or not... then again, I can’t remember my -own- sister’s name. I will maintain that my primary interest is assuring she is okay -- I am concerned about her, she said she was carrying and seemed to be stressing herself too much. Would she even remember my sister or myself? But my actual primary concern is making contact with my father and sister. I recall vividly why I use da’s birth surname rather than Spiegel. Da had many enemies.

~In Ul’Dah~

Dragging an antlion carcass in the sands behind him, John arrives at the Steps of Nald in Ul’Dah. His first priority is to find his children, but his emergency primary priority is to eat breakfast. The antlion he’s dragging will help with that. John found a fire in a back alley to roast his antlion over with no fears of getting mugged -- who would mug a highlander carrying a greatsword and dragging an antlion like he was taking out the trash? Sticking a stick through the thorax and breaking off the rest of the limbs, John gave all but the thorax to the destitute that were watching him roast with mouths of hungar open.

After roasting his breakfast, John strolled towards the market district before settling down against a wall, his brown linen poncho trapes over his darksteel breeches as he sits with legs extended outward. It was time to dine a thousand dinners! With a solid side-smack with his gauntlet, he cracks open the antlion thorax and peels back the husk before taking a big bite. A man clad in plain white carrying a bag of sundries suddenly trips over John’s legs, landing face first and his bag of pastries fall about.

“Uh, are you okay, lad?”

He got up rather quickly on all fours, checking to see if his pastries were okay. Distracted by picking up the pastries and putting them back into his bag, he replied "Oh um, no my name is Gerik."

John chuckles and moves his legs out of the way. “Yer hungry too aren’tcha?”

Gerik picked up his bag and maneuvered himself over to the other highlander's side. "How can you not be? These are fresh blood currant tarts?" He reached for one inside the bag, not caring whether it touched the ground or not.

John holds his antlion-on-a-stick up “I didn’t say I wasn’t hungry! Hah!”

With his mouth full, he replied to the man in an indistinguishable noise, once he swallowed, he repeated the what he said with his mouth full. "What's your name?"

“John Spiegel, or just JJ.” John takes a bite of his antlion.

“Mine’s Gerik.” He offered up his gooey, pastry-jelly covered hand.

John hesitantly put his hand out “Yer not gonna bite my fingers off, I know how a Highlander’s appetite can get the bes’ of ‘im!” John laughs and shakes Gerik’s hand

Gerik took the man's hand and gave it a shake, mixing the blood currant jelly with the juices from the antlion. "Bite your fingers off? Does Hyur even taste that good?" He looked at John as if he'd have the answer.

“If I told ya, I’d have ta kill ya! Haha!”

Gerik: "I bet I'd taste good with a wine and cream sauce, maybe with some tomatoes on the side." Gerik reached into the bag to fetch himself another pastry, this time Sun Lemon. "Do you think cannibals eat a man's... you know?" Gerik pointed at his crotch.

John Spiegel: Do ya got the stomach to know the answer? *takes a bite of his antlion, wiping the goopy mess from his gauntlet onto the poncho*

Gerik: Gerik's eyes drifted all over the market, with his mouth full once again, he nodded at John.

John Spiegel: Bes' I figure they bite it off. Never had the chance ta converse with a cannibal 'cause they're usually tryin' ta poke out m'other eye.

John Spiegel: They'd pop it out with a nice kerplop, like a chickenbone snappin'. *takes a bite of his antlion*

Gerik: Gerik swallowed. "Hmmmm, that's gross..." He paused, "Want a pastry?"

John Spiegel: Nah, yer too much investeted in 'em fer me ta take one. I jus' blew into town m'self. Antlions were runnin' a muck on my way t'Lil Ala Mhigo so I's dragged one of 'em with me -- jus' pulled 'em off a fire not twenty minutes ago. First thing I got ta eat all day.

Gerik: "Aren't you hungry? I haven't eaten in just an hour and I'm starved!" He picked out another pastry.
John Spiegel: Starved, lad. *takes a bite of his antlion*

Gerik: "So what are you doing here and stuff? Are you from Little Ala Mihgo?" He pointed at his white facial tattoos, "See! I'm a highlander too!"

John Spiegel: I saw ya were a kinsman, ain't from 'Lil, born in actual Ala Mhigo.

John Spiegel: Here lookin' fer m'daughter.

Gerik: "Oh, well I hope you find her. Uldah's a big place."

John Spiegel: Aye, and it changes everytime I come too. Especially this trip here... *takes a bite of his antlion*

Gerik: "Can I help?"

John Spiegel: Ya certainly can.

Gerik: "Hmmm, so what do we do? I can yell really loud."

John Spiegel: That ain' gonna help in this loud town. If ya see a lass about a fulm under you with blond hair and probably a Rhaglr symbol witha tornado behind it, bet that'd be my Grace.

Gerik: "So what do I do if I find her? Tackle her or something?"

John Spiegel: Tackle?! Hahahahahaha! She'd shatter yer jaw if that happened.

John Spiegel: *laughs at the thought again*

John Spiegel: A strappin' young lad trying to have his way with her -- yeah, ya ain't seen destruction she'd do since Rhaglr! Hahahahahaha!

John Spiegel: Ya don't tackle women, lad. Especially ones that are not only monks but followers of the Fist of Rhaglr.

Gerik: "Ohhhhh, yeah, I guess you're right. So what should I do?"

John Spiegel: Tell her that her da's lookin' fer her and to head to her brother's botany guild in Gridania.

Gerik: "Wait, you aren't staying to look?"

John Spiegel: I ain't stayin' here forever, lad. Going to check around for a day or two and head to the coast towns and see if I can rustle together a ferry to La Noscea here in a numbera days.
John Spiegel: Ain't sure where she's at.

John Spiegel: Figured she'd come to her stompin' grounds 'round Thanalan.

Gerik: "Oh, well I'll try and see if I can find her, but it's a big place and all"

John Spiegel: Aye, don't strain yerself, lad. She ain't no damsle in distress! *chuckles and takes a bite of the antlion*

Gerik: "Hmmm, ok then. I really only ever go out to the markets to buy food though, Etienne says that the dark alleys are dangerous for someone like me."

John Spiegel: Any alleys in Ul'Dah are dangerous, especially the ones that you pay to go down and get robbed halfway through then ya gotta pay to get outta the alley. *chuckles at his muse*

Gerik: "Well, alright then, I'll tell her if I see her."

Gerik: Gerik got up off the pavement.

John Spiegel: Much appreciated, lad! Oh! *digs into his poncho from the side with both hand*

Gerik: Gerik looked eagerly at John's rummaging hands awaiting whatever might be produced.

John Spiegel: *produces a pinwheel* Here's fer trippin' ya. Sorry 'bout that. *hands pinwheel to Gerik*

Gerik: Gerik stared at it, remembering a similar event back when he was but only 5 years old or so in Ala Mihgo, he took it from the man's hand. "Uh.. thanks, hope you find your daughter."

John Spiegel: Yer welcome, have a nice day! *stupidsmilegrins*

Gerik: Gerik blew on the pinwheel to make the papery thing spin. He waved to the man with the missing daughter. Today was an interesting day, he thought to himself.
---

Spoiler[youtube]rFC6NFmHLoM[/youtube]

Spoiler[25/7/1577 the parchment is stained with chemicals]

I have found her! Eva! Just as the Elezen in Bentbranch said, she was at Sunsilks in Ul’dah! By the Weaver, not almost a month ago we sat in that very spot having tea while she mended a shirt I ripped. I came to find out that she too is an Unfamiliar, like my father and presumably my sister -- she talked about being at Mor Dhona those five long years ago and then suddenly in Limsa Lominsa... She took offense when I asked if she was feeling well, she looked... on edge. Even worse for wear than the first time we met. I was worried then as I was worried now, but she stated she just got checked at the Fane.

After some discussion, she gave me the Blue Pearl. My heart skipped a beat. I must have looked a fool marveling over a simple linkshell -- but this was the color that ma an da always talked about. This was the pearl that my sister and I were to seek if anything happened. Eva asked if my room was still available as per our first meeting -- I rarely stay there unless I’m forced out of the alchemy guild or need a change of clothes. I... [scribbles are made as if flustered] she had the nerve to think I was trying to bed her. That was not my intention, by the Twelve! We grew up giving to those that needed things more than we did. I don’t have need for a residence that I rarely use I- [flustered scribbles made again] I may sleep around but I don’t disguise it in the form of charity... Some impression I made. I can see how she sees it, she is a beautiful woman and being given a free room by someone she just met... [Scribble scribble]

I must put this silly journal down, I have a desk at the alchemy guild to rest my eyes under.
---

~In Blackbrush Station (outskirts of Ul’Dah), the same night~

John has made his way from Ul’Dah to Blackbrush with the intention of hitting the settlements between there and Vesper Bay before traveling to Limsa Lominsa. His search in Ul’dah for his daughter got him information of Windfist monks he knew were with her years back now residing somewhere in La Noscea or traveling through there -- good information is hard to come by from a couple years ago. In years past, Grace has attempted to reform her grandfather’s sect of the Fists of Rhalgr and the surname of her maternal side: Windfist. Before the Calamity, the six surviving monks of the sect were alive.

When he arrives in Limsa Lominsa, he will have attuned himself to the new aethernet, allowing him for fast travel in the event he needs to. Upon doing that, he will begin earning himself some gil to afford a new chestplate and helmet, having lost them in Mor Dhona. He also needs to find a smith who is able to forge a scythe, or go find the nearest cult of demon worshipers and cut down a summoned demon. John liked the later idea more.

SpoilerIf you need an auditory stimulant for this song, your youth was wasted.

Spoiler~In Vesper Bay~

The six-fulm, six-ilm bald Highlander clad in a vest with a brown poncho is throwing a hissy fit,

“WHAT D’YA MEAN 50,000 GIL?! I could BUY me a rowboat and have it crash ten fulms out, swim to Limsa, AND still have 49,950 gil left over! Hells, I could even hire a mermaid to bed me in a giant clam and STILL have enough to build an airship! This is price-gouging! I demand to speak to your-”

An older female Sea Wolf crosses her arms and glares at JJ.

“I -am- the captain and you’re not getting on ya bald dumbass.”

“I -ain’t- got gil. Hells, I don’t even have a proper -shirt- let alone a bag of gil!”

The Sea Wolf captain points behind her at the ocean.

“Then swim, ya one-eyed git.”

Without saying another word, John leaps into the water, armor weapons and all and began swimming. The captain, initially shocked, she crosses her arms again with a smirk and speaks to some crewmen.

“Fish ‘im out before he sinks ta tha Hells -- I could always use entertainment on the Frozen Salamander on these boring ferry rides.”

~~~

On the ocean later that night...

John sits in the passengers’ quarters in a corner with his greatsword leaning in front of him, holding the hilt. He’s lightly napping. A fellow Wildwood male passenger who is drunk stumbles up to the napping Highlander.

“Oy! Baldy! Ya stupid mountain brutes know that *mocks simpleton voice* heavy no like water - right? What kinda dumbass moron hick dumbshit thinks he can swim across a bloody ocean? Bahahaha!”

John ignores the drunk, rather he sleepily remarks.

“Nnngh.. honey, I like it when ya talk dirty to me... c’mere...”

John reaches out with a hand blindly at the man’s leg. Appalled, the Wildwood man kicks John in the face. John rolls over.

“Ah, sorry honey... I’ll take out the garbage in the morning... zzzz”

Growing angry, the drunk Wildwood unsheaths a dagger, John remains uncaring. A woman’s voice pipes up from behind the Wildwood.

“I’d not do that if I were you --”
“Shut up ya stupid bi--”

The woman turns out to be the Sea Wolf captain, who promptly picks the man up by the back of his shirt and pants and throws him across the room. She draws her pistol and holds it up. All that is heard is the groaning of a drunk man and the creaking of the ship. She stands tall and built, yet with an elegant figure. Her white hair has streaks of blue in it and bears traditional Sea Wolf markings.

“Now does anyone else wish to start a fight on my boat? I don’t care if you are an aristocrat, murderer or the bloody Admiral herself, you are on -MY- ship. You paid me to give you save travel across the waters and I hold the right to keelhaul any one of you that causes trouble on my boat. I’ll keelhaul you fer a dozen malms, hang ya from the mast and bleed ya slowly. Let that stupid drunk be an example.”

The captain kicks the fakely-sleeping John, John lets out a groan.

“Get up ya stupid sod. Yer coming with me.”

“Yes’m.”

~on deck~
It is a clear night half a bell past midnight on the open ocean.

“You could have cut down that drunken sod for just farting in your general direction -- but you didn’t, old sword. You just continued napping. And you full heartedly jumped in the ocean with intent of -swimming- to La Noscea. Yer a chuckling fool that could just kill his way to the Ends of the Seas but doesn’t. You have no regard for your pride. I don’t get you.”

John chuckled and leaned against the port side.

“I’m jus’ an old man out lookin’ fer m’kids and a good rumble.”

“So ya let some drunk lout disrespect ya? Yer a damned moron.”

John smirks. “I didn’t wanna swim again.”

The captain releases a small chuckle. “Old sword, what is your name?”

“Go by John Spiegel. JJ for short.”

“A Highlander with Midlander name and the wit of a turnip and the smell of death.”

John absentmindedly sniffs his pit and grimaces.

“Aye, I guess I forgot t’shower this month.”

“You know that’s not what I meant... ‘John Spiegel’... ”

A gentle fog rolls by, enveloping the surroundings. The demeanor of both John and the captain change.

“So.. I told ya my name, what’s yers? If we’re gonna be fi-”

“Blaetgeim Bloetoum... MEN! BATTLE POSITIONS OR ELSE I WILL HAUNT YOUR CHILDREN TILL THE SEAS TAKE ‘EM!” The captain draws her gun and shoots a signaling bell.

POW! Cannons began firing from the opposing ship. The hull of the Frozen Salamander sustained several shots as its own men prepared to return fire. A large pirate ship emerges.

“I thought ‘em pirates were supposed to be as rare as mah favorite cut of behemoth!”

John remarks as he draws his greatsword, giving it a twirl and cracks his neck and shoulders, stretching.

“There’s always exceptions...” the captain remarks as she reloads her gun, stuffing the ammo back inside her long black coat. Shards of wood splinter as the boat is bombarded, the men below deck soon are returning fire. The pirate ship draws closer. Spare handsmen emerge from the depths of the ship, ready for a fight. “.... there might be a behemoth steak in it for you if none of my carg- passengers are harmed, Old Swo- I mean John Spiegel.” The captain draws a second gun out.

POW! Something didn’t set well with JJ with that particular launch, he slid forward in front of the captain and brought his greatsword up to his chest level, holding it sideways. Sure enough, a cannon ball comes right in his path and he initially gets pushed back, ripping up the deck before parrying the cannon ball. Mouth agape, the captain and crewmen cannot believe what they just saw. John simply charges the opposing ship and leaps aboard.

Regaining her composure, the captain orders the men to board the opposing ship.
What in Seven HELLS did we just see? Did he seriously take a cannonball and smack it aside? Who in Hells does that? That would have blown me in two! He’s not even a crewman! He’s---

Pirates begin boarding the ship, the captain shoots a couple of them before drawing her sword, close quarters isn’t for guns! “Alright you lowly lot I call a crew! Let’s make this like the old days! Blood and guts hanging from the highest sails! Their children’s children’s nightmares and screams giving us wind!” The captain proclaims, pulling out a dagger to go with her sword and disembowels a charging pirate before trip-kicking him in one fluid motion. The crewmen release a warcry.

John, although wielding a two-handed sword, is not at a disadvantage. He’s fighting pirates, not Class A sword-fighters. He uses a mix of swordplay and close quarters punching to compensate for bringing a big sword to a tiny sword fight. A guttural scream emits from a pirate John impales before quickly slicing through him and, in the same motion, decapitates another pirate. He holds the greatsword in one hand as he grabs the downwardly-swinging hand of a pirate and kicks him in the chest before tossing him down and slaying him. By this time, John is accompanied by the crewmen of his passenger ship who begin to engage the pirates in a pirate battle!

A voice bellows from below the enemy ship with a deep growl. “Shoot tha oil, lob tha fire!”

From the cannon ports, oil squirts from animal hide pouches to the starboard side of the the besieged boat. A single fire spell is emitted from the same cannon ports. The passenger boat quickly catches ablaze.

Captain Bloetoum barks orders "Deckhands! Get the bags of sand! Chop off parts that are on fire! Get these passengers to the rafts!" Three pirates charge at her, she shoots one, dodges another, guts the third one with her scimitar. "...and STOP letting these bastards on MY SHIP you gods damned idiots!" The seawolf captain darts below deck to aid the passengers.

The dark growly voice of the pirate ship roars "Send out the black mages!" Six black mages emerge from the belly of the pirate ship, casting their spells in unison. "BLIZZARD." blizzard spells blanket the pirate ship's deck, hitting the defending shiphands and John. "BLIZZARD." A second wave of blizzard spells spill across the deck, knocking some shiphands off. A couple had the good sense to climb high, John bided his energy and stood his ground, giving the burning ship a passing glance.

With a grin he begins stomping his way across the deck. "Hey ya buncha shitty mage pirates.... magpies? Yeah! Magpies! Yer jus' ticklin' an old man's chin with yer piss-poor blizzard spells. Where'd ya learn ta cast blizzard? From a pile of lava? I think I'm actually sweatin'! If that's all yer gonna do then jus' jump off th' deck yerselves and save me the hassle! Or are ya jus' gonna keep fannin' me with yer hot air?" John finishes his mocking statement by jabbing his greatsword into the deck, throwing his poncho off and opening his hands in a mocking 'come get me' manner, the passenger ship behind him still in flames. Little his opponets realize is that John usually wears a couple hundred ponzes of darksteel and carries multiple weapons. His speed and agility are greatly enhanced.

Their aether combined, they begin lobbing ice chunks at John, who uses his greatsword as a jumpping boost in the air, in a less-than-elegant fashion, John plays leapfrog with the ice chunks, causing the flaming ship to be bombarded with ice that shattered and started smothering some of the flames. As this was happening, two of the crewmen that climb the ship's mast climbed down and charged the black mages, taking two down by surprise. John launches off an ice chunk right at a third black mage, tackling him. Suddenly, John, and the blackmage get hit with a lightning spells -- there's no honor among pirates. With a snap of the neck, the one black mage was dead. John is hit with another lightning spell and is launched against the wall and falls with a thud and a groan.

The flaming ship is burning slower, but still burning. Captain Bloetoum successfully maneuvered to the passengers during the rumbling of the blizzard storm on deck. "Alright ya buncha landlubbers, keep your mouths shut and do as I say. There's rowboats on the side of the ship and some barrels. Get yer asses to 'em when I tell ya to and row as far away as you can keeping my flaming vessel at yer backs. Leave everything or die clinging on ta yer bags of baubles." She pauses for a moment They're burning down th' ship withou' even pillaging it. They're not here fer loot.. they're here fer a body!

Captain Bloetoum quickly composes her thoughts and barks an order "Ay, on second thought, keep yer arses here. Them pirates are set ta kill one of ya, I don't care who, I'm paid to ferry yer sorry arses across the ocean and if I fail that, I lose b'niss." A passenger speaks up "So you're going to let us fry?!" The captain quickly retorts "'ey! I said keep yer mouth shut!" She walks up to the Hyr woman and punches her in the face. "Now you lot stay here, lest th' feller they want killed steps up." She taps her foot, waiting a few seconds. "Thought so, sit down, shut up 'n don't move a gods damn muscle!"

Above deck, crews start bucketing water to dampen the fire as well as fight off invading pirates. On the pirate ship, John gets to his feet after being knocked down with a couple thunder spells. Three black mages remained. The pirates that were on the deck of the other ship begin returning to their ship, six in total. Equiped with scimtars and promises of gil -- nothing's dangerous like that, aside from a woman scorned or blue cheese. With his weapon on the other side of the deck, and without any real body armor aside from a cotton vest, things were about to get interesting for John. He knelt down and put a hand on the recently dead black mage whose neck John had just broke.

"Yer nae gonna need that bitta aether in yer bones still..." Aether becomes visible from the corpse, flowing in a spiral up John's forearm before disappearing. Captain Bloetoum emerges from her ship and shouts. "'ey! They're aftera person, not loot! Boys! Let's end this and take their damned ship like th'good ol' days!" Her crew lets out a cheer! A pirate woman scorned is twice as dangerous. She pulls out a wand and holds it in the air pointing to the depths of the ship, she conjures a turrent of bubbles that smother the fire in the depths, the captains quarters and mast were a lost cause, though.

The black mages begin casting on the opposing crew as they fight the pirate deckhands, John stands up after absorbing some enegy and charges for his greatsword that is still stuck in the floor on the other side of the deck. Suddenly, John's sword is plucked from the deck and flung at him as if possessed, undeterred, John grabs his weapon -- it had been pushed by the captain's magic. With warcry, John slams his sword on to the deck, creating a hole in the deck and jumps down in the hole.

What in Seven Hells is he doing NOW? The captain quickly barks out orders "Don' be knockin' holes in my brand new gods damn ship! ....BOYS! get those sonsabitches that call 'emselves black mages!" As if they were one, the captains men move as a unit -- unlike they have been previously moving. Two men circle the black mages and one comes at them straight on, giving the black mages no room to escape. Their death cries were only muted by the cheers of the deckhands. BOOM BAM! ...an unseen thing is heard when suddenly the dying groans of pirates below deck. They didn't expect to be flanked from the roof. The Captain disposes of the four remaining pirate deckhands with a higher tier stone spell.

JJ pipes up from the hole "Hey, BB, jus' tha cap'm left me thin-" "DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME BB. IT'S CAPTAIN BLOETOUM YOU STUPID SACK OF SHI-" A new voice pipes up from the depths of the captains quarters with a gravely offset. "BB." The Seawolf woman froze as if she heard the dead speak. "Are you going to finish this or what, child?" The deck now overtaken with silence as her shipworkers stand at attention, the doors open and an elderly seawolf man slowly rolls out in a wheelchair. The only sounds heard are of the wheelchair, Captain Bloetoum's footsteps across the deck and of her drawing her pistol.

POW! The dead have been silenced once again, a thud heard as Captain Bloetoum kicks the dead man out of the wheelchair.

A long moment goes by before she barks out an order. "....well? Are you going to get 'em passengers on my new ship or are you dumbasses swimming? MOVE!" Her deckhands quickly go into motion, disposing of bodies and hoisting planks to her original ship.

A short time later, her previous ship is now abandoned and possessions removed. "Give Her a proper buiral, men." Her crew throws jars of oil and a lamp to the deck of her old ship, finishing the job the pirates started. As the flaming ship sinks, John apporaches the captain and speaks "...that was a fun ride, next time how about two pirate ships? ...so, about my poncho.. I think I dropped it on the ocean... can we go back and get it, I know where I dropped it..." The captain turns and stares him in the eye for what seemed like an eternity. Without a word, she approaches him, grabs his hand and almost drags him to her quarters.


The following day...

The ship has made port in Limsa Lominsa, the passangers including JJ are disembarking. Captain Bloetoum stands atop the deck, arms crossed watching the passengers leave. John turns around and waves, a small smile escapes her lips before returning to her skeleton-shattering scowl.

Walking by the stands, John thinks Ah, yeah, I need to find a a new breastplate... A heavenly banner depicting a golden cloud and golden anvil hang above a shop. John stops and looks at the banner "The Celestial Forge...?" A purple-haired Miqo'te that was sweeping turns around and sees John. "'ey, lookin' fer gear? Come on in."

THE END