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To Ul'dah We Go [ooc welcome]

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Naunet Naunet Find all posts by this user Visit this user's website Leech of the Aeons Posts:1,749 Joined:Jul 2013 Character:Antimony Linkshell:Hipparion Tribe Server:Balmung Reputation: 108 To Ul'dah We Go [ooc welcome] | #1 12-08-2013, 02:57 PM (This post was last modified: 12-08-2013, 03:01 PM by Naunet.) ((RP copy-pastad and reformatted from in-game stuff. Occurs shortly after Blades and Dodos Should Not Mix.)) *** Ulanan Ulan was busy walking and reading. She read the book while walking. Or perhaps she was walking while reading. It was hard to determine. Regardless, she walked (and read) towards the door with a straight face. At the same time, Antimony Jhanhi was not reading, but she was walking, and her walking carried her through the door of the arcanists' guild. Her tail flicked with each stride, a bit fluffed out from some earlier agitation. Ulanan continued walking. It would be unfair to say she almost walked into Antimony, because that's exactly what she does. “Oh! I'm sorry!” Antimony had not quite gotten into the habit yet of looking down to keep an eye out for people, so she nearly passed the reading-and-walking lalafell right up, stopping just short at the collision with a surprised, "Oh!" Blinking down, she did a double-take. “Ulanan! Oh no, are you alright? I'm sorry, I didn't see you down there--ah! Not that I wouldn't think to keep an eye out for you, in fact that's exactly what I was doing, but I just forgot and--... you're not hurt, are you?” Ulanan laughed. “I'm sure I'll survive! What a coincidence to 'run' into each other. Though I guess it shouldn't surprise me.” Antimony chuckled, tail fluffed out considerably more now. "Yes, I do seem to have a knack for... ah! I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" “Not really.” “Oh good! Mm...” Antimony looked up past Ulanan, into the main room of the arcanists' guild, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “Don't let me stop you from doing whatever you came here to do,” the blonde lalafell stepped back a little. Antimony started and looked back down at Ulanan. "Oh! No, you aren't--I mean, if I were to do that, it wouldn't... well! I actually came here looking for you." “Oh! Then...for me?” Ulanan blinked. Antimony nodded, her ears bobbing up and down once. “Yes. I thought I might... well, it seemed rude not to let you know... ah. I've got a new assignment from the agency. It's taking me all the way to Ul'dah.” “That's quite far! Some rich noble needs his accounts double checked?” Antimony pursed her lips and then leaned her head slightly. "Ah yes, it's all very complicated and delicate. Will you be alright in Limsa on your own?" Ulanan glanced towards the Guild's counters and the citizens gathered in tidy lines in front of it. “I'd be fine. But don't you want me to go with you?” Antimony's eyes widened behind her glasses. "Oh! Well, I wouldn't presume to put such a burden on you. It's not as though you've got nothing to do but follow me about..." She chuckled a bit awkwardly at that. Ulanan just laughed. “Well, I'm sure there will be no more assailants in your way, but I do have family in Ul'dah. It would be nice visiting them, I think.” Antimony's ears angled lopsidedly and she looked at Ulanan with sudden curiosity as the lalafell spoke, “I could even introduce them to you! They are a...ah...colorful bunch!” “You have family? ... Ah, I mean, of course you do! It just never crossed my mind that... Oh that sounds horrible. I would love to meet your family, though! If they're half as interesting as you...” With some theatrics, Ulanan smiled and clapped. “Then it's settled! Are they sending you to the city proper, or one of the nearby towns? It will help for our preparations!” “Ah, to Ul'dah itself. I don't think I would have... well. I've never set foot in the city, but the agency is taking care of expenses, so it shouldn't be too difficult to settle arrangements.” “Do those expenses cover travelling fees? We'll have to take the ferry to Vesper Bay, then maybe a carriage unless we feel like walking under the hot sun and over the boiling sands of the Allagan Sunway... no merit in guessing why it's called a "Sunway".” Antimony gave Ulanan a somewhat embarrassed smile. "I'll admit I've already purchased a ferry ticket... escaping whatever may remain of that demon celebration was a... ah, priority." Ulanan's lips became a thin line. “We might arrive at Vesper Bay at different times if I don't get on the same boat.” “Oh! But I'm sure there's still room,” the miqo’te woman looked distressed for a moment. “I hadn't thought you'd want... well, surely we can get you a ticket on the same boat. In fact, we could do it now! It's not far.” “No time to waste!” The ferry ticketer being very near the arcanists’ guild anyway, it was only a matter of crossing the small pavilion outside the guild towards the docks to get to the ticketer counter. Antimony followed Ulanan out of the arcanists' guild, nodding. "Of course!"  The lalafell spent several long moments studying the wall behind the ticketer before, “Uhm. When is your ship sailing?” Antimony looked between Ulanan and the roegadyn ticketer. Her ears twitch and then, "Oh! Yes. Ah..." Her hands patedt at her pockets until she located a small strip of paper. Holding it to her face, she adjusts her glasses and squinted at it. “In... ah! Well. Tomorrow, the tenth bell of the morning.” She grimaced and inwardly hoped it was not too late for her friend. Ulanan nodded once to Antimony, then turned around and began a lengthy discussion with the ticketer, who was at first firm, then belligerent, then cowering, and finally acquiescing. “...thank you!” Ulanan finished. “And remember to not wear linen clothes for social events. It's terrible and you might or might not get murdered for it.” Antimony blinked at Ulanan, "It is settled then...?" Ulanan held the ticket high above her head, as if it were some kind of trophy. “All done! I better go packing, though. Must travel light! Or heavy. I haven't decided. I must decide!” Antimony smiled in relief. "Excellent. I have final preparations of my own to complete... I am glad you are traveling with me, though." “Let's meet again here tomorrow, half a bell before the tenth. Does that sound right to you?” Antimony carefully stowed her own ticket back in whatever pocket she'd pulled it from and nodded. "Yes, it should be plenty of time... Ah! Do you get seasick, Ulanan?" She tried to recall from the last time she’d traveled across the sea with the lalafell but failed. “I'll see that the sea will not sick me while I see the sea. So don't worry about it!” Antimony nodded and offered the lalafell a small smile. "I can make sure of it. I know a thing or two about remedies, and this time I can come prepared." “Well...prepare a thing or two just in case. But I'm sure I will see the sea through!” Antimony looked over past the ticketing gate towards the docks and sighed, lost in thought for a few seconds before shaking her head. "Ah, well, to work we go, hm?" “Work! Or packing! They are almost the same thing, except you don't get paid for the latter.” At this, Antimony chuckled. "Song dogs barking at the break of dawn, lightning pushes the edges of a thunderstorm; and these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven." Hipparion Tribe (Sagolii) -  Antimony Jhanhi's Wiki

Naunet Naunet Find all posts by this user Visit this user's website Leech of the Aeons Posts:1,749 Joined:Jul 2013 Character:Antimony Linkshell:Hipparion Tribe Server:Balmung Reputation: 108 RE: To Ul'dah We Go | #2 12-08-2013, 02:58 PM The ferry ride from Limsa Lominsa to Vesper Bay was rather uneventful. No storms shook the bow. No pirates threatened the passengers’ security. At one point, a pair of travelers launched into a vitriolic confrontation down in the passenger decks, but a nearby hand broke them up easily and things fell back into routine blandness for the rest of the trip. If Ulanan felt seasick, she made no comment of it to Antimony, and the pair maintained a restful silence for much of the softly rocking journey. They spent a short time in Vesper Bay regaining their land legs and filling their bellies, and it was only shortly past midday when the pair began to make their way towards the edge of the small, coastal town. Ulanan looked up at Antimony, who had donned a broad-brimmed straw hat, with an approving, sagely nod. “Are you ready to leave town yet?” The woman reached up to adjust her ears poking out through the holes in the side of her hat. She cast a look around, frowning at a thought, and then smiled down at Ulanan. “Yes. We've got a long walk ahead of us now.” “Do you remember our travel plan? I planified with plain preparation our placement in the places we planned to be placed at!” Antimony's ears twitched, the action a bit awkwardly hindered by the hat. "Oh, yes! A town called Horizon. We traveled through it once before, you remember. When returning from Gridania." “Right! We could get some chocobos here. It will be less tiring than walking ourselves under the sun.” A pause. “Unless you'd like the exercise and the sweat.” Antimony chuckled. "The agency budgeted enough for chocobos, I believe. Though... not for two. Ah! Don't worry, I will pay for yours with my own money instead." Ulanan gave a firm gesture of disagreement. “Please don't. I'd feel the need to slip it back into your purse when you are not looking.” Antimony shook her head. "I invited you with me. It's my responsibility to... well, I refuse to put that burden on you!" Ulanan chuckled softly. "Is that how you remember it? I thought I had invited myself!" Antimony pursed her lips. “Even so, I wouldn't feel right, forcing you to spend your own money when I'm... well, not.” “Do not worry about it. Gil is only a commodity for a wanderer like me. No need to pile it up!” Antimony followed Ulanan to the chocobokeep, looking conflicted, before finally sighing, "If you insist." She eyed one of the birds as they passed it. “Horizon, then? Followed by a short break. This sun can become overwhelming quickly.” Ulanan dropped some coins on the chocobokeep. Not literally, of course. “Indeed!” Antimony took only a moment longer to exchange a few receipts from her employer before she, too, was able to obtain a chocobo. The bird fluttered a bit as she climbed atop its back with a practiced motion. Ulanan spoke up then, “Comfortable?” “Certainly better than walking.” Antimony smiled and adjusted the satchel at her hip before urging the chocobo on. After a short ride through a narrow tunnel, they emerged out onto a partially drained salt marsh peppered with ruins. Mosquitos buzzed incessantly, and a short distance away, a cluster of black-feathered, mean looking birds squawked and converged on some poor, flailing creature. “I'm sure some buzzards will chase us,” Ulanan commented.  Antimony looked around a bit nervously. "Are they that ravenous...?" “The Calamity wasn't kind to them. They don't bother with carcasses anymore.” The pair fell back into silence, at least one of them more unnerved than before, and did their best to keep to the winding, occasionally soggy road. After a while, they came to a crossroads, and Antimony paused to squint at a haphazard sign erected at the junction. “Ah, how kind. No marker for Horizon.” Ulanan circled the sign, but didn’t find anything either. “They did bother to place one for Crescent Cove.” “What is that?” The woman blinked in confusion from her chocobo, peering one way, then the other. “It's a minor fishing village on the coast. I guess Horizon isn't mentioned because you can't miss it?” Antimony frowned. "I would feel better if there were at least an assurance we were going the right way, but... I suppose we'll just keep on the path and hope." “There's only one way, though!” This wasn’t entirely true. There were two ways, but that wasn’t much more than one, and one of the ways was marked for the aforementioned fishing village. Still, “For now!” “You don't visit Thanalan that much, eh?” Antimony cleared her throat and chuckled. "Ah, well... no. I never took jobs here, so I only saw parts on the rare occasion I was sent to Gridania..." More time passed along the road, as well as more wildlife and many more mosquitos. The sun had gone well into its decline by the time they reached a well constructed tunnel that angled upward out of the marsh and was flanked by guards wearing the uniform of the Brass Blades. “Oh! They looked official,” Antimony sounded relieved. “I suppose that's a good sign.” “Well, we are basically at Horizon now!” Ulanan’s words turned out to be prophetic, as it was only a short climb up the tunnel before they were deposited into a flat, open square bustling with a number of traders in transit, and about an equal number of surly Brass Blade guards. Antimony blinked up at the massive aetheryte in the center of the town. "Ah! This must be it." “Welcome to Horizon, where the horizon can't actually be seen from!” Ulanan declared and smiled.  Antimony returned the gesture. “Perhaps it's more of a... ah, metaphorical? Name.” “We should leave these at the chocobokeep and look for accomodations for the night. Travelling at night in the dessert can get pretty chilly.” Ulanan coughed. “Desert.” Antimony nodded and didn’t seem to catch Ulanan's slip of the tongue. "Of course. How are you feeling after all that sun?" Ulanan tilted her head, a bit confused by the question. "I'm alright. I didn't get used to Limsa's strange weather too much. Also, light colored clothes do help a lot with the sun!” “Oh, good. I'd hate to feel responsible for any heat sickness on your part!” As they spoke, Antimony urged her chocobo further into town, in search of the chocobokeep. “I was born here. I'm surprised you are fine, though!” They both drew to a stop at the opposite end of town, finally locating stables to house their chocobos. “But then, we travelled together before. So I shouldn't be.” “Me? Oh, this weather is nothing unusual for me either.” “I guess it isn't.” Antimony craned her neck to look skyward for a second before sliding off her rented mount and handing it off to the chocobokeep. Ulanan informed the chocobokeep that the chocobos were to be checked in the stables for chocobos. She was that redundant when informing him about it. “I'd forgotten how large the sky can seem...” Antimony muttered. “Ah. We should see about a place to rest, hm? And perhaps food.” “We should!” Ulanan nodded. “I forgot where the inn was...” “Mm...” The pair spent some time meandering about Horizon, likely playing the unfortunate part of hapless “tourists” as they searched for anything resembling an inn to stay the night at. Eventually, they came upon a rather important building towards the center of town. Its purpose wasn’t immediately apparent, so in they went, past a couple suspicious guards, only to be faced with some very stony-faced clerks at busy desks full of official papers. “This ain't no inn...” Ulanan looked around. “Assessor's office... no, seems a different kind of business here.” Antimony sighed. “We probably shouldn't pester them.” “Sounds like it's right your alley!” At Ulanan’s words, Antimony laughed, and the lalafell continued as they exited the way they’d come. “Luckily, being a transition town ensures there's plenty of people at night. Otherwise, we might have been robbed by this point.” Antimony wrinkled her brow at Ulanan. “That's... we should hurry, regardless…” The miqo’te woman quickened her pace a touch as they explored and looked around worriedly. "Ah, I think I see one of those strange mail... carrier locations. There may be a place to stay nearby." She pointed a short distance away, to a moogle post. A lalafellin woman dressed in an apron stood in front of a building next to it. “Let's see!” Ulanan frowned at the merchant. "Right, you get a small stool to look over the table, but none for your customers?" She shook one finger disapprovingly. Antimony hid a smile behind one hand. After some theatrics, Ulanan discovered that this was totally the inn. Yes. Totally. There was no doubt about it. Antimony agreed that this was totally the inn! And then they shall enter it. Totally. “We should get some food and then head to bed. I'd wager you'd like to be at Ul'dah as soon as possible.” Antimony nodded. “It is what was encouraged of me. The agency gave me a very... ah, regimented schedule.” “Mm. I see. Hopefully you'll be able to stay a bit? Look at some of the locales, get in touch with your inner greedy Ul'dahn! As my father used to say.” “My inner... what?” Ulanan blinked. “What? I'm just talking sightseeing!” Antimony blinked back at Ulanan. “... Oh. Well...” She pursed her lips. "I don't know if there will be any time for... that. This is a business trip, after all. I could probably squeeze in time to meet your relatives, but..." “I'm not expecting you to put off responsibilities. Will you have to go back to Limsa immediately after being done with your work in the city?” Antimony smiled a bit apologetically. "Those were the instructions I was given. But I don't know how long it will take to finish the investigation." Ulanan looked thoughtful for a minute before smiling. “I'm sure we'll have some other opportunity for pleasantries.” “... Hm?” “No need to squeeze your schedule for it,” Ulanan comforted. “Don't worry about it!” “We'll have to see. I... am not all that interested in seeing the sights, but…” Antimony trailed off and shook ears.  Ulanan tilted her head. “I guess Ul'dah isn't very interesting. It's basically all brown.” Wincing, “Oh! I didn't mean it in any... bad way. I'm sorry, it is your home. I shouldn't be so rude.” “No offense taken!” The lalafell assured. “I'd like you to meet a couple of people, but getting them to the city might be a bit tricky. As I said, don't worry about it. Work comes first!” Antimony's ears drooped with relief at Ulanan's reassurance. To the lalafell's words, she gave a curious look. "Oh, relatives? That'd be wonderful!" “Yes, relatives. You...could say they are relatives!... of someone! We'll get there when we get there.” “I... could?” “Could you? Anyway, we should get some food. What do you feel like eating?” Antimony looked to think hard about something and then, "Ah! Friends, then, but close as blood?" “Don't ruin the surprise!” Ulanan warned. Antimony gave her friend a bemused look. "Al...right. But do remember, I have to work!" “Yes. That's why I told you not to worry about it!” “And so I won't, I suppose.” “Not worrying is a sound plan. More people should follow it.” Antimony's nose twitched. "As for food... well, I did pack some meals that travel well. How do you feel about dried fish and fruits and bread?" “I think I can put olives on all that...” There was a moment of silence, and then Antimony burst out into rather vigorous laughter. “Did you bring a jar with you, to Ul'dah?” She sounded highly amused. Ulanan frowned. “What kind of question is that? Of course I did!” “Of... of course! I shouldn't be... well! Yes, you can certainly put olives on all of it.” Ulanan searched her clothes and satchel, quickly retrieving and showing the glorious jar of olives as if it were some kind of trophy. Antimony smiled at the jar. “Alright!” The lalafell declared. “Let's put some olives on all that! Including the fruit. I'm -sure- it will taste excellent.” She punctuated her statement with a joyful gesture. Antimony hesitated and then nodded, "It will taste." She then went wherever they were to eat dinner. Ulanan remembered they were totally inside an inn. Totally. "Song dogs barking at the break of dawn, lightning pushes the edges of a thunderstorm; and these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven." Hipparion Tribe (Sagolii) -  Antimony Jhanhi's Wiki

Naunet Naunet Find all posts by this user Visit this user's website Leech of the Aeons Posts:1,749 Joined:Jul 2013 Character:Antimony Linkshell:Hipparion Tribe Server:Balmung Reputation: 108 RE: To Ul'dah We Go [ooc welcome] | #3 12-08-2013, 03:49 PM (This post was last modified: 12-08-2013, 03:49 PM by Naunet.) Ulanan Ulan and her companion time skip because they have shit to do, man! Antimony Jhanhi is not a timelord. The next day  found Antimony and Ulanan up bright and early, well rested and fed and ready to set out on the road once more. A slight chill lingered over the town still, though this would dissipate quickly as the morning went on. “We should be able to reach Ul'dah tonight,” Ulanan was saying, standing out in the open plaza of Horizon. Antimony nodded, adjusting her hat over her ears once more. "I'll trust your judgment on that. I hope the roads are as clear as they were leaving Vesper Bay..." A short distance away, a young miqo’te's ears twitched. “Huh? Thought I heard someone familiar...” “Or at the very least, the signs are better,” Antimony added with a small smile, stretching her arms briefly before straightening her brown robe. “The peistes sometimes decide to cross the bridge,” Ulanan cautioned. “But we will be able to notice that a mile away. The Brass Blades usually are quick about taking care of those.” “Goin' ta Ul'dah?” A new voice intruded. “The... peistes? You don't think we'll... ah?” Antimony’s words cut themselves off in confusion, her ears twitching at the nearby voice. When her eyes cought up with her ears, she went very quiet. Ulanan squinted at the young miqo’te suspicious. "I don't think we are acquainted." There was a moment of silence, and then the new miqo’te staggered back. “K'piru?!”   Ulanan looked between the two women with mild confusion. “It is you! Aint it?!” The youngster persisted, tail wagging excitedly. Antimony's own tail shivered and her ears pressed as far back as they could manage with the interference of her hat. “I... I'm sorry. You must be mistaking me for someone else.” “Really? Ya look like me old teacher.” Not managing another word, Antimony turned then and moved to start for the chocobokeep, steps brisk, maybe a little panicked. “Mm?” Ulanan questioned, “Are you an accountant too?” The young miqo’te watched her walk away before, “Anyways if yer goin' ta Ul'dah, be careful, the Piests are very ornery taday.” To Ulanan’s question, she added lackadaisically, “Naw, I'm a white mage.” “Oh. Then you are probably mistak-oh, ah, Antimony! Don't rush off!” Suddenly distracted, Ulanan hurried to catch up with Antimony. The other miqo’te made to follow them. “I am headin' back ta Ul'dah anyways. I can help ya get past em.” Antimony paused, but only for a moment to speak in a strained voice, "I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry today and need to get going. Thank you for the warn--warning and please stay safe." “Oh... an if ya see K'piru, tell her I hold nothin' against her. I still want ta be her student.” The girl beamed at Antimony’s back, and the woman felt it as though it were a sledgehammer. Ulanan bowed her head slightly to the girl. "Please excuse us. Have a good day!" “Ya too.” Antimony's ears drooped further, hesitated in her steps, and said in a quiet tone, "I'm sure I don't know who you mean," before continuing on. Ulanan retrieved her chocobo in silence and mounted up. She double checked her satchel to make sure she did not magically lose anything, whilst Antimony forced a smile at the chocobokeep and went about the business of getting her own bird back. Her hands shook as she held the reins. Ulanan gave her a thoughtful look. “Place your mind on something else. If you are distracted, you might run off a cliff!” Antimony looked down at Ulanan after a moment and half-smiled, "I'm quite alright. Just worried about the peistes." She paused. "And the cliffs now." The pair wasted little more time in leaving Horizon then, heading out across the desert once more. They were a ways out when Ulanan finally spoke up, “Did I ever told you about my sisters?” Antimony hesitated and then shook her head. "No, you've not said much about your family." “I have two sisters! Let's see if you can pronounce their names. Laonon and Mienen.” Antimony looked up over her chocobo's head, catching the distant silhouette of Ul'dah's towers peeking up from behind cliffs. "They sound like less of a mouthful than Ulanan, at least." She winced “... Ah! Not that your name is bad…”  Ulanan pouted and frowned. In that order. “What's that supposed to mean? Anyway...” “What is there to tell about them?” Antimony encouraged, welcoming the change in topic for her thoughts. “Laonon married an officer of the Immortal Flames. Quite a gentleman, not tainted by Ul'dahn businesses. They are always away from home, though, so it's hard to visit them.” Antimony furrowed her brow. "Away from home? How did your family manage then...?" “Oh, mother and father had a lot of replacements,” Ulanan explained. “What--replacement children?!” Antimony looked baffled. “Is that a... normal lalafellin thing?” “Well, of course! How can you create a dynasty without children? You need lots of them,” the lalafell nodded matter-of-factly. “I'm the youngest, so I guess I'm the last replacement.” She laughed. “Oh, well, of course. I thought you meant... Ah, nevermind.” “Everyone's happily married. Father made sure of that.” A pause. “Well...except Mienen. But she's never happy. She probably wanted to marry the general, and even then she'd complain about it.” Ulanan thought, then shook some thought off her head. Antimony gave Ulanan a thoughtful look of her own. "Except you, hm? But then, you're busy wandering with your Oschon and olives, I suppose?" She chuckled faintly. Ulanan scratched her head. Or rather, her cowl. It probably would have been better if she scratched under it, but she didn’t do that. “That was...um... Mienen married a wealthy man. He owns a mine somewhere. He tried to move to the Ceruleum business, but he lacked proper funding and support. So he's now not as wealthy.” Antimony's ears swooped back uneasily, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply anything or... well." “Well, I -was- happy! Very happy. And then I wasn't. So...I guess you're accurate.” Antimony furrowed her brow sadly at Ulanan, not liking the sudden turn of things. They were far too familiar. "I'm sorry. You don't have to speak of any of it if you don't wish to." “I guess everyone hates some part of their past.” Antimony didn’t respond to that immediately, instead looking across the bridge they had come up to during their talk and gesturing, "That looks like some kind of outpost. How much further, do you think?" “Mm. Maybe an hour?” Ulanan suggested. “There are no facilities to stay there, unless you don't mind sleeping outside.” Antimony chuckled briefly. "I don't, but... I feel we should hurry to the city if we can." Ulanan nodded. “I hope you like stairs.” “What?” “You'll see!” She did, indeed, see. After roughly an hour at a steady, but unhurried pace on their chocobos, they arrived at the base of a stairway the likes of which Antimony had never even conceived of. It seemed to go on forever and dwarfed the city walls high above. Ulanan posed with her chocobo there, gesturing upward. “... Oh,” Antimony muttered a bit fainly. “That is... a lot of stairs.” “The Eighty Sins of Sasamo, we call them! There's a fun story about why they are named like that... but I wouldn't want you to laugh, fall off your mount and break an arm!” Antimony chuckled. "Do you think so poorly of my balance? I'm not that old." Ulanan chuckled back. She looked up. "The city is just on top of the stairs. Let's go!" As they climbed, Antimony kept an eye on the looming walls of the city a bit nervously. They seemed to grow in size as they approached – a trick of the eye that made the whole city seem much more ominous. After a while, she forced herself to think of something else, “Ah, so... what of your other sister? La... Lon...” “Almost there! I'll be honest. This is the reason I wanted chocobos,” Ulanan laughed, not responding to Antimony’s question. “I was not looking forward to that climb.” Antimony laughed in turn. More time passed, and then, “Almost there! Wait...I said that...” “You were right this time, it seems,” Antimony commented, as true enough, they crested the final flight of steps moments later. Ul’dah stood before them now in its full glory, impossible to take in all at once. Antimony’s nose twitched at a heavy, dirty smell on the air. “We should leave the chocobos here,” Ulanan suggested, gesturing towards a set of posts meant for tying up mounts. “Someone will pick them up.” Antimony leaned her head back to take in the massive gate and felt for a moment as though she would topple back down the stairs. She righted herself quickly. "... Ah, yes, of course." Ulanan left the chocobo...somewhere! Antimony sent the chocobo flying off into the abyss! That business done, Antimony turned back to the gate. "It is... rather impressive." “Come on, I'll guide you to the inn. After a night's rest you'll be ready to take any duty they gave you!” She began to make her way into the city, passing a guard along the way who offered a rather rude, unwelcoming comment. “Why don't YOU move along, you red-linen jerk?” The lalafell gestured in frustration. Antimony took a deep breath, secured her satchel, and started towards the city. She winced at Ulanan's retort to one of the guards. Once inside, Antimony felt nearly overwhelmed by the chaos of Ul’dah. Walls vaulted at every turn, voices raised in shouts to be heard over the din, and a certain, unavoidable stink assailed her senses. Ulanan paused to point towards a few archways across from them. “That's the coliseum. I bet you are not interested in seeing skimpily dressed men battling each other. But I guessed I should mention it.” Antimony wrinkled her brow, feeling a bit dizzy, and looked up and down the wide street. "Ah... how am I ever going to find.... what?" She blinked rapidly at Ulanan. “Find?” Ulanan questioned, and then, “I have the feeling they didn't give you much direction in this task.” Antimony looked past Ulanan, towards where the lalafell had indicated the coliseum, and gave it an odd look before shaking her head. "Ah, the individual I'm supposed to be looking into. But it's no matter. Miss Carceri gave me a name and an... office, I believe. But in a city like this...” “We can look it up in the morning,” Ulanan decided, to which Antimony could only nod. “The inn is this way.” She beckoned as she began to move again. “Oh, good. I'm... not sure I'm up for sightseeing tonight,” Antimony muttered, pulling her arms close to herself as they wove through the crowds. She caught sight of a number of ill-looking, poorly dressed individuals crouched on the sides of the street, but couldn’t bring herself to look too long at them. Instead she forced her gaze upward, only to find herself dizzied by the dense buildings spiraling up and up. “Try to not gape too much at Ul'dah's grandiose architecture.” Antimony had only been mildly gaping, and she focused on the street at Ulanan's words, hiding some embarrassment. “It certainly is... different from Limsa.” “The city is basically a semi-circle. Many of the inner streets and alleys aren't places you should go alone,” Ulanan cautioned as they walked. “I will keep that in mind…” “The Avenues are mostly safe, though.” That ‘mostly’ wasn’t exactly comforting, and Antimony looked around suddenly a bit nervous. The pair came to a stop then, seemingly at a random point in the middle of the road. “And we are he- where's the inn?” Ulanan looked around. Antimony blinked and followed Ulanan's searching gaze. "Ah... I don't know? Is it supposed to be here?" “Oh! It's...uh...nevermind, not here. Let's move along before someone thinks I'm lost.” “Would that be bad...?” To Antimony, that only meant a greater likelihood of eventually reaching her location, hopefully by way of some helpful soul. “Only for my pride.” Antimony laughed at that. “Well, I certainly couldn't think less of you for it.” They walked a short ways further before Ulanan paused and looked lost in thought. “Aha! That's the Gate of Thal. The inn is right in front of it, as I recall.” “Gate of... Thal? They worship...?” “The god of the underworld -and- of commerce.” Antimony winced, and Ulanan continued, “I knew you wouldn't like that. I better avoid showing you the Ossuary!” She climbed up the stair with a faint laugh. “I... suppose it makes sense.” She knew of Nald-Thal, of course, but she hadn’t known an entire civilization had constructed a mode of worship around it. The thought disturbed her, but then, so did most Twelve-worship. “I don't really like to think about the implications that the god of the dead is also the god of commerce. Makes me think those who are gone are just piled like coins.” Ulanan stopped and pointed towards broad, double doors. “Inn!” Antimony took a moment too shake Ulanan's imagery from her thoughts before following her gesture to the large building in front of them. "Oh, good," she sighed. "Let's find a meal and a room then." “Yes. Let's head inn-side.” Antimony did not catch Ulanan's oh-so-clever pun. Strangely enough, Ulanan didn’t catch it either! “Mpf. Of course they don't have a small stool for other lalafellin here, either,” Ulanan groused, looking about the establishment, but she paid for a room anyway. Antimony smiled apologetically and then went about reserving her own room, adding at the end, "Ah, and here I've a signed and stamped notice from the CRA to pass on all expenses to their accounts. If you would? Thank you." She bowed her head and accepted the room key. "Song dogs barking at the break of dawn, lightning pushes the edges of a thunderstorm; and these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven." Hipparion Tribe (Sagolii) -  Antimony Jhanhi's Wiki

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