Edda

The explanation Khadai began to proffer was easily his best yet, but did little to assuage the unease settling in the core of her chest. It was a clinical description of the events, and if what he was saying was to be believed, then he was not at fault. Not entirely. Edda cupped her hands together and covered her mouth with her fingers, breathing heavily through her nostrils. As he spoke, Edda walked around the boulder to better view the scene. She came to stand in between Khadai and the bodies, her back facing him. His story made sense. The weapons of the pair had clearly been drawn at some point, now lying discarded in the gathering snow. She grimaced as she inspected them further. They were dressed for the weather, but not well dressed; that they were simple mercenaries was quite clear, the materiel of their equipment and discernible lack of hygiene as obvious as their current state of decay. They were not Ishgardian natives – that much was clear – but it was not out of the question that they were hired by the city-state for simple work. Edda turned back to the Au Ra to address his question. The look in his eye was not remorseful, but the refreshed appearance he had had prior gave way to confusion, though his nonchalance was ever present. She hesitated as she looked at him, her eyebrows creased. The question was a difficult one to answer, as she herself did now know how she would have responded in such a scenario. “If they truly meant to attack you,” she began slowly. “Then I suppose I can hardly hold you accountable for your actions. Brutish, yes, but if you felt threatened…” Edda trailed off and pouted ever so slightly. She could not be so angry with him for this. Were it more Wailers, or anyone unarmed, she would have been quite distressed, but she relaxed knowing it was two faceless and aggressive mercenaries. Still, if the Wood Wailers – or anyone else – had figured them out and followed them, leaving a pair of similarly mutilated bodies out in the open would keep them on their trail. This would not do. “We will have to hide the bodies,” Edda said matter-of-factly. By ‘we,’ she of course meant Khadai. He would be far more capable and experienced at such a thing, and it was only natural that he clean up his own mess. Edda looked around from where she stood for a viable spot to hide them. The ground was too hard to bury them in, and she doubt the Xaela would agree to use his sword as a spade regardless. The bodies could be dragged behind the boulders so as not to be seen from the road, though that counted on no travelers using the area to camp for quite some time. It would be their best bet, however, and the snow could be used to cover the blood. As she looked past the campsite, Edda alerted to Gullinbursti, who appeared quite focused on something beyond the tall boulders on his side of the outcropping. He was not a large bird, and so he stood remarkably straight, his neck strained in an attempt to peer over it. Edda frowned. He had always been a skittish creature – perhaps he was frightened by the violence from earlier. The hairs stood up on the back of Edda’s neck, and she stood perfectly still. No. He was not looking toward them, rather beyond a point neither of them could see. There was something there. An animal perhaps, or a companion of the two seeking revenge. Gullinbursti let out a shallow wark as his head turned to follow whatever it was beyond the boulder. Edda nearly dove for Khadai, placing her right hand on his upper arm, her left over the hand that held his sword. She was not quite an obstacle, and far from strong enough to keep him still, but perhaps it would be enough to stop him from cutting down whatever may be out there without a second thought. She did not look at him, instead focused on the blind spot around the boulder, and waited.

It was a night like any other. She had barely settled underneath the heavy blanket when she fell into a sleep like death. For the six bell duration of the potion, it was nearly impossible to rouse her, even in the event of emergency. Edda did not dream. There was some shame in being so dependent on alchemy to sleep, but the body required rest, and she would not begrudge its necessity. Doubtless aches and pains would plague her when she woke, her body only used to the softest of beds, but it would be only temporary. A vision of a hot bath and warm bed could be seen in her mind’s eye as the potion began to take effect. Surely they would await her in Ishgard within the next two suns. The two had already made it out of the woods, and they would be able to continue the journey in the morning, unhampered and unharmed. - The screaming was not what woke her. Rather, enough time had elapsed that the potion began to wear off, the discomfort of the cold and hard earth cutting the full duration of the medicine short. The tent that had collapsed during the night was not enough to wake her. The proximity of the leather and wool provided extra warmth, her breath shallow enough as to not be hindered by her coverings. Edda began to stir, still drowsy from sleep, her eyelids bearing considerable weight. When she managed to open her eyes, she very suddenly snapped to attention, the total darkness and unexpected enclosure sending her into a panic. The woman tossed and kicked at the blankets and tent around her in a pathetic attempt to break free. Had she been abducted? She was not moving, the ground beneath her unmistakable. What of Khadai? Edda glimpsed a sliver of light at her feet as she struggled, and immediately twisted her body to dive for the opening. The collapsed opening of the tent gave way to a blonde head of hair as she managed to crawl out of her makeshift bonds. She let out a heavy sigh and hung her head in embarrassment. It would be easy to pass it off as waking from a nightmare, and so she scanned the area for Khadai, who had hopefully not witnessed her display. His tall stature was unmistakable, the dark of his features standing out even in the poor light. He stood a ways away, the top half of his body visible behind a small boulder from her current position on the ground. Edda turned away from him, shifting her position to sit on the earth. Her legs had become tangled in the blanket, now bound together as one instead of two, and so the woman began to remove herself from the tent. What Khadai was already doing up and about she did not know, and she wondered if he even slept at all. Perhaps he was scouting the area, or obeying nature’s call. The very thought made her face heat, and so she waited for a few moments to give him time. Gullinbursti was already quite awake, standing to attention and looking toward Khadai. Her raincoat lay dirtied on the ground, and so she stood to retrieve it before throwing it atop the pile of cloth and leather that had once been her tent. She hissed at the soreness in her back and shoulders as she stood, before making her way over to Khadai. Now that she stood at her full height, Edda could plainly see what had the Au Ra and chocobo so fixated. A steady stream of red pooled on the other side of the boulder, and half of an upturned body from which it flowed could be seen. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, her skin turning a deathly shade of white. As she stepped closer, the dismembered arm of a lalafell had up and flown towards the road, the supposed body of its owner laying several fulms away in multiple pieces. Her stomach lurched. Tearing her focus away from the scene, Edda looked Khadai in the eye with a steady gaze. He seemed rather pleased with himself, like a cat that dropped two vermin at its owner’s feet. The woman stood on the opposite side of the small boulder, and looked between the Xaela and his prey. An axe and knives lay discarded on the ground, presumably owned by the two corpses. There was a small degree of comfort knowing that Khadai had not slaughtered two unarmed civilians. He seemed unhurt and unfazed, of course, and Edda let out a long sigh. She was unsure what disturbed her more: That he had killed two more people as if it were nothing, or that she was becoming used to seeing such brutality. Khadai now had her full attention. She gave him a severe look, a quiet rage and frustration in her eyes that could hardly be mistaken for anything else. Edda did not know the two that now lay dead, and she did not care to. It was sad that they died in senseless violence, and their deaths could potentially put the two travelers at more risk than simply scaring them off would have. They had the appearance of simple mercenaries. It would have been easy to pay them off. That Khadai would not think of it – or would even understand it – was logical, but it did not make Edda any less upset. If his gut reaction to a perceived threat was violence, there would be little she could do to curb him outside of stopping threats before they became one. Truly, it was a wonder he did not lop off her head the moment he first laid eyes on her. She breathed in deeply, her nostrils flaring. “What happened?” She asked slowly, her voice as grave as her expression. “Explain yourself.”

I'm interested, if possible.

Edda listened patiently to the man describe his home. It was an honest effort, that much was obvious, but as he finished and sighed, the irritation upon his face was telling. He looked as tired as she felt after hearing his description, and the woman wondered off-hand if she should teach him other words for ‘cold.’ It would explain his apparent comfort in the current weather, and though it was not quite what she had been hoping to hear of, it would do for now. She had no way of knowing exactly where he came from based on his description alone, but if he was not from Eorzea, then he must have come from Othard, if not further. Turning away from the man, Edda rummaged through her satchel to bring out her rain coat. It was not heavy, but enough to protect from the elements. It seemed wasted on the Xaela, who appeared enviably unaffected by the drop in temperature brought about by nightfall. Instead, she stood and draped it over Gullinbursti, who had curled up between the side of her tent and a boulder. His plumage was thick, but for some reason she felt the need to take extra care, as if what little control she had here would slip away from her as she slept. Edda collected the unused vial of warming potion by Khadai and pocketed it, before lifting the lantern, still burning, and placing it closer to the Au Ra. “If you would like to put it out, you may do so,” she said to him, motioning to the lantern. She hesitated for a moment and bit her lip. There was a desire to voice her uncertainty for his comfort, but she felt silly doing so now. He was resourceful, to have made it this far – a little cold would not kill him now. Or so she hoped. She cared little for him on a personal level, having only just encountered him in a rather unpleasant manner, but it was clear he was not a bad person. Far from the heartless murderer she had first taken him for, but that was neither here nor there. “I am going to rest for the night. We have a full sun’s worth of travel tomorrow, so I suggest you do the same. If we make good time, we should reach Dragonhead by nightfall. You may query me as much as you like tomorrow.” She hesitated, before uncorking the green bottle she still held, and drinking all of it. It had a murky, bitter taste, but she was becoming quite used to it, and crawled into her tent thereafter. Edda curled up beneath the heavy blanket. She shivered, still touched by the frigid air, before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

It came as a mild shock that Khadai did not press for more information. Her explanation was dubious at best, full of holes and far from a passing grade. She had found Ishgardian history distasteful as a child, a preference her instructor equated to having never seen a dragon, and her grasp on the city-state's current situation tenuous at best. That he did not inquire further seemed an indicator of satisfaction, and for that Edda was glad. He settled back against the boulder, seemingly done for the night, until an uncomfortable look appeared on his face. His eyebrows creased, lips set in a terse frown. "I am to answer inquiries you posses," he said in a flat, almost reluctant sounding voice. Edda could not stop a soft chuckle from escaping her lips, the look on his face and tone of his voice reminding her of her sister when she was being forced to share her belongings. 'On whose authority?' She wanted to ask, his awkward wording leaving room for gentle teasing, but she imagined it would serve only to confuse him. The woman reached up and pushed her hood back before letting her ponytail down, running her fingers through her long hair as a makeshift comb. She would be needing a bath soon. The thought made her wrinkle her nose. A hot bath seemed too great a luxury to be found in Coerthas, even more so in such a dire time. Not impossible to find, surely, but likely at a high cost. She had only grabbed a handful of gil, and war was doubtless sending prices out of control. She would have to send for more when she made it to Ishgard. "Tell me where you are from, then," Edda said, humoring his command-like offer. "Describe it to me," she added. It would not do to let him get away with a single sentence for an explanation, which he seemed to have a penchant for. Waiting for her answer, she reached into her bag behind her and pulled out another vial, distinctly larger and deeper in color than the previous two. She held it between her hands as if warming it, and stared at Khadai expectantly.

Khadai seemed understandably confused by her answer. His expression morphed into a focused perplexity, as if trying to decipher her words instead of wondering when to apply them. He looked at her soon after and attempted to mimic her smile, to disastrous results. Edda bit her lip to keep herself from laughing, his quick frown enough to make it clear that she did not need to warn him to never make that face again. The woman listened to his next questions with a placid expression, before continuing. "Coerthas is a large region, covered in snow and ice. At the center of these highlands lies The Holy See of Ishgard, and beyond it lays Dravania, and the abandoned city of Sharlayan. The people of Ishgard are a wary and isolated peoples - the few settlements you will encounter may seem rather inhospitable. Ishgard has recently rejoined the Eorzean Alliance, though to what ends, I know not." Edda paused. It occurred to her that most of what she had said was likely lost on the Au Ra. If he even knew what Ishgard was, he doubtless knew or cared about its present situation. Still, the opening of its gates was a monumental event, and news of it had assuredly traveled far and wide. If he truly did not know, why then was he so enraptured with the place? This seemed to run far deeper than personal fancy - he was driven, as if on a mission. Could he be a spy? There would be no way of knowing for sure, and it was not something she could simply ask. Perhaps his goal would be made clear in time. "As for threats," she continued. Her voice was quite serious, in the hopes that if her words did not get through to him, her tone would. "Ishgard has been at war with Dravania for a very long time." Edda hesitated, feeling the need to clarify. "Ah, the Dravanians are an intelligent race of dragons and their kin, and mortal enemies of the people of this land. I've no idea if they have changed at all, but you should not speak of dragons outside of how much you delight in killing them, if at all." "It is a land ruled by their beliefs and ancient hierarchy. Take comfort that you are not the only stranger that will be coming to these lands, but it would be wise of you to take care in your actions. The judgement of those in power can be as much your enemy as beasts and weather. I am sure you will be fine, however." Edda nodded to herself. Doubtless he would rush off on his own at some point, and meet one who could better assist him. It would not surprise her if there were more Auri travelling to Coerthas, and it would be good for him to learn from those who were also strangers to Eorzea.

There was little surprise that he did not drink the vial. In any other instance, Edda would have considered it rude, but he seemed to be lacking in common manners, and she supposed he seeked to rectify that in his own way. It was admirable. A shadow of doubt still lingered in her mind, but there would be no harm in humoring him for now. "The masked warriors were the Wood Wailers," Edda began, addressing his first question. "They protect the Black Shroud, the forest in which you were lost. The citizens of the Shroud follow a certain set of rules - they must follow these rules. The Wood Wailers apprehend those who do not, and thus protect the forest." The woman looked him steadily in the eye with a sharp look, an apprehensive curiosity. "I do not know what it is you did, but doubtless it was something illegal. I will not lecture you of the laws of that region, but know most confrontation can be avoided by dropping your weapon and surrendering yourself. You would be imprisoned, but at least you would not be hunted as a wanted killer." She paused, and thought on his other query. It was less of a question and more of a request than anything, and Edda frowned in thought. "As I said before, social conventions are usually learned, not taught. But, if you insist..." She trailed off, and looked up at the cloudy veil. "Give your name before you ask things of others. Use phrases such as 'excuse me' and 'please.' Thank people who help you, and bow to those who are gracious to you." She sighed and looked back at Khadai. It would be much easier if he were more specific. Even then, she was far from qualified for this. "It would help you to smile from time to time as well, you know. Like this." Edda gave him a practiced smile, full of gentleness and warmth, a default expression that she had been taught from before she could remember. She waited for the Xaela to try, though she doubted he would.

There are both NA and EU populations on Balmung, so there will always be people out and about for RP, no matter what time you play.

There was an intensity in his look that made Edda squirm. To see him roost so easily was unsettling. He was quite unlike the heroes in the adventure novels she had read as a young girl, and she felt somewhat betrayed in her expectations of seeing a hardened frontiersman make camp in the brutal, masculine ways she had read about. Building a fire, hunting game, cutting open a wild antelope and burrowing inside it for warmth - whether or not such feats were greatly exaggerated, the lackadaisical display of the Au Ra left her both wondering and disappointed. He clearly had no mind to commandeer her tent, but would he be warm enough? Perhaps this climate was more agreeable to him, yet it was no secret that body temperature dropped during rest, and no warrior could fight a death of cold. Edda frowned. It would be embarrassing for him to die in such a way, more so for him than anything, though whether or not he intended to stay there for the rest of the night was unknown. The woman peered at him through the darkening night, meeting his inquisitive gaze. The question he posed was far more personal than she had expected, and found it difficult to answer straight away. The dim light of his green eyes stood out against his dark skin, and Edda suddenly felt very nervous. Eager to escape the sensation, she stood suddenly, and approached him with a few hesitant steps. She held the two vials in front of her in both hands, before squatting down and placing one on the ground within arms reach. She looked him in the eye and did not speak in a wordless offering. To demonstrate that it was not poison, Edda uncorked and drank the contents of her small bottle in one go. It had a sour, burning taste, like her father's brandy mixed with old milk. She grimaced, but it did not take long for the aftertaste to fade. The effects were immediate; a warm, tingling sensation spread from her chest down to her fingertips and toes, warding her body against the cold from the inside out. She had little knowledge of alchemy, but enough to know the potion was more relief than an aid. Its effects were not unwelcome however - the liquid heat that ran through her felt like a small luxury in the harsh wilderness. "I will not be redeeming your services right away - if I do at all," Edda began. She slipped the empty vial into a satchel at her hip and walked over to Gullinbursti. "If I have need of you in the future, I will seek you out. There is a single, solitary person I would have... removed, before they can do more harm. I doubt there will be much of a fight, however." She giggled softly at the thought, before her expression darkened substantially. Though she spoke with aplomb, there was a wavering in her tone, as if she was sure, but saddened. Edda retrieved the unlit lantern from her chocobo's saddle, before turning around to face the Xaela. "Perhaps," she began, with a curious spark in her eye. "You should tell me your name, before you ask any more questions." This was, of course, assuming his people had names, a practice that did not extend to every tribe of Auri, as she understood it. It was an innocuous question, at least in Eorzea, and she hoped the presumption that the solemn man had any reason to give his name would not offend him. Heading back to stand in front of her tent, she gave the man what she hoped was an encouraging smile, before lighting the lantern with a small flame from her fingertip. More a parlour trick than actual thaumaturgy, the flame settled in the lantern, and was enough to illuminate the outcropping so that they would not have to speak in total darkness. She set the lantern down and hesitated, before casting the man a hard glance. Was he really going to stay like that? Would he truly be warm enough? If he made no motion to move after his questioning was done, she would have to offer him something then. Until that time, there was little reason to, and so she resumed her original seating at the mouth of her tent. "For what it is worth," she said as she placed a hand on her chest. "You can call me Edda, if it suits you."

The road to Coerthas was clear enough. It was not a heavily used road, moreso now by adventurers than caravans, but the lack of vegetation and cold preserved it in a way that only heavy snow could cover it altogether. Edda sighed in relief. Her poor sense of direction would not be compromised this way, and fear of starvation and freezing quickly became an afterthought. Edda huddled close to her chocobo as she walked. Gullinbursti she called him, a strong name that ill-suited the beast. He had been trained by her uncle to sense danger from wild animals, and flee at a moment’s notice, preferably with Edda in tow. This did not always work, much to her chagrin, and found the chocobo more likely to bolt at the sound of an uncorked bottle than the howl of a wolf. Still, it was a safer bet than clinging to her scaled companion, and the large bird was a nice source of heat. As night began to fall, the woman fell into a slight daze as she continued walking. It had been a very long time since she had trekked this far. “A camp is required soon. And I would use the opportunity to ask you for information.” Edda snapped to attention and looked over her shoulder, only to find the Xaela already beside her and moving to walk in front of her. She jumped in surprise. The journey so far had been eerily quiet, and the sudden noise and movement set her heart pounding. No sooner had she put a hand on her chest to calm herself did the man suddenly grab her roughly by the shoulder and pull her aside. Edda sputtered as he did so, losing her grip on the reigns, the chocobo following out of instinct. He released her quickly, and the woman reached up to absently rub the shoulder he had grabbed, and pouted at the ground. “Suitable,” was his apparent reasoning for his actions, and Edda shot him a sharp glare before looking around. It seemed like a good place to camp, as if she were anyone to judge. She could count on one hand the number of times she had slept outside. If the Au Ra – who seemed as if he had never once slept on a soft bed in his life – thought it was a suitable stopping point, then she had little choice but to comply. Fetching the tent and blankets, Edda frowned, realizing she had never assembled a tent before. She had seen them, surely, in the Shroud and outside Ul’dah in the refugee encampments. Putting one together seemed an entirely different beast, however. She cast a sidelong glance to her companion, and thought it best to ignore him while he did whatever it was he thought necessary to camp in unfamiliar wilderness. Perhaps if she took little notice of him, he would do the same for her, and would not witness her embarrassing fumbling with the tent. Edda managed to wrestle the construct to the ground next to a large boulder. It was small, thankfully, the framework of it being simple enough. She grabbed a small rock to hammer the pegs into the hard earth, and managed to stand it up in a dilapidated manner. She unrolled the mat and heavy blankets within. Despite its sad appearance, Edda stood and looked upon the tent in quiet triumph. It would do for the night, barring any sudden, strong gusts. The woman fetched her knapsack from atop Gullinbursti and set it in the back of her tent. She withdrew a few items – a comb, the out-of-date map, two warming potions and another tincture of nondescript function. Edda sat at the entrance of the tent, her feet and head poking out of the front flap, and facing the center of the small outcrop. She toyed idly with the two potions in her hands. It would be impolite not to offer him one, and so she sat and watched him, awaiting an opportunity.

The man was tense, that much was certain. Whether it was the new surroundings that put him on edge, or herself, Edda did not know. Perhaps this was the natural demeanor of his clan. It would surprise her, but it was not her place to make judgments about a people she did not understand. Her lips pursed and the smile faded from her face. “Yes, we are to head west, to Coerthas,” Edda said. She looked away from him and reached into a side pocket in her satchel. The contents were stuffed with krakka root, which she began to feed to the rather eager bird. “As for whether or not that is your destination… It is the only region on this continent that matches your description of snow and mountains. The Highlands are vast. If you have a specific heading, or goal, it would be wise to say so.” She looked back to the Xaela with a sober expression. The chocobo nudged her shoulder for more feed, and she absently stroked its beak while examining the man. It seemed strange, to be so eager to head to land he could detail in the most nondescript way imaginable. Wherever he was from, it seemed too far a distance to hunt or trade. Edda had little knowledge of the dark-scaled Auri. That they were tribal, primitive, and a warmongering people was all she had gleaned from the library at home. He had displayed some sophistication in bartering his services, so traveling to Coerthas for such crude reasons as sport or glory seemed unlikely. Edda snapped her gaze away from the man, and motioned vaguely for him to follow. She pulled the bird along at a slow pace and headed towards the west gate. “As for your previous question,” she began. She kept her eyes straight ahead and her voice low. “I will answer whatever questions you may have to the best of my ability. Feel free to ask however you like. Do keep in mind that some things cannot be taught through word alone, however.” The woman glanced at him briefly over her shoulder, before facing away to sigh. She was far from the best candidate to teach a foreigner the customs of the common man. Though she fought it as best she could, Edda was well aware of her stringent and frigid nature. Taking cues from her would only worsen the Au Ra’s current demeanor, if anything. He would need to meet people that knew freedom and laughter, and experience that warmth for himself. She could teach him only in the way a book could – she could not give him experiences that were not meant for her. The two passed out of the western gate with little trouble. The scenery was far different here despite its proximity to the woods, with only a few spattering of trees against the hard, barren earth. Night would fall soon, and though Edda had packed a small lantern, now dangling on the side of the saddle, the cover of clouds might render it too dark to continue. The road to Dragonhead was notoriously dangerous, though she felt more at ease than she would have if she were alone. The Xaela still had his sword, and presumably had enough experience to be able to fight in dim light. Edda reached into her back pocket to slip on a pair of black gloves. It was not much colder yet, but she knew how volatile the weather could become in the mountain pass. She glanced at the man briefly. Would he be warm enough? The furs he wore certainly looked thick, but the skin exposed at his shoulder was concerning. He did not seem the type to complain, however. Edda wrapped her hood closer around her face, and made a mental note to ask later as they continued on.

To answer your first question: yes. Especially due to 3.0, there are a lot of returning players that quit before they were able to get a house, so there will be both individuals and new/old FCs looking for plots. I can't remember which patch it was, maybe 3.4, but when the servers came back online and they added two new wards, every small house was taken in about 10 minutes. I imagine it will take half that time now (if they only add two new wards, anyway). First-class houses won't necessarily sell out faster, there will just be more competition for them. Medium houses will probably sell out very quickly. Larges always take a while to go, but since it's been so long since they've added a new ward, many people have had the time to grind out the necessary gil to buy one as soon as they go up for sale, so... It's not going to take long at all for the new wards to fill, basically.

Perhaps leaving him by himself was not the brightest of ideas. For a man that had killed three people with relative ease, he was not as volatile as she expected. Still, leaving him alone was a risk, but so was bringing him to the Bobbing Cork, potentially. Maybe time alone to enjoy the beauty of Fallgourd would do him some good – he had seemed rather on edge ever since they had come upon the road. So long as he did not wander far, he should be fine. This is not fanatical Ishgard, Edda reminded herself, nor home. Her room was on the second floor of the inn on the north side of the building, overlooking the lake and waterfall. Edda made her way up the stairs as quickly as she could. She hissed as her ankle protested its continued use and gripped the railing tightly. Rather than let it go, it would be better to take care of it now. Limping the rest of the way, she continued to her room and sat down on the bed to remove her boots. Her ankle was red and swollen with pain. Edda frowned at it in disapproval. It was not a serious injury, only irritated, but for such a minor sprain to be so painful was an annoyance, if not embarrassing. The woman put a hand to her ankle and furrowed her brow in concentration. It was a trial, to do it in this way. Healing from within still felt more natural to her, but there was insistence from many in Gridania that she cease to – for reasons she both understood, and did not. Edda closed her eyes and concentrated. Do it right. A cool sensation spread throughout her ankle, the pain dulling and melting away. Huffing a sigh, she leaned back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling as the spell took effect. That she should be crippled in this manner was disgraceful. Once the pain had resided and the swelling had gone down, Edda stood and began to undress. A warm bath usually awaited her when she returned from her walks, but there was no time for such luxury now. Her skin felt thick, covered in grime and sweat. A change of clothes would be little help, and so she imagined the long bath that lay in her future and began to change. She dressed for the cold – an intricate white coat and hood lined with fur, warm tights and long boots made for the snow. The woman looked about the room in thought. She did not have many belongings here, only those sent from home by retainers, and other miscellaneous items she had purchased while in Gridania. Edda knelt in front of a large trunk that sat at the end of the bed, and began to dig through it. Most of the items within she had never used, and began to pull out what seemed useful. A small, but heavy tent with a bed roll and blankets. An empty leather wineskin and a pouch of dried meats that had been pushed on her by a merchant in the city. Edda frowned at a rolled up map of the Black Shroud and Coerthas regions, out of date for six cycles now. Closing the trunk, she bustled about the room for a variety of other objects. Warming potions, a rain cloak and a paltry sum of gil. She had learn how to pack efficiently at a young age, and the woman managed to fit most of her items in a large knapsack that appeared as if it had never once been outside. Satisfied with her selection, Edda began to lug her equipment out of her room and back down the stairs. The Xaela could be seen at the plaza as she left the inn, and she sighed in relief. He had not wandered far at all. “Any trouble?” Edda asked as she approached, now without a noticeable limp. She scanned the area to find nothing out of the ordinary. It was an eerily quiet day in Fallgourd, but no less peaceful for it. The woman began loading her tent and bag onto her chocobo’s saddle with machine-like practice as she gazed at the man. He seemed quite curious and engaged with the aetheryte. Was this his first time seeing one? It was a bizarre thought to Edda, but one that made her smile in amusement as she tightened the straps on the saddle. “Are you alright?” She did not wait for an answer and instead rephrased the question, still smiling.

Getting a house on Balmung now is difficult if not impossible unless you have A) a vast quantity of gil or B) a very, very generous friend. When new wards come out (hopefully) in 3.1, it will... still be very difficult. You will need to have the money ready and bum-rush the housing zone in order to get the plot you want, alongside several hundred other people, many of which will be competitors for your desired plot. Edit: Here you will see an accurate representation of the new housing servers the second they come online for 3.1. F1YuOIfqr_8

The man’s decision to cross Fallgourd came as a surprise. His need to travel to Coerthas and beyond must be a pressing one, Edda thought, and she wondered what lay in such inhospitable lands that would drive him so. Turning back to look at the man, she glared at the hilt of his sword, just visible over his shoulder. “Whatever you do, do not draw your sword under any circumstance.” Her gaze returned to his face, and she looked him in the eye for a short moment, allowing her words to sink in. “If it seems you are in danger, believe me, it will not be a mortal one. If – through some bizarre circumstance – violence becomes necessary, I will let you know.” Edda turned and began to make her way down the road, bidding silently for the Xaela to follow. The clouds hung heavy in the sky, and the temperature began to drop quickly as a chill wind blew down from the mountains. It felt like snow. This could only be a good thing for them, with the cool temperature more likely to drive those idling outside back indoors. The Black Shroud was certainly full of strange sights, and as she understood it, had become much more open to travelers than it had in the past. Fallgourd was frequented by adventurers as well, more so than most outposts in the forest. It was a welcoming place, but the intimidating Au Ra dressed in bloodstained fur would surely be enough to set most residents on edge. “Stay close to me,” she continued. She brushed some dirt off the front of her dalmatica and tightened her ponytail. “It would behoove you to not speak much – use only simple words if you must.” Edda sighed. She had an explanation for his presence prepared already, but it was complicated by the three bodies left behind in the grove. When – if – she should return, and her story was found to be a false one, it would be easy for her to claim she was held hostage. She preferred it not come to that. Fallgourd Float came into view soon enough. Edda squinted ahead as she hobbled closer, and recognized the two guards at the gate. Priorfaix was an elderly Wailer, who stood guard with his son, whose name escaped her. The son was more often than not sleeping under his wooden mask, and for that she was thankful. As the two approached, she could see Priorfaix peering at the figure behind her. Forcing her limp down, she slowed her gait as they drew near to the entrance, and gave the man a small wave. “Friend of yours, lass?” Edda stopped as he addressed her.She hoped her standing in front of the Xaela would be enough to hide the blood on his clothes. “Not quite,” she said. She smiled at the man and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I found him wandering the forest. I agreed to show him the way to Coerthas, but we were accosted by a band of Ixal.” Her expression sobered as to fit the conversation. “This ah, man here fought them off and we managed to escape, but please do take care.” Priorfaix nodded, his expression serious. He stared up at the Au Ra curiously and frowned. He did not seem very taken by him. “Aye, aye we will,” he said after a moment and nodded again. “And you as well.” Edda inclined her head in thanks, and continued into the town. She glanced over her shoulder to see she was being followed, and sighed in relief. The sound of Priofaix shouting at his son could be heard as they made their way down the wooden walkway. “You hear that, you daft boy? Ixal!” As she expected, there were not many outdoors; the few that were stared at the pair as they passed. Edda did not make eye contact with any of them, as if doing so would confirm whatever suspicions they had. She hastened her pace and kept her head down, heading straight for the small stables at the entrance to town. Not wanting to deal with any more interaction, she withdrew her chocobo herself, nearly dragging the impudent creature along with her. She dared not look or inquire to the Xaela – she could scarce imagine what was going through his head. His earlier question made it seem as if he had not once stepped foot in any sort of town, and Edda doubted whatever hasty explanation she could have given him would have sufficed. Making their way to the aetheryte, Edda led on to a quiet area near the water. The worse of it was now over, and she felt as if she could relax. She looked over to The Bobbing Cork just across the water, where she stayed. She would need supplies. It was not a very long journey, but a perilous one – made so by the ice and snow that had settled in the region since the Calamity. Edda turned to the man abruptly and handed him the reigns to her chocobo. “Wait here,” she instructed. “There are items I must fetch –clothes and other sundries. I will return shortly.” She did not wait for a response, and made her way across the bridge and disappeared into the large building.

Technically, Edda has already been pushed over the edge several times, enough to the point where she no longer considers herself a "person." Years of constant sources of mental abuse certainly doesn't help either. Luckily she was built to be rather resilient, so her chances of suffering a psychotic break from a recurring instance is remarkably low - she just comes to accept it as something that will happen again naturally. Killed the person she loves? She'll probably do it again. Someone she (sort of) cared for forgot she existed? So will everyone else. Luckily she is quite practiced at putting on the face that people expect her to be, so her broken state is something that is quite difficult, if not impossible, to notice. This is not to say it cannot happen again, it would just have to be weirdly specific and personal. Confirming how she feels about herself, or dredging up one of her latent fears will tend to do the trick. These instances are usually accompanied by a breakdown and lots of crying, followed by her safely retreating back into the doll-like state she is meant to always be in. What a horrible person.

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.” -Walt Whitman

I imagine what you are thinking is way off base. Ahhhh no! :blush: You may find out, eventually... heehee. Also, relevant thread music for everyone!

Certainly not. Edda only aspires to be what she was meant to be, and that could never be a hero. However, she wishes to someday be freed by a hero, but in what manner... Well, I'll leave that up to your imagination.

Edda considered the man’s words carefully, frowning inconsideration. I do not wish to cause trouble, he said. This came as quite a surprise, considering the great deal of trouble that lay dead behind him in the grove. He seemed rather persistent however, and his desire to travel north – for whatever reason – seemed an earnest one. The woman looked up at the sky and sighed. Though it was dark under the thick canopy of trees, the faint light of the sun could be seen past the clouds as the afternoon began to slip away. It would not do to linger here. Closing her eyes, she considered his offer to fight. He seemed to have considerable skill with a blade. The simplicity of his words and apparent lack of care over taking lives could be useful. He did not seem the type to ask questions. A man of his stature would make a poor assassin, but if her feelings were true then all she would need was a sharp blade and someone to swing it – nothing more. Edda snapped her head back down to give the Au Ra a steady look. “I may yet have a use for you,” she said. She pushed off from the tree and turned to face down the hill. Her ankle stung in protest but she was not unfamiliar with such pain. Looking over her shoulder, she spoke once more to the man. “This way.” She did not check back to see if he followed as she made her way down the hill. There was a noticeable limp in her gait, though she suppressed it as best she could. There would be time enough to fix it later. Edda bit her lip as she hobbled down the slope, reaching out to passing trees to support her weight. As she came upon the road, she stopped to look and see if anyone was coming in either direction. The coast was clear, and she stepped into the road. Fallgourd Float was not far, though it was obscured by a bend in the road. It was only a fifteen minute walk – twenty in her current condition – and doubtless the fastest way to Coerthas. But would it be the safest? Edda tried to peek her head around the bend to little avail. Attempting to traipse through Fallgourd with a feral Au Ra would be dubious at best. Edda did not turn to look over her shoulder at the sound of another emerging into the road. “Beyond the bend is a small town – the fastest way across the lake,” she began. It seemed the easiest route to her, but for the now non-confrontational Xaela she was not so sure. “Follow the river southeast and the nearest crossing is in twenty malms, give or take. The choice is yours.” So she said. Getting him through Fallgourd would be difficult, but not impossible, depending on how well he planned to cooperate. It was a long stretch between Fallgourd and the nearest settlement in Coerthas, and stopping for supplies sooner rather than later would be ideal. However, fighting breaking out was very much a possibility, and Edda could hardly imagine just how disastrous that would be.

Welcome to the Best and Worst Server! Hope to see you around.

The answer seemed to dismay him. As he lowered his weapon and foraged for its harness, Edda let out a sharp sigh through her teeth and relaxed against the tree. She kept her eyes trained on him as he moved. Had he planned to hurt her, he would have done so already, and the genuine vexation in his expression made him seem less the cold-blooded killer she had first taken him for. Rather than make his way towards the road, as she had expected him to, the man turned to her once more and spoke. “I require guidance towards snow and mountains. Point me in the proper direction and I shall be on my way.” This was a far more ambitious request than his prior need for the road. Edda narrowed her eyes at the man in doubt – that he would simply let her go was doubtful at best. With his sharp eyes, her injury had almost certainly not escaped his notice. Even still, setting her free would no doubt lead to trouble for him later on, as she would likely alert more Wailers to his heading. Either he was daft, or overly-trusting, or both. It would be just as easy for her to point him towards Gridania, where he would be likely to run into trouble. And even if she showed him the correct route, he had little assurance that he would not become lost once more. Edda watched his features morph into a shadow of frustration. “I will offer my body in return.” This was much more unexpected. Edda gaped at the man, her brows furrowing and lips parting. What possible use could she have for his body? Use his scales as a washboard? Hang her underwear out to dry on his horns? There was little else she could imagine what he, or anyone else for that matter, could mean by such a thing. His expression remained stern, and it became clear his offer was quite serious. Her eyes focused once more on his sword and outlandish clothes. He appeared unhurt, and felling three Wood Wailers with little issue would mean he was quite skilled with a blade. It was not uncommon for one to bargain their services in exchange for another, though Edda had not done so before. He was not very well-spoken, but the assumption was a likely one. It did not seem a fair trade, to offer himself as a weapon in exchange for mere directions. If he planned to go alone, she would not be able to obtain his services anyway, rendering the proposal negligible. Oh.The meaning of the offer clicked as he stared at her expectantly. Whether he did not trust her for accurate guidance, or he feared losing his way yet again, the veiled suggestion in his appeal became clear. However, it was still an assumption on her part, though she saw little harm in testing the waters. “Are you asking me to take you there personally?” Her lips curled into an uneasy smile, her brow still furrowed. She did not wait for an answer, and once more test her left ankle with her weight. The pain still persist, but she would be able to walk if need be. “If I refuse, will you take me as a hostage?” The question sounded more like a challenge than the actual fear she felt at such a thought. The Au Ra seemed observant enough to realize she would not put up much of a fight – at least in the ways that he would expect. Waiting for a response, Edda looked up at the clouded sky.Perhaps she could yet find some use for the man. It would not be the first time she consorted with a killer, and the thought did little to perturb her. She knew the way to Coerthas in theory alone, having only flown in by airship once before. Despite being a native of Vylbrand, Llymlaen had not blessed her with any navigational skills to speak of, though she saw little point in bringing that up now.

I can't say I sympathize, but you're definitely not the odd man out. 3.0 still hasn't been out for very long, and everyone is still acclimating to level 60 content, whether they admit to it or not. Since you are a tank, it's important to remember that it really is not just you that is keeping everyone alive. If the healer or DPS aren't doing their job, then you'll all die anyway. Everyone has to perform, and everyone makes mistakes. Naturally you'll run into assholes in duty finder, and if they start to rag on you just tell them to nut up and shut up. They'll get over it, and chances are you will not see ANY of these people ever again. Really the best thing you can do is just do your best... If you screw up, apologize, but only once. If the pressure is really that much, ask your friends to run content with you until you're comfortable enough to subject yourself to solo roulette.

The man made no move to attack. He seemed rather unperturbed by her appearance and question, and Edda was thankful neither of those things was enough to provoke him into action, in spite of his barbarous appearance. Despite the standstill, she did not relax, still tense against the tree and watching the man closely for any signs of aggression. Neither of them moved, and for a moment the woman wondered if he could understand her. Her perception was quickly dashed when the man shook his head and lowered his sword, an action which made her noticeably flinch. “Where is the road?” A rather unexpected inquiry. Edda’s expression morphed into a blank stare, her lips parting at the absurdity of it. He was no native, clearly, but the directness of it surprised her, and it did little to compliment his brutish bearing. There was sincerity in his query that left her all the more baffled. It was not an uncommon thing to hear from simple travelers, but if that was all he was then surely there was no need for such brutality. He was dressed for the outdoors, but to miss the road entirely at so short a distance seemed improbable. Perhaps he was chased into the woods for committing some sort of crime. It would explain the killings, unless that was his way of thanking people for directions. Having the ability to lose her way in any environment, Edda was far from unsympathetic to the man. However, his uncouth actions seemed an ill-fit for one wanting to travel by road. Here, following the road would lead him to only two places: Fallgourd Float, or Gridania. If his destination lay beyond those two points, he would need to pass through, or risk losing his way again by circling around. With stains of blood on his clothes and his incongruous appearance in the reclusive Shroud, entering any bastion of civilization would be a poor idea. It was doubtful he was headed to either location, but if he was he would not make it far past the gates before being apprehended. A humorous thought, but she doubt he would go peacefully, and perhaps take even more lives with him in the process. Edda shifted her weight to test her ankle. A jolt of disapproving pain coursed up her leg, and so she resumed favoring her right leg and leaned further into the tree. Ready to address his question, she turned to look down the slope, and carefully pointed down past the tree. “It is just down the hill. You would be hard-pressed to miss it.” She turned back to the man to gauge his reaction, or receive gratitude in the form of cold steel. The dark clouds that had been approaching from Coerthas began to make their way over the canopy, stopping more light from entering the dense forest. Edda narrowed her eyes as she inspected the Au Ra once more. Even in the poor light, the bright emerald rings in his eyes stood out. The tattered leathers and furs of his garb were unlike any she had seen before, and even considering the more outlandish companies of adventurers in Eorzea, Edda could not imagine an area within a thousand malms that would be receptive to such an appearance. Edda paused and licked her lips. A small smile made its way across her features, though mixed with her unabated fear it felt more like an awkward smirk. “Although,” she began in a hesitant voice. “If you are heading into town, I would suggest a change of clothes.” There was a lilt of inquisitiveness in her voice, for her own sake as well of those in Fallgourd. She would not be able to beat him there in her current state, and she made no move of leaving her present position. She hoped he planned to leave peacefully, and if he did so, whatever information she could garner from him could be put to use later on. He did not seem rather talkative however, and so Edda awaited his next course of action, and less so his words.

In hindsight, it was foolish of her to think such a disturbance would go unnoticed. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on edge as the distinctive sound of footsteps drew closer. It was a slow advance, one marked with apprehension. Branches bent and snapped as the figure left the grove, and Edda knew she was as good as caught. When the footsteps ground to an abrupt halt Edda dared to move, looking up from her ankle to the direction the sound had come. She had not expected the sight before her. Less alerted by the unsheathed weapon, her eyes focused on the dark figure that bore it. He was no Elezen, that much was certain. Dark scales speckled about his skin, heavy horns protruding from his head – he was every bit more fearsome than she could have imagined. It was not the first time she had seen one of these creatures. There had been the airy, dainty woman with horns of gold and a voice like bells, but the man standing before her was the perfect contrast. His height and expression alone were enough to send chills down Edda’s spine. Panic was apparent on her face – eyes wide and focused, the color drained from her face. Perhaps this man was used to such a reaction, but the thought did little to allay her. Fear would afford her little. Edda lowered her gaze from his face, fixating instead on the claymore he wielded. It was clear from the size of it, and the stains on his garb, that he had been responsible for the deaths of the three Wood Wailers. Though the sword was clean, the size of the gashes on the bodies determined it the likely culprit. What little information on his race she gleaned from the library at home managed her no guess to his motivations. Whether he acted in self-defense or killed in cold blood, the man was dangerous. She could offer no explanation for her presence here, nor did she have anything substantial to give him in exchange for her safe release. Edda felt very much trapped. Still, she felt little need to await her death at the hands of an unknown barbarian. The damp soil of the forest began to seep through her clothes as she sat at the base of the tree. Her ankle still pained her, but Edda reached out to the trunk to steady herself as she pushed off the ground. She moved slowly as to not alert the man, though she could not move any faster if she tried. She grimaced as she stood. Her body ached from her short tumble down, and she shifted her weight to her good leg and leaned her back against the tree. Edda glanced away for a moment to look further down the slope. The road was not far. She would not be able to run, but perhaps if she managed to hurl herself down to the road, it would deter him from following. His weapon was a heavy one, and he had little room for a quick swing. There was still a chance. Yet the man had made no move to harm her yet, and had said nothing. His expression was focused and cold. Her breath came out in shallow gasps, her heart pounding in her chest. She was afraid. Edda reached up to wipe off a smear of dirt on her cheek. This was not the first time she had been in such a quandary, and she had survived this far. Edda met the man’s stare and took a deep breath, relaxing her face. Though fright still shone through in her eyes, she forced a sharp glare at the man. It was an even look of both impatience and disdain. There was practice in her bearing, one that gave the impression that she was far more resourceful than she seemed. She braced herself against the tree and spoke in a low voice. “Well? Are you going to kill me or not?”