In the warm evening as the sun set, pilgrims came from far and wide to gather in the last gathering at the frontier of the corrupted land of Mor Dhona. Over the crowd of pilgrims, a hand bell rings. "Welcome pilgrims!"

Jancis Milburga rings the hand bell high over her head, starting the pilgrimage.

 

Guards scouted ahead, waving on and ensuring the quiet animals and small lightning spirits caused no threat. The terrain was rough, rocky, watery, and full of chaotic aether. Many wore protective items to ward off the onslaught of aether, others simply dealt with it.

Soon enough, they arrived at the venue, the cliff-side named Rathefrost, before a crystallized tree and the grand stone of Thaliak.

The sky stayed crisp and clear as the progression of pilgrims made it to Rathefrost, the shimmering grace of the crystallized tree and ground lighting up the area like a magical stage.

Against the faint glow the performers stood, everyone else resting amongst the few plants that survived in the harsh land.

"A wise man said that 'The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self.' So, in turn, I shall give that today. This night holds great value to me for the closeness I feel to the Scholar."

"In my youth, I was isolated and knew very little. I built off of that, bit by bit, finding new ways to understand what I did know. In turn, I discovered new things and accepted them. I found something that could not be taken away from me. So I gathered it, gathered all I could. I found and understood that I was not alone. That my dreams and ideas had worth. That I could change."

"That within my heart, I found the courage to learn and discover, to open my horizons and find new possibilities ahead of me. And I was set free."

"That one small opportunity has given me wings that I might know you, know what family is, know what love could be. In all of it I have found out a shining thought for everything I come to see and know. Life is simple and deep."

Jancis repeats, "Simple and deep." She beams a smile at the crowd, her eyes shining. "I have a short story. There was a boy sailing down a river. And it was fun." She laughs a bit at the blunt statement, "It was playful and he enjoyed it. He looked around him and saw life, watched as plants grow, watched animals flourish."

"And this went on, the river turned and bent, days and nights passed. Winter brought frost and he saw something different. He saw plants wither, animals pass on. He reached out to them, to do more than look from afar. In doing so, he scrapped his hand upon the bank of the river. It hurt."

"And then he knew pain, which is a hard thing to know. And he cried; he drifted with the current and struggled to understand what he saw, what he had felt. As the pain began to lessen the realization came, he understood he was not a boy. He was a drop of water."

Jancis brings her fingers close together. "A drop of water in the river. One of many. He went down to the riverbed and looked up, and saw everyone who had held him up to learn the world. Their massive power to bend and shape the land, to smooth out the juts and obstacles, to find path through and around hardships. To nourish the ground and all that lived on it. To bring along the memories of those drops that flowed no longer."

"To pass on and hold up new drops that they could see and come to understand."

"He now was one to chose paths, made choices and moved the current. He touched the land and made his own marks, he touched others and gave them what he knew. Over the years and river-bends he was ready to soak into the earth and learn something new."

"And then he looked back. And behind him was nothing."

Jancis says with emotion, "He looked side to side, and there was everything."

“You are not just the age you are. You are all the ages you ever have been!”

"Like the river, you are vast. You will find a way around and over obstacles, smoothing out the rough patches and growing in strength. Other rivers will join and never truly leave. All you have done is there with you. Learn from it, understand it. Share it."

Jancis smiles at everyone, "Pray keep that in your heart as you look to the top of your river, that you see the shining triumph of being simple and deep."

"Thank you."

Ciel Wulfe gives Jonathan's hand a squeeze and then moves up.
"Take the show, Ciel!"

"Hello again, my friends! As I look around there are more and more new faces each time we gather for one of these. Pray enjoy the Celebration."

"There are countless tales, told and written, in which the gods have left us with something important whether we knew it at the time or not. Gifts, lessons, sometimes these things are what they are, and sometimes the two are one and the same. Some of these things might have been born out of a sense of responsibility, while at other times, they were opportunities which came out of boredom, for even the gods become restless now and then."

"There was such a time when Thaliak looked around his massive library, which was also his home, and stood up from the desk at which he had sat hunched for aeons as he scribed down all he knew. And as the god of knowledge, that truly can take a while. He made his way through the labyrinth of tomes, and peered out a narrow window, past the heavenly gardens which sprawled outside, and into the world of mankind."

"He beheld the countless lives spread across many lands and nations, and while things remained relatively stable for the most part, he saw how fights broke out from time to time. Where borders met and resources ran thin, people clashed. Sometimes these fights were over far more petty things, such as wanting several heads of buffalo from a neighbor's herd, or even a sister's platinum dinnerware set."

"Thaliak saw clearly that people would fight each other simply because one had something the other wanted. Some had more than others, and the ones who had more would often push back and oppress those who did not. He sat back down at his desk and sank into deep thought, stroking his beard as he did so. A lesson was needed, and badly. He soon set to work collecting pieces from his library, heaping numerous tomes into one corner. He laid bare every shelf, packed all of the tomes into a sack, and set out into the world."

"And just how does one carry such a sack when it is filled to brimming with all the world's knowledge?"

"Well, he -is- a god, after all. Let's not over think it."

"Thaliak traveled to each of the nations and left them with an equal portion of each of his tomes as a test. If the mortals believed each nation having an equal portion was good enough, would they spare each other further conflict? Or would the realization that each portion taught something different prompt them to further confrontation?"

"Now, just as the gods can become restless, too, they may become sidetracked, but even these diversions are not without some importance. He soon remembered that spending much time among mankind made him hungry, and so he stopped for lunch somewhere in the Highlands and asked only for a dish of fresh fruit and a cup of tea. A young maid fulfilled this request, and Thaliak stared curiously at what was placed in front of him."

"'Milady?'" He asked tentatively. "'Pray, could you tell me, but what is this red fruit? In all my years, never have I seen this in a fruit salad.'"

"The maid seemed stunned, dare I say even -offended-, at her guest's seeming lack of knowledge. "'Why, that would be a tomato. It -is- a fruit, you see,'" the girl scoffed.

"Thaliak smiled at the maid and ate around the tomato, saving it for last. "'You are correct in that knowledge, dear child, however... wisdom is knowing this does not mingle well with other fruits.' Somehow this only seemed to offend the maid further, and she went off to tend to her other duties, and left Thaliak to finish his meal in silence."

"Once he was finished, he looked around for the maid and couldn't find her. He shrugged to himself and left three fresh sprigs of rosemary on the table as payment, and then he took up the sack of tomes and moved on."

"It took an entire fortnight to deliver all the tomes to each of the nations, and once the sack was blissfully empty, Thaliak retired to his chambers to wait and watch again from his window. Time passed and not much changed. As expected the mortals did indeed clash, not for how much the others had, but for the variety of what they were given. Knowledge is power, and whoever possessed all of it would surely have power to not just fix all of the problems and ills of the world, but ruler-ship over all things."

"As the mortals warred with each other and the tomes were stolen by the stronger armies, Thaliak's library slowly restored itself. The same ones he had gifted to the mortals reappeared on his empty shelves while, in the world below, as the tomes were brought together they seemed to vanish as they merge together into a -single- tome which only grew larger and heavier with each one the soldiers claimed from neighboring lands. Eventually, only one of the nations succeeded in bringing all of them together. At last... all of the world's knowledge in one place, where it belonged."

"Thaliak looked around at his now full library and nodded. He ventured forth once more, this time to the nation which had proven victorious, and approached its leaders just as they opened the gigantic tome and found..."

♣♣♣

"...Nothing! Thousands upon thousands of pages, all of them devoid of a single drop of ink or smear of charcoal."

"'What manner of sorcery have you played upon us?!' they cried, pointing fingers at the old, bearded scholar."

"Calmly, Thaliak swept a hand toward the blank pages which caused more of them to turn without ever touching any of them. 'No sorcery, child, but a gift nonetheless, as I had given to all the lands. In trying to possess all they had, you have instead received the gift of wisdom, for no one man, nor one nation, can possess all the world's knowledge.'

Ciel finishes her tale and sweeps a bow.

Ameline Valtin dips her head lightly to present company, "Such marvelous tales by Ladies Ciel and Jancis. I have but a humble bit of prose to offer, should you lend me your ears." She smiled.

Ameline bows politely, "Thank you, kind souls of Eorzea! Wisdom be with you!"

V'aleera grins and claps enthusiastically, watching the woman with a gaze laden with admiration and curiosity.

"Thank you as always, Lady Ameline."

"This man has always shared his widsom with us and I am very honored he is here this day, to share wisdom... about wisdom."
Chuta grins. "Master Chuta the stage is yours." Vaughn chuckles.

Chuta Allfriend stands from his place in the audience, looking to and from. "I've got some thoughts to share, if'n no one minds me blabbin' on for a few." He grins and moves towards the front of the viewing area.

"It's kinda funny t' me tonight, that we're here to offer respect to a God of Knowledge." He cants his head to the side, grinning and looking around for purchase. "Does it strike anyone else a little odd, maybe?"

"It's an offering of belief to a deity of knowing. While the two are sometimes similar, they ain't the same. Knowin' the road to home ain't the same as hopin' it'll be safe tonight. So I'm at a little bit of an impasse tonight."

"In olden days, every little township used ta' have a wise man. We believed in things back then, too, gods and the Twelve and harvest spirits and the fae. But tha's not the same as... knowin'. Someone had to know how to tend the fields. Someone had to know how to raise the livestock. Someone had to -know.-"

"Believin's all well an' good. I believe in lotsa things. I know a little bit about some stuff, too. But the two of 'em, well... They don't always see eye to eye. I 'spect a God of Knowin' is amused at the idea of us believin' in somethin' ain't no one can prove."

"It's a funny thing, belief. Sometimes it does line up. Sometimes we do know the harvest'll be rich, even if we only know it because we believe it, and..."

Chuta pauses, catching himself. "See how that don't make -no- sense? Tha's what I meant about it bein' a funny thing. Some'a you are noddin' along with old Chuta, thinkin' 'yep, I done that m'self.' But it don't make a lick'a sense!"

"S'alright, ain't no one gonna laugh at ya'. After the initial laugh, I mean. We've all done it. We're all doin' it. We're all here tonight, believin' in someone who knows things. We believe he knows things. He'd've known we'd believe things."

Chuta glances around the crowd, an ear flicking. "Heard some funny thoughts tonight. Got me thinkin' about belief, and faith, and knowin'. It's alright, ain't no harm in doubtin'. We all got our doubts. Sometimes we think it's gon' rain, but it don't. Sometimes we think we're set for life, but we ain't."

"Sometimes we think, when all the bad stuff's happened and we're on our own, that tha's it. We done all we could, we took all the risks. We had -faith.- Faith ain't knowledge, though. Sometimes what we believe? Sometimes tha's jus' wrong. -Wrong.-"

"Sometimes we believe-" He catches himself, turning his head as someone about to be chastised by a parent. "-sometimes we -know- what's in store. We think so hard we know that the two of 'em are the same thing. Funny thing, though..."

"They ain't. None of us know what's in store. Sometimes we think we know, or we believe we know, or we know we believe. We don't, though. Knowledge is a fickle thing. Sometimes the light passes right on through like spring sun through cherry blossoms."

"I said las' month I was a lucky man. I know that. I believe it. Like I said, sometimes the two? They mingle. They look each other in the eye, and they see sometimes what we think and know and hope are all the same."

"Once, I thought I knew the future. I'd done my time, worked for it. I was wrong. And then I thought I knew the future again - knew what I'd lost. Knew what I'd never gain." He smiles despite the tone. "Wrong again."

♣♣♣

Chuta takes a deep, sobering breath and closes his eyes for a moment. Releasing it, he opens and smiles somewhat bashfully into the crowd.

"I'll quit bein' vague, I don't wanna lose you all to fallin' asleep on me. I know I ain't alone. I know I ain't doomed to that. And while I waited a month too long, I gotta know my faith is knowledge. Annunu Nunu, will you prove me wrong one more time and marry me?"

"... excuse me?"

Chuta nods at the crowd. "Don't worry 'bout them, princess."

"Yes, do not worry about us!" Amara gasps and grins. Leanne coughs a bit, widen eyes blinking in shock.Siha makes a soft, awww, noise.

"I figured you figured me out las' month. Surprise...?"

Annunu glances over self-consciously at the crowd. How can she not worry about them? Suddenly, she's part of a performance she'd been having trouble following. "I-it is a surprise, yes...B-but if you'll have me, yes, of course I accept."

Nathan stands and cheers with abandon. Bravaden sighed then clapped for a moment before getting up to leave. Leanne whistles, laughing. Ciel nudges Jonathan's arm.

Chuta beams, embraces her and scoops her. "Welp, I ain't got nothin' more to say to you folks. Thanks for havin' me!" He moves back over to the sitting area, beaming.

Jancis speaks, her voice clearly higher with excitement. "Thank you, Master Chuta!"

Jancis takes a minute for herself and the crowd. As she does, a guitar player comes up prepared to help assist in the next songs and performances.
Outside of the songs from the other bards, the guitar player plays simple background music.

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"We have more reasons to celebrate this night. Lady Leanne, please come take the stage now and continue with our fanfare."



Leanne Delphium lifts herself, taking the stage with a expression of shock. Her words were slow. "I, well....give me a minute to gather my thoughts! And say grats to Mr. Chuta and Ms. Annunu. A match made in heaven." Chuta smiles and nods at Leanne.

Leanne takes a few extra seconds breathing. "May I say! What I will say today, perhaps you will already know! Perhaps you don't! But doesn't matter, because my objective today is to entertain you all!"

"Starting with three things...first. Life in itself is a teacher. There is not a single day where we get to attain the knowledge of something, minimal as it can be! Second...knowledge will not always be pleasant." she looks at Jancis, smiling. "Like the boy who discovered pain...certain things will not be as pleasant to know." Jancis beams back at Leanne.

Leanne grins. "And third....did you guys know that moogles love music? Like, they really, really love music? More than alcohol maybe!" she giggles, then whistles. "Okay guys, time to show up!" as she orders so, a bunch of moogles begin to materialize all over tree, all of them with different outfits and instruments. Leanne had summoned a moogle troupe! Beside her, four moogles appeared, waving.

"Being friend with moogles does have some advantanges.." Ojune's eyes widen at the display. Ilwe'ran tilts his head and smells the air, wondering if there is some alcohool attracting those moogles somewhere.

"Please...enjoy the show!"

Leanne clears her throat and then falls to silence. That is, until the troupe of moogles come to life, prompting her to start dancing alongside her fellow friends, her voice marrying with the tune in a cheerful, upbeat song!

"This is the little journey of mine...!" Moogles chime in! ♪The Journey of her Life!♪ Leanne sings again. "I shall learn a yalm of stuff!" Then moogles appear! ♪Knowledge's rife!♪

Leanne beams brightly! "I will learn good things...!" ♪But not everything is nice!♪ she sighs despondently. "Nothing I can do, for such is the unavoidable price to learn..." overdramatically, she falls to her knees, moogles singing in unison over her! ♪Thaliak's path to life!♪

Leanne stands up, as a xylophone fades in. A moogle talks to her! ♪Leanne, that's how you start to walk!♪ she nods, mimicking him as both march in a silly manner. Another moogle appears. ♪Leanne, you should learn how write and talk!♪ Book and pencil fall from the sky onto her arms! A third moogle appears. ♪Leanne, eat this mushroom.♪ A dangerously colorful mushroom drops in front of Leanne, but as she was about to eat, a fourth one appears! ♪D-Don't eat the mushroom!♪

Leanne the moogle tackles mushroom and books alike, and making a mess on the floor, prompting Leanne to smile awkwardly.

Leanne suddenly has a bow and arrow falling on her. ♪Leanne, take this bow, learn how to shoot!♪ As she aims the arrow at nowhere, she is interrupted... ♪You shall be one of the greatest archers this realm has ever seen!♪ She grins! ♪Hey Leanne, shoot that morbol.♪ She nods, and takes the shot. But! ♪N-No, don't shoot the morbol, he will...eeeewww!♪ The fourth moogle chimes in too late. A bucket of a sweet fragrance drops over Leanne, prompting her to fall to the floor in disgust.

Leanne sits up, and a harp falls over her lap. ♪Leanne quick, learn to play and sing!♪ Before she starts to play! ♪Hmm, I think you're good enough.♪ Leanne looks bewildered. ♪Leanne, sprout wings and fly! Owch!♪ That moogle is hit in the head by another one. ♪She can't do that, she doesn't have wings, kupo!♪

Leanne stands up, resuming her smile! "This is the little journey of mine...!" ♪The Journey of her Life!♪ "I shall learn a yalm of stuff!" ♪Knowledge's rife!♪ the smile grows into a grin. "I shall learn good things...!" ♪But not everything is nice...!♪ Leanne winces, letting out a frustrated groan. "Nothing I can do, for such is the unavoidable price to learn..." she shakes her head... ♪Thaliak's path to life!♪



Leanne is approached by a moogle... ♪Leanne, love is a sweet thing! ♪ she nods! ♪But it can lead to a bit of pain and suffering! ♪ she shudders as the second moogle talks. The third comes in. ♪Leanne, get a lover.♪ She gasps, shaking her head! ♪Don't do it without choosing wisely!♪ she nods once again, sighing in relief.

Leanne is once more approached by the first moogle. ♪Leanne, loss is an inevitable thing...♪ Leanne looks shocked, shaking her head in denial. ♪You are bound to be sad somehow, sometime...♪ the second one chimws in as she drops on her knees, weeping. ♪Leanne, it's okay to cry...♪ the third moogle says, patting her back...then fourth one flies to her face, startling her into sitting! ♪But don't forget to eventually cheer up!♪

Leanne has her iconic hat and white coat fall on top of her!

♪Leanne, you're only a victor if you continue moving forward!♪ she nods, and starts garbing herself! ♪Don't forget, you have lots of things to be happy for!♪ she stands up, third moogle besides her pointing to the crowd! ♪Hat Girl, take to the road and gooo!♪ The fourth one giggles. ♪Yes, yes, ever forward, kupo!♪

Leanne and her friends all return to dance, a big smile on their faces! "This is the little journey of mine...!" ♪The Journey of her Life!♪ "I shall learn a yalm of stuff!" ♪Knowledge's rife!♪ she laughs. "I will learn good things!" ♪But not everything is nice!♪ Leanne sighs, shrugging. "Nothing I can do, for such is the unavoidable price to learn..." she smirks at her moogle companions, shouting alongside them! "♪Thaliak's path to life!♪"

Leanne and the moogles bow in sync!



Leanne snickers and claps at her companions. "Thanks for helping me guys! I will deliver the alcohol later as promised!" the moogles happily talk to themselves. Alcohol, yay! They fly away with their instruments. One in specific pats the girl with a approving nod before vanishing.

"How the hell did she do that..." Leanne grins.

"Would you honor us with a song?"

Oscare Iono steps up, relaxing. "Good evening everyone. I hope you're enjoying the show so far. I see tons of familiar and unfamiliar faces alike."

"Today we gather for the Celebration of Thaliak, the Scholar." Oscare opens the case strapped along his back, pulling out a reflective and shiny ebony violin. He brings it up to his chin.

"♪From morning till midnight, I can't find a reason; this world keeps on turning without a single motive;"
"♪The value of this life results to nothing much; even if I were to die -- nothing would change;"
"♪If it didn't matter either way, then I would stay; I'd choose life and I would die another day; because I know right now, if I were to die,"
"♪I would rather leave a bit of me behind..."

Oscare takes a deep breath, exhaling strongly. He stops for a whole two seconds, a blank look on his lavender eyes. He continues.

"♪And, I'm terrified, the future is unclear; in my own eyes, the past is dark;"
"♪'Why won't you go? It hurts so much', I call out; wishing my feelings would all be thrown all away;"
"♪If it didn't matter either way, both the same; I would laugh so I could cry another day,"
"♪And because of that, I know if I'm alone; I would rather laugh my time all away..."

Oscare continues into a harmony of no lyrics, the back of his feels shifting along with the rhythm. All of a sudden, a fast series of words roll right out smoothly.
"♪ 'I won't love myself unless I am flawless in every single thing I do,';"
"♪'Hesitating only shows how weak you are',"
"♪'Feelings only get in the way',"
"♪So then maybe you're in pain because you can't get back up now?"
"♪And you can't seem to be taking anymore?"

Oscare chuckles a little bit, his strumming elbow quivering a little bit. A slower strum follows a much more dreary and hesitant tone.

"♪Although emotions seem unnecessary; can you not feel something warm inside the tears?"
"♪Something way too hard to see... and always wobbly..."
"♪I think we all call it something like a 'heart',"

Oscare slows to a stop... looking up. His violet gaze glows once again, finishing his song without even looking at the string -- playing by heart.

Oscare lowers the instrument and takes a bow. "Sorry. For any tears. Make sure you take care of yourselves, folks."

"We are very lucky to have you all here this eve and to share with one another. As we are lucky to have another story. This time from Master Ojune."  Jancis bows, smiling warmly at the man before clapping and moving away from the stage.

Ojune Wajune comes up, "Hullo everyone! I hope you’re all doing quite well today!" Vaughn chuckles. Ilwe'ran's ears perk in Ojune's direction and he smiles slightly. 

"Now, I’ve a tale for you today called ‘Hellfire Raptor Stew.’ As with many of my other stories I could use help in it’s telling. Especially for this one. -You- all get to choose how the story progresses!"
"There will be prompts in the story and I’ll just need you to yell out what you’d like to see happen next. The majority will win."

"All right. Lets begin." Ojune clears his throat before launching into the tale.

♣♣♣♣♣

The red-head was forced to move to the other side of the room as a sudden fit of coughing caused the middling aged woman to double over. Olivia looked back to the sudden cloud of dust she’d kicked up in her mum’s old library. The place had really fallen into disuse the last few years as her mum’s eyesight failed with age. It hadn’t even been a moon since her mum’s passing and Olivia still felt the loss heavily. So it’d been slow going to sort through her mum’s old possessions.

Peering down, Olivia examined the scroll in her hand. It was squished, having been jammed between two books on gardening, and the edges were yellowed and cracking. She untied the ribbon that held it together and carefully unrolled the brittle parchment.

Instead of the gardening trick or perhaps a recipe that she had expected, Olivia found a scroll that instructed: ‘Thaliak’s Grace and Guidance shall be granted with a pilgrimage to His prayer stone. Recite the following passage whilst kneeling before His stone. After which, rise, turn about, and head down the path until ye reach His river. Do not leave the path and ye shall be granted the knowledge ye seek.’

What followed was a rather short prayer to Thaliak that could be customized to asking for a particular bit of knowledge.

“What a flight of fancy…” Olivia shook her head, set the scroll aside, and went back to her cleaning of the library. What her mum had kept that nonsense of a scroll for, she had no idea. What she -actually- hoped to discover in this library, was a recipe her mum had invented called Hellfire Raptor Stew. The scroll had been a disappointment. However, this recipe had yet to reveal itself after suns more cleaning and cataloging of the entire cottage.

Hellfire Raptor Stew was a huge success even outside her small village and it was a comforting, if fiery, treat Olivia would miss. Yet it was the connection the stew brought between her friends, her family, and especially her mum that she’d miss the most. She knew most of the ingredients but some of the subtleties her mother used to prepare it was lacking.

The brittle old scroll and it’s prayer, however, persisted in her thoughts to distraction! Until she finally caved in and resolved that she would at least seek His stone on her way to Gridania soon. Hadn’t her mother made the pilgrimage to His stone several times herself? Perhaps it would make her feel closer to her and ease some of the ache in her heart.

And so it was, two suns later, that Olivia found herself kneeling before the Mark of the Scholar, scroll in hand. She knew what she wanted and she began the prayer from the scroll. She was feeling awfully silly but she was alone. So what could it hurt?

“Thaliak, by your grace, grant me the knowledge of what I believe to be lost. The recipe of my mother’s design called Hellfire Raptor Stew. This Seeker of wisdom humbly asks that the path you set before me lead only to my wisdom and prosperity.” Surely Thaliak would grant such a simple thing?

When she finished she rose and turned about to find the path looked no different from when she’d arrived. What had she expected really? “This really is a flight of fancy. . . I hope mum heard me at least.” She sighed to herself and started walking back to the proper roads. Until it felt like over a bell late and the sun hadn’t moved and the path seemed to stretch on much further than she remembered.

“I should have reached the main path by now.” Her own voice little comfort. Frightened she begins to walk faster. Perhaps she’d simply misjudged the time it took to walk to the stone. That was until she realized that the path only grew more jungle like that in La Noscea and lost the crystalline quality of Mor Dhona. Then in the path she spotted an old trapper, dragging along a slain raptor by it’s feet.

The old hunter looked up from his toiling when he noticed her presence. His voice gravelly and broken with the wear of time, “Excuse me miss, might you help an old man out? My son usually helps me now-a-days but he’s off with the lass he fancies. I just need to string it up and get it cleaned. Then it will be far easier for me to manage.” He tapped the foot of the large raptor.

Olivia paused. Did she really have time to be helping a random stranger when the path was doing such odd things and she was expected to be in Gridania? Maybe he was dangerous! Yell out what you all think should happen! Leave? Help Partway? or Fully Help?



"ROB HIM!!" "Fully Help!" "Fully Help!!" "LEAVE" "Fully Help!" "Fully Help!" "Fully Help!" A'rho smacks Faezbhar in the arm before answering "Fully help!" "Fully help!" Ilwe'ran smiles at the folks' yells but keeps silent himself. "Fully help!" "Fully help!" Ojune can't help but chuckle at the robbing comment. "Leave." "ROB HIM!" "That was not an option..." "Fully help." "Yelling!" chimes Iskierka at the end.

Ojune gives a nod continuing on.

Surely Olivia couldn’t just leave the old man. Time seemed to not be advancing normally anyroad. The sun still hung in the same place it was when she first left the stone. So what could it hurt? Tying back her skirts she helps hoist the raptor, feet first, from the limb of a tree. Olivia was quite careful to not step off the path herself. For her heart told her that would only lead to disaster. Olivia smiled to the man, “Pray rest, sir. I’ll make short work of this over-sized lizard.”

“Thank you, kindly miss. These old bones just don’t move like I’d like them to anymore. But with your help I’ll be able to get this back to my wife’s marinade. This lizard will be nice and tender come supper tomorrow.” The old man sat on a log nearby letting her borrow his leather apron, which held a hunting knife in a sheath.

Olivia deftly cut the beast from stem to stern and the mention of a marinade tugged at her memory. She’d watched her mother marinate the raptor meat but couldn’t recall much other than it was white. She inquired of the man, “What does your wife use to marinate raptor with, sir?”

This earned a chuckle from the old man, “Why buttermilk of course! Is there any other way? A half a cup of salt with fresh cracked peppercorns and half a cup of molasses for each gallon of buttermilk. Certain to soften up the meat of any ol’ lizard.”

Olivia nodded a few times, making mental note to try it one of these days. And perhaps that's what her mother had used? “Of course sir! It sounds quite delicious.”

And so they babbled for a short time until she’d finished her task and the cleaned, much lightened carcass would surely be easier for the old man to carry now. She was showered with the man’s thanks before the parted ways and now she on the path with the creature’s blood up to her elbows. Thankfully, the apron had protected her clothes.

Continuing along the path until she was back into the crystalline paths of Mor Dhona, Olivia kept a look out for something she could wash off in. Eventually she did come to a small stream that ran across the path she traveled. A quick wash later leaves her feeling much better and she unties her skirts. She is about to start walking again when she notices that the path ahead lead right to her mum’s cottage.

“Ooh now what.” Olivia muttered aloud as she scanned the nearby area. Nothing else from around her mum’s cottage was there. Just the house, it’s chimney sending smoke rising into the open sky. The door stood right open in the center of the path to invite her inwards. But there was space on the path for her to go around the house.

Her eyes pricked with tears as she could smell bread baking. Something the cottage hadn’t smelled of since her mum’s passing. The realization made her ache. So Olivia debated her options. Give me a yell on what she should do! Go around? Or enter?

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"Its haunted. BURN IT DOWN." demands Memeli, Vaughn chuckles. "Enter!" "Enter!" "Aw, go on and Enter!" "Enter!" "Wark!" "Go around !" "Enter!" "Enter, looks fun!" "She must enter! She simply must!" "Enter!" "Enter, yes!" "DEFINITELY HAUNTED. INVESTIGATE." " Why do they always investigate voidsent unprepared?" "I say BURN!"

Steeling herself, Olivia decided she was going to see what was in the cottage. Upon entry she saw her mum, several years younger and bustling about the large kitchen. Her mum looked as Olivia remembered her from when she herself was only about twelve cycles. Large tears began to spill down her cheeks.

When her mother caught sight of her she immediately cooed, “Oh, Dumpling. Did that Darrus boy pick on you again? Come here and help mum cook. You tell me all about it.”

Biting her lower lip to hold back the sob she considered acting as she had at that age. Simply running through the house to the back gardens for a good cry. Or she could actually take her mum up on her offer. Lets hear you yell what you’d like to see her do. Does Olivia Stay? Or Run?

"Staay! She oughta stay!" "...Stay." "Stay! ...Unless her eyes were glowing red." "Stay" "... ... stay." "Stay." "Stay! Her mother means her no harm!" "Stay!" "Stay!" "Ask her about the afterlife and gods for science!" "Leave praise Rhaglr, Eorzeans..." Ciel elbows Jon. Jonathan grunts and Vaughn smirks at Jonathan. Jonathan piles his weight on Ciel partially as a response, meeting Ciel's stare, with a "But they should!" glare; Ciel frowns and mutters to Jon only for him to hear.

Hiccuping back the sobs she moves to her mother’s side. Her mother was treating her like she was twelve. How could Olivia bring up that the tears now were from her being dead and not this memory? “N-no mum. It was Zachary. He’s going on a date with Karrin.”

“Oh! I didn’t know you fancied him. Never-you-mind. If he’s got eyes for ones like that stuck up child then you’re better off without him.” Her mum hums while she finished cutting the seasoned raw dodo breast into bite sized pieces. “Brown the meat dear, while I cut up more vegetables for the soup.”

Given what Olivia knew of Zachary -now-, her mother would have been more than right. The thought made her smile a bit and she longed for this to last. She found herself wondering aloud, “Why do I brown it if I’m only going to boil it for soup?”

Her mum paused in her chopping to look back to her daughter in mild surprise. Olivia of twelve cycles had been going through a rebellious phase where she ‘hated’ cooking. But the look passed quickly and she smiled, “Because you get more flavor from the meat if you caramelize it first-- Oh! I seem to have forgotten to pick the rosemary. Will you be a dear and fetch me a sprig? I’ll watch the pan.”

Fresh tears sprung to Olivia’s eyes. She knew once she left the cottage, it would be gone. Her mum lost once more. Yet what was she to do? Stay here in this altered memory? She was a grown woman now, even though her mum didn’t seem to see it. And so she threw her arms around her mum, croaking out, ”I love you so much.” Before retreating out the back door to the crystalline path. Her mum’s amused tone following her from behind, “My word! I love you too, dumpling.”

Olivia didn’t look back.



After she’d gotten her emotions under control, was when Olivia spotted the form made of fire just ahead. She’d seen the basic fire spirits before and this one seemed nothing like them. It twirled and flickered across the path in the loosest form of a person. She watched it move with an unnerving and enticingly beautiful grace. It finally paused it’s dance before the point Olivia stood transfixed, speaking in a voice that was neither man nor woman.

“Ye can see me, Child of Man? How strange. Strange indeed. Tis not oft I can converse to your kind.” It flickered excitedly, “A game then, Child of Man?” When Olivia withdrew, thinking the spirit would cast some sort of fire on her, the elemental laughed, “Ye have no need to fear! Your kind is fragile in form but occasionally fiery of wit! A game of the mind is all, Child. Riddles!”

This gave Olivia pause. She was torn as spirits could be fickle. What should she do? Should she refuse and run away, hoping the spirit wouldn’t burn her for escape? Or should she play this game and risk drawing the spirit’s ire with further talk? Run or Play? Yell out you answers now!

"Play!" "Play!" "Yes, yes. Play!" "Playyy~!" "Hmm...yes, play, play!" "Play! She can do it!" "Play indeed." "Play!" "She's still there?" "Jonathan! >.<" "Always play!" "Play. MAKE BETS." But she's going to die Ciel! Die from not thinking!"

The elemental flares brightly in it’s happiness, but Olivia barely felt any heat, “I’ll give ye a special prize when we’re done. For I have three for ye. Now the first riddle: ‘No legs have I to dance, No lungs have I to breathe, No life have I to live or die. And yet I do all three. Am I a: tree’s branch, a candle, or fire?’”

"A candle!" "Branch!" "Fire!" "Fire!" "fire!" "Fire." "Fire!" "Hmm...fire!" "Fire. FIRE! GAHAHAHA!" Ojune Wajune is a little afraid of Memeli after all this. "I believe it to be a candle? No, a fire!...Candle...?" "Candle."

Olivia was flustered but gave it some serious thought, weighing over the three provided options and the clues. A candle needed to breath but only when lit. It of course it couldn’t dance itself. It was easy to dismiss. The branch was more difficult. It did dance in the breeze. And it was the leaves of the branch that breathed. But it -was- very much alive. “Fire.”

It flared happily, “Very good, Child. I apologize if it was too simple. But it is my very favorite riddle and I couldn’t pass it by.”

The elemental twirls in place, “All right. My next riddle for ye is thus: ‘I cannot lie: I cannot lay, but only lie. What am I?’” What does Olivia choose? Yell me which you think it is! A politician, a stone, or a hunter.

"Hunter!" "Stone." "A stone!" "Stone." "Stone!" "stone!" "Everybody must say stone...." Cici chimes in, "... Politician." "Stone!" "Politician! EVIL SCUM! Hail the Sultana!" "I'm partial to hunter." "A...A p-politician!" "Politicians can certainly get laid as can hunters, I say stone." "The sultana is a politician!" "SHUT UP RHO." "NEVER!" "Of course it is a Politician, warrior of the pen and promise."

She worried at her lip a moment in thought. She knew it had to be either the stone or the politician. The hunter was just too odd. “Stone.” She found herself blurting out.

Instantly her heart sank as the elemental shimmered in what she took to be amusement, “Nay, Child. For only a politician fits that sort of contradiction.”

Tiny embers emit off the spirit, “One final one then, Child. What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, and has a bed but never sleeps? Am I: water, a river, or a flower?” /yell me which Olivia should pick!

"AHHHHHHHH. NOT THIS ONE! ...River." "River!" "River." "Thaliak's Grace be a River!!" "River!" "River!" "A river, for the occasion." "River~" "A river!"

Olivia blinked a few times as she gave it some serious thought. Water was easy to dismiss as it didn’t have any of those things itself. But flowers grew in a bed and had unweeping heads. Some had what looked like mouth and other ran tendrils along the ground. However, a river had all of those things at all times. She took a deep breath, hoping she chose correctly, “A river.”

A joyous flare from the spirit, “Yes! I didn’t trick you I find. It was a pleasure to see the fire of your wit!”

The spirit’s fiery form shimmered in amusement, “Not bad I suppose, Child of Man. Ye didn’t get them all correct but it twas a pleasure none-the-less. For your prize I shall tell ye some of what ye seek. A grated knob of ginger root, cinnamon sticks simmering in broth, and a spicy paprika oil will add a deep and flavorful spice to your dish.” And with that, it danced away off the path where she could not follow.

Olivia stood with her mouth agape before she finally took action to scribble down her new found knowledge before she forgot it. She wondered aloud, “How much of each? What exactly is spicy paprika oil?” She tapped the back of the quill to her chin as she continued walking, before adding quietly, “And -what- does a fire spirit know of food anyroad?”

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She rounds the next bend and discovers another Thaliak stone. Only this one stood small and understated before the crystal clear ethereal waters of the river that flowed before her. It took her a moment to notice the writing at the base of the stone, ‘Should you truly need more insight, seeker of knowledge, drink from these waters and more will be made clear.’

Olivia considered the words a moment. There were things she didn’t quite understand. Like the quantities. So she kneels and cups the cool water in her palms and drinks deep.

She now heard the strange voice of the spirit, “Knowledge is just facts. Wisdom comes from experimentation of those facts. Ye think things through and the answer shall be there.” It was right of course. She had some of the and just needed to look into them and experiment.

Her mother’s voice whispers softly as she had done after a childhood nightmare, “Knowledge isn’t always easy to obtain. It often takes perseverance, dumpling.” She could almost feel warm arms about her and felt a pang of loss for not staying longer at the cottage to learn what her mother had to tell her.

When her eyes opened again, Olivia realized she could no longer hear the burble of the river and noticed she was kneeling before the stone in Mor Dhona, scroll still clutched in her hand. Her gaze sought the sun and she noted that it was only a bit past noon still. She rose to her feet and made her way towards the Twelveswood.



"Proof to just report it to the prepared..." Jonathan side glances Ciel just in time as she sticks her tongue out at Jonathan. "Thank you! Our adventure story from Master Ojune!"

Vaughn Antain sheepishly walks up. Ojune claps for the trio. Lottie Forsaidh throws an excited smile at Vaughn, opening an arm to beckon him closer.
Nathan Telluride joins them, "My thanks to you, good squires and dames, for spending this evening with us in our humble tribute to the Scholar, and for resisting the urge to leave early, for like all teachers, Thaliak can get exasperated with those who can't remain all through class."

"It is a tribute to Louisoix, Thaliak's finest follower, and how his knowledge and sacrifice have made it possible for us to live, learn, think and even breathe to this day."

Nathan strums an opening note, and sets a heavy beat going; the song emerges as much like a chanted prayer as anything else, and he taps his boot-heel to the crystal ground in accompaniment.

♪ Standing all alone, upon a mesa, there at Carteneau, looking down.. ♪
♪ At Garleans below: a bloody battle, lit up from above, as fire falls ♪
♪ Upon us all... ♪

Vaughn sings, a light tenor resonating a somewhat feminine tone.
♪The valley is a dance of grim destruction ♪
♪Warriors of Light, leading the charge ♪
♪Terror in the sky, a moon is falling in fireball ♪
♪Winged death we saw ♪
♪Where is Louisoix? ♪

♪Twelve Preserve us...♪
Lottie opens her arms to demonstrate her voice, expression knitting with worry. ♪Moon above us, burning, falling...♪
♪Flames engulf us; who will save our home?♪

♪ Nightmare in the skies, come down from orbit; murder in its eyes, annihilation. ♪
♪ Hope is almost lost, 'til on the mesa, cyan sphere appears, hope comes to all, ♪
♪ From Louisoix ♪

♪Challenge is accepted, and Bahamut hovers in the sky ♪
♪Scions praying ♪
♪Calling to the gods, for our deliv'rance ♪
♪Binding force collapses; one final thought ♪
♪Haunts Louisoix ♪

♪Twelve Preserve Us... ♪
♪Conflagration, burning, falling...♪
♪Desperation, who will save our home? ♪

♪ Wagering his life, a final gambit: Heroes bathed in light... are seen no more... ♪

♪Cycles five have passed: A world in mourning ♪
♪Who could realize they're alive? ♪
♪No one understands what Louisoix's done ♪
♪Warriors of Light have come back home ♪
♪From Carteneau ♪

♪ Sun above us, shining, warming, memories empty, coming, coming, ♪
♪Sun above us, shining, warning, memories empty, coming, coming, ♪
♪ Moon above us, burning, falling, memories scalded, seeking home... ♪

♪Home. ♪ ♪Home.♪ ♪ Home! ♪

"Thank you all!"

(This is our tribute to FFXIV's opening cinematic, with a classic song to frame it)

[youtube]Jt-R5hj_lWM[/youtube]

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