Gharen

So, I can say that I've been really lucky to get rp with alot of folks here, many of whom I get to speak with on a daily basis as newfound friends. Bless Roen and Jara for putting up with my crap. I won't generate a list of folks I'd like to rp with cause it would be really, really long. I will, however mention the 1st person that made that list because she prolly isn't aware that she's the reason I'm on the rpc and Balmung in the first place. So, back when 2.0 launched I was eagerly trying to get my hands on the game, not so fresh off of the shutdown of City of Heroes and a poor showing from swtor, I did a search for "Final Fantasy XIV unofficial roleplay server". What I got back wasn't one post, but several, on multiple forums I think from Alothia Starkwood directing people to Balmung and having the RPC linked in her sig. So that's my story of the first person to make their way onto my list. Short and simple I know, but a year later I still havent been able to catch her, elusive lady that one. :thumbsup: (Forgive any typos, typing on tablet with auto correct nazi turned off.)

This totally sums up my character as well! This pretty much fits Gharen's mentality as well. This is what he tries to be... http://killstreakmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/samurai-wallpaper-1024x640.jpg[/img] And as Eva put it... Close interaction with the ladies will make him light up like a bombard. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/301/9/3/tamaki_blushing_lol_by_francinexxx-d4e6vqo.gif[/img]

First of all, welcome to the RPC. You've come to the right place, the RPC is full of folks who are shy and self conscious. But I don't think you'll find a friendlier, more welcoming, (if a little neurotic at times) community for Final Fantasy. Feel free to say hello in game if you see me around. =)

But, but, we're not all special snowflakes!? :cry:

Maybe it's just the I.T. guy in me, but when a new user pops on with 1 post and says "Hey run this script to win stuff!" it makes me leery.

Don't chalk it up to your skill, the starter cards manage to both suck and blow at the same time thus defying physics. Go after the starter NPC's and you'll manage to get some new cards. Jonas gives moogle and Ixal I believe, and I've only gotten spriggan from the master so far. The guy across from Jonas drops chocobo and scarface, all of which are halfway decent cards. I have yet to beat the elezen cause his deck coupled with the random effect is op and sets you up to fail it seems.

Here you go Aya. Apologizing now for the poor Photoshop skills

I will often wave at or poke folks I see from the RPC, though often find random out of the blue RP difficult because that my character (like myself) just isn't that social. =/

Callback to my CoH days but Rock, paper, scissors emotes. They add that and the game will be a better place.

Please only post here if the server is actually open.

I should have listened to my instincts. Acrid smoke filled the air and billowed around the caravan, panicked shouts echoing into the night as its defenders attempted to discern the threat. The attackers moved in silence using the shadows as cover, attempting to disarm and incapacitate their targets. Gharen moved as quickly as he was able, his eyes squinting to peer through the smoke; his goal had been to simply stop the caravan with as little bloodshed as possible on both sides, and search for the manifests and ultimately the contents. He specifically stated to his accomplices, his newest pupil Evangeline Primrose and his longtime friend U'roh, that they were to avoid casualties at all costs. They had all agreed that innocents should not be harmed. Even the best laid plans never truly survive contact with the enemy. He was following the trail that had been given to him previously by Brynnalia Callae. He’d scouted it, learned the trail, and looked for signs that it was actually in use. He’d spotted this caravan bells before, and it was smaller than he had anticipated, a single cart. Perhaps it was the presence of the Immortal Flames guarding the caravan, but something didn’t sit right with him. But it was a feeling he would regretfully choose to ignore, suspecting that it all could have still been a ruse on Lazarov's part. I gambled that it was the right one... and lost. Gharen moved for the wagon driver, ignoring opposition almost entirely, hoping to end this as quickly as possible. He was even willing to risk harm to himself as long as he could just get them to surrender. He had come dressed in all black armor and had set his mind to lie and play the part of the villain. He bee lined for the drivers perch, his eyes set on the Lalafell driver. The man could never have known that Gharen truly meant him no harm, and it was obvious in his wide eyes filled with fear. He frantically scrambled out of the Gharen's reach, and to the Highlander's dismay, the Lalafell drew a knife. That was when everything spiraled out of control. A small explosive planted upon the rear axle by Evangeline--meant to only cripple the wagon--went off with greater force than he had anticipated, rocking the cart violently. It threw everyone on the wagon off balance, Gharen himself included. He had to grab onto the seat to prevent himself from falling off the side. It was almost in slow motion that he watched the driver fumble for balance with his knife in hand, and as he fell forward, the blade disappeared beneath him. But Gharen had no time to react to the injured Lalafell. One of the Immortal Flame guards was upon him by then, another Highlander, his longsword drawn. Gharen managed to raise his his shield, leaving his own sword by his hip, instead demanding that weapons be dropped. He still had hope to tend to the injured driver. But his kinsmen proved notoriously stubborn and hard headed. Gharen blocked a sword blow, noting peripherally that U'roh and Evangeline were taking care of the other guards. He launched an attack of his own, but to his kinsman's credit, the Flame was skilled enough to turn and absorbed the shield bash with his off arm. He landed a glancing cut near Gharen's shoulder, but at the cost of his own broken arm. It was then that the other Immortal Flame thankfully shouted their surrender. The rest of the guards had been defeated. Gharen ran to the driver hoping to tend to his wound, while ordering Eva and U’Roh to get the guards down on the side of the road and search the cargo and manifests. It had all been for naught, the cargo was legitimate, the manifests indicated it did not belong to Redgrave, and the driver laid dead. To make matters worse, Evangeline accidentally called out his name in frustration. Ordering his friends to leave, Gharen was set to turn himself over to the Flames then and there, but loyalty much like love, made people stubborn, stupid, and blind to the larger picture at hand. U'roh and Evangeline would not let him surrender. They refused to leave his side. So instead, Gharen spoke the officer in charge, a Midlander who had declared their surrender earlier. He removed his helm and explained himself, who he was and why he attacked the caravan. Gharen was not looking for forgiveness nor absolution, he knew he would find none here. He simply wished them to know why, and after doing so, gave his word that he would turn himself over to Sergeant Osric Melkire. We had already done enough. Gharen leaned back against the stone wall of the Thanalan cavern, his attention returning to the present as he looked over his camp. He had already spoken with Miss Crofte and left word with Miss Jakkya, and now waited to hear from Sergeant Melkire who had been strangely silent. He replayed the events of that night in his head again, as he had been for the last few bells. He would turn himself in, that much given, but until then he would plan his next move.

Gharen takes her hand and stands up, "I would say tha' yer a fine student, ye simply approach problems differently than most, if'n anything ye've taught me a thing or two about how I approach teachin' someone tha' views th' world th' way ye do." He bends over and pats off the dust and dirt upon his armor, "I still say tha' don' quite count really unless somethin' happened I was nae conscious fer. An don' worry about th' healin' anythin' worth doin' is nae goin' te be easy, an' I imagine given enough time an' practice you'll be quite adept at it." He lets a breath out as he gives her a look. "I hope ye've been makin' nice with Miss Crofte now. Because she's th' next challenge we face in yer becomin' a paladin."

He gives her a concerned look, "Ye did quite well lass, little more'n a scratch left tha' won' even leave a scar. Tha's more'n most can claim, especially given yer claim o' light breezes an' rollin' pebbles. Ye make it soun' like ye failed somehow."

Gharen sits cross legged with his elbow resting upon his thigh and his chin in the palm of his hand there's a look of concern on his face, though the concern seems to be fading now that she's woken. "Did ye have a nice nap Miss Primrose? Ye passed out." as silly as the sight was he didn't laugh, she didn't need to be embarrassed about this. "Yer in th' refugee camp, an we were workin' on yer healin', I'm guessin' at some point ye fergot tha' breathin' tis important, cause ye've only been out o' it nae more'n a few moments. How do ye feel?"

Gharen watched as Eva concentrated, she did so almost too much, that is until she relaxed. The weak glow from her hand over his arm all at once gained strength as she did, and the minor wound began to heal quickly. He could swear but for a moment, that he saw the corners of her mouth curl upward slightly into a smile, then she suddenly began to waver. When her form suddenly went limp and fell off to the side, he grabbed at her arm keeping her from hitting the ground. He laid her gently down on the ground upon her back, he began to check to ensure that she was alright he'd heard of healers wearing themselves out extensive healing, and had even seen it a few times, but it had always been in the most grievous of cases. He checked her pulse, and glanced to her chest, looking away and nearly turning red once he verified she was breathing, once he was satisfied that she was alright, he sat back down, glancing about for something comfortable to rest her head upon. He leaned over to his rucksack that laid nearby, and pulled out a bed roll, he adjusted it and laid her head upon it to make her as comfortable as he could. He sad back down and inspected the wound upon the back of his arm. It was now little more than a scratch, he rubbed off the dried blood and reached for his gauntlet and began to put it back on.

Gharen quietly watches as she works, he'd figured some time ago that she was one to look at the little things and focus on those. Conjury had not come easy to him initially either, in Little Ala Mhigo under the "care" of his guardian he learned quickly how to tend and care to his wounds traditionally out of necessity. After leaving though he had to learn how not only care for his wounds, but how to foster the ability to heal them quickly lest he not be able to hunt, or travel effectively. "It dinnae hurt, but close yer eyes, an picture in yer mind tha' you're sittin' in a cool an' gently flowin' river o' light, it's currents flow around ye an' react te yer movements much as a livin' thing might. Tis yer ally, an let tha' light flow through ye as make yer intention known tha' ye wish te borrow o' tha' light don' force it, an focus tha' borrowed light by picturin' what ye wish te accomplish."

He watches her nervous rambling for a moment, and attempts cut her off and get her attention focused. "...making the wind blow a little harder..." "Miss Primrose." "...what if I hurt you?" "Miss Primrose?" "...tumorous, or infected..." "Miss Primrose!" "...if I am up to this." He lets out an exasperated sigh and then draws in a quick breath and lets out a curt ear splitting whistle that rings out through the camp and echoes off the heavy stone wall of Ul'dah behind them drawing looks from the refugees around them. "Miss Primrose!" He then waits to see if he has her full and undivided attention. Once he does, he motions to his arm, "Inaction could lose someone their arm, or their life Miss Primrose, I find practical experience te be th' best teacher. I'd expected ye'd have figured tha' out by now. If'n ye like I'll teach ye a technique tha' will help ye."

He nods, "We shall start simple then." He begins to remove his right gauntlet setting it down on the ground various old scars and burns now readily visible, Reaching to his belt with his left he removes a short dagger, and runs it quickly across the back of his arm, the bright crimson begins to flow freely down his arm as he sits upon the ground. "Have a seat, tis nae deep nor life threatening. Ye said before ye lacked focus, let us see how ye do then."

He nods quietly at her mention of retaliation, "I fully expect reprisal o' some sort which is why I'm want'n te minimize the number o' those involved. I'd make it look like a bandit attack, but I'd also nae want te go stoopin' down te' their level an' go killin' th' guards." He gives Eva a look for a moment as he sizes up the woman's frame. "There are some other kinds o' armor tha' may suit yet better, scale is a step down in protection, but increases mobility. Alternatively, there are some types o' plate tha' use lighter metals, or thinner plates in general te reduce weight, tis somethin' te consider. Jus' remember, gainin' in one area o' protection, almost always sacrifices in another."

SO JELLY. Nothing wants to drop in the instances for me T_T. I got lucky on most of the dungeons at anywhere between 1-7 runs for a drop. Worst one was Qarn HM I stopped counting at 7 or so and didn't get a drop till somewhere in the ballpark of 15-20 runs.

Just finished my excalibur so I figured I'd treat myself to a bit of shameless self promotion.

He gave her words some thought, he had been contemplating on how best to bring this to an end and doing so by not involving or endangering others. Every plan that came to mind would take time that he did not have, or had slim chances for success. "I thank ye Miss Primrose. I'll acquire th trade route maps, unfortunately, I don' believe tha' we have an abundance o' time te finesse this quietly. I expect this te get messy, an' quickly. But I need te know what was so worth killin' fer."

"Yer quite correct." he takes a deep breath, But risk with a measured hand, lest this place become a mass grave for innocents." His expression shifts, as he thinks, "This pirate uses an alias by th' name o' Redgrave, an bought up large shares in a trade route, as I understand it, he had th' monetarist family tha' owned it killed, men, women, an' children, an entire bloodline wiped out all in order te take control o' the route himself." He goes quiet for a moment as he reflects on that point again, "I don' know this man's plan, an' I really don' need te, I know what he's willin' te step o'er th' bodies o' children do te accomplish it." "I've been speakin' with contacts, trackin' down people with information, I'm gettin' a hold o' th' location o' those trade routes.. an' plannin' te find out what he wanted them so badly, an one way or another bring him te justice."