You invite a friend over to your house for the afternoon. Describe what your friend would see upon entering your home.
Well, first they'd probably notice that it's not a house. It's a ship. See, while we've got a couple safehouses knocking around the only place I really call home is the Flame itself. So we'll go with "upon stepping off the gangplank" instead. In which case, they'd likely see some of the crew taking care of the day to day maintenance of the ship - checking the rigging, things like that. Depending on the time of day you'll probably find ol' WL passed out drunk on the deck somewhere. Heading down the steps below deck you'll find a few side rooms, two of which lead to large bunk areas for the crew to sleep. Should we make the way over to my cabin, you'd see a relatively simple bed large enough for two people. There's a window that looks out over the ocean and next to that there's a chess board with some strangely carved pieces. There's a writing desk too, as well as a "wine" rack filled with bottles of rum. A banner with the emblem of the Phoenix Pirates is hanging over the bed.
During the casual small-talk that ensues, your friend asks you if you have read any good books lately. How do you respond?
Lately I've been spending a lot of time reading through this book I picked up from a troupe of travelling performers. It's all about the art of improvisation, getting locked into a character and coming up with things on the fly. Piracy isn't all about raiding and pillaging...at least, not the way we do it. I'll often run into situations that call for a more...subtle touch and I'm always looking for ways to improve the skills I need. It doesn't help that I find the whole subject fascinating either...can thank Dad for that one.
Your friend eventually leaves, and you're still bored. Restless, you leave the house and set out for a walk. Describe the neighborhood you live in.
Well, depending on where we're docked that'll affect what kind of port it is. But for argument's sake, let's say we're docked in the place we most consider home - Limsa Lominsa. Granted, most of you are pretty familiar with it already so I don't need to go into too much detail there. I love the town, more than any of the other large cities we spend time in. There's just something more...real about it, y'know? The people are honest. Well, for pirates and brigands, but you know what I mean. Sure, half of 'em will shank you and steal your shoes soon as look at you...but they're honest about it. You wnid up in a place around a bunch of nobles and business types, you never know what they're really after. Someone talks to you there, you have to constantly watch yourself, make sure you don' slip up and give them some bit of information they're gonna use against you. Here, you know exactly what they're after. Especially if you're wearing nice shoes. The smell of the sea air, the fish being offloaded, the yells of the sailors turning the air as blue as the sea...it's comforting. Well, to me.
Oh no! An orphan is in trouble! Down the street from where you stand, a small street urchin is being bullied by three larger youths. What do you do about it?
Ah, now it might seem a little wierd to you but ol' Cap'n Ty doesn't like to see injustice done. It's just that my sense of injustice might be a little...different than some. Mainly those who want to try and arrest me. But I digress! In this case, I'd casually walk over to them while twirling my favorite gun. This one, ain't she a beauty? But anyway, you' be amazed that the effect an impressive firearm has on the kids. After getting their attention, they might turn on me...especially if we're talking about a back alley in the Limsa port. So I'd whap one of them upside the head with the butt of the gun. That normally shows them I mean business. Most of those kids, they rely on fear to get what they want. Soon as you stand up to them, they run off with their tails between their legs. I'd probably toss the kid a few gil and send him off to grab a bite to eat, subtle-like so they don't realize he's got money now. I'm just that kind. I know, I know...but I can't help it, it's in my nature to be fantastic.
Adventure time! The next day, still restless, you decide that what you need is a good change of pace. How do you pack for your four-day road trip to Ishgard?
Hmmm...well, let's say for argument's sake I've decided to go on foot as opposed to taking the Flame. You did say a change of pace, after all. First off, there's the obvious sundries - grab the sword, the gun and enough bullets to last. Supplies to maintain both of them as well, naturally. A good supply of bread and cheese - those tend to last out just in case hunting down something to cook doesn't pan out. Of course...you said four days, right? No less than four bottles of rum, then. Other than that, just the basic essentials that anyone travelling should have...flint and kindling to start a fire, a good sharp hunting knife and a few bottles for water. I'll normally have my wood-carving knife with me as well. It's a good way to whittle away a few hours by a campfire. Get it? Whittle away a few hours? Carving wood? No? Ah well.
Along your journey, you spot some bandits waiting at a bridge across a wide but slow moving river up ahead of you. They haven't seen you yet. You need to cross the bridge to get to where you're going. How do you handle the situation?
Depends on what you mean by some, really. Let's say for argument's sake, there's three. I'd load my gun and sneak into range, hopefully without being spotted. Again, to keep things simple let's say I pull that off. I'll fire off three shots and try to kneecap each of 'em. Croix could pull it off much quieter and from a longer distance, but he's a hell of a better shot than I am. So let's say I manage to cap two of them, the third comes at me. I'll have the sword ready and try to take him down as well. Not kill him, just...hurt him a bit. Once he's incapacitated, I'll take any gil I can find from the two I kneecapped and toss them into the river. It's slow, they'll be fine. Then I'll threaten the third with the same treatment unless he shows me where their stash is. Once he does, I'll take that too. Then toss him into the river as well. Don't look at me like that, pirates and bandits are different. Well, my lot are. Bandits like that, they don't discriminate with who they target. They'll happily take the shirt off a poor old man's back without a second thought.
You have just arrived for the first time in a new big city. Where do you go first?
The pub. Not just for the booze either, although that's for sure a major concern. No, the best way to get the feel for a city is to find a busy pub and just talk to people for a bit. You'll learn more that way than any other about what's going on, who to avoid and who can be trusted. Plus, booze.
For being the 1,000th tourist to the city, you have been given a 6,000 gil voucher to spend as you like at the Ishgard Department Store (think FFXIV version of Macy's). What do you spend it on?
6,000 gil? Alright, free rum! I'd stock up as much of that as I can reasonably carry - again, assuming the Flame is left back in Limsa. After that, I'd use the rest to repair and replace the gear I used getting there in the first place.
All of that shopping has made you deliriously hungry. What sort of food establishment do you seek out for lunch?
Back to the pub! I love good pub food. It's real cooking, not that fancy crap you get at upscale places where they'll make you pay a few thousand for a sodding apple. No, give me a thick, juicy steak pie with a pint of the house ale.
Five months later and safely back at home, you realize the Winter Festival is approaching! What sort of present do you pick out for your mother (or nearest living relative, or closest friend)?
Mum likes the magical arts a lot, so some sort of talisman she can use in her research, I reckon. For Dad, I'd try and track down some sheet music that I don't think he's found yet. That's getting harder and harder, though...
Well, first they'd probably notice that it's not a house. It's a ship. See, while we've got a couple safehouses knocking around the only place I really call home is the Flame itself. So we'll go with "upon stepping off the gangplank" instead. In which case, they'd likely see some of the crew taking care of the day to day maintenance of the ship - checking the rigging, things like that. Depending on the time of day you'll probably find ol' WL passed out drunk on the deck somewhere. Heading down the steps below deck you'll find a few side rooms, two of which lead to large bunk areas for the crew to sleep. Should we make the way over to my cabin, you'd see a relatively simple bed large enough for two people. There's a window that looks out over the ocean and next to that there's a chess board with some strangely carved pieces. There's a writing desk too, as well as a "wine" rack filled with bottles of rum. A banner with the emblem of the Phoenix Pirates is hanging over the bed.
During the casual small-talk that ensues, your friend asks you if you have read any good books lately. How do you respond?
Lately I've been spending a lot of time reading through this book I picked up from a troupe of travelling performers. It's all about the art of improvisation, getting locked into a character and coming up with things on the fly. Piracy isn't all about raiding and pillaging...at least, not the way we do it. I'll often run into situations that call for a more...subtle touch and I'm always looking for ways to improve the skills I need. It doesn't help that I find the whole subject fascinating either...can thank Dad for that one.
Your friend eventually leaves, and you're still bored. Restless, you leave the house and set out for a walk. Describe the neighborhood you live in.
Well, depending on where we're docked that'll affect what kind of port it is. But for argument's sake, let's say we're docked in the place we most consider home - Limsa Lominsa. Granted, most of you are pretty familiar with it already so I don't need to go into too much detail there. I love the town, more than any of the other large cities we spend time in. There's just something more...real about it, y'know? The people are honest. Well, for pirates and brigands, but you know what I mean. Sure, half of 'em will shank you and steal your shoes soon as look at you...but they're honest about it. You wnid up in a place around a bunch of nobles and business types, you never know what they're really after. Someone talks to you there, you have to constantly watch yourself, make sure you don' slip up and give them some bit of information they're gonna use against you. Here, you know exactly what they're after. Especially if you're wearing nice shoes. The smell of the sea air, the fish being offloaded, the yells of the sailors turning the air as blue as the sea...it's comforting. Well, to me.
Oh no! An orphan is in trouble! Down the street from where you stand, a small street urchin is being bullied by three larger youths. What do you do about it?
Ah, now it might seem a little wierd to you but ol' Cap'n Ty doesn't like to see injustice done. It's just that my sense of injustice might be a little...different than some. Mainly those who want to try and arrest me. But I digress! In this case, I'd casually walk over to them while twirling my favorite gun. This one, ain't she a beauty? But anyway, you' be amazed that the effect an impressive firearm has on the kids. After getting their attention, they might turn on me...especially if we're talking about a back alley in the Limsa port. So I'd whap one of them upside the head with the butt of the gun. That normally shows them I mean business. Most of those kids, they rely on fear to get what they want. Soon as you stand up to them, they run off with their tails between their legs. I'd probably toss the kid a few gil and send him off to grab a bite to eat, subtle-like so they don't realize he's got money now. I'm just that kind. I know, I know...but I can't help it, it's in my nature to be fantastic.
Adventure time! The next day, still restless, you decide that what you need is a good change of pace. How do you pack for your four-day road trip to Ishgard?
Hmmm...well, let's say for argument's sake I've decided to go on foot as opposed to taking the Flame. You did say a change of pace, after all. First off, there's the obvious sundries - grab the sword, the gun and enough bullets to last. Supplies to maintain both of them as well, naturally. A good supply of bread and cheese - those tend to last out just in case hunting down something to cook doesn't pan out. Of course...you said four days, right? No less than four bottles of rum, then. Other than that, just the basic essentials that anyone travelling should have...flint and kindling to start a fire, a good sharp hunting knife and a few bottles for water. I'll normally have my wood-carving knife with me as well. It's a good way to whittle away a few hours by a campfire. Get it? Whittle away a few hours? Carving wood? No? Ah well.
Along your journey, you spot some bandits waiting at a bridge across a wide but slow moving river up ahead of you. They haven't seen you yet. You need to cross the bridge to get to where you're going. How do you handle the situation?
Depends on what you mean by some, really. Let's say for argument's sake, there's three. I'd load my gun and sneak into range, hopefully without being spotted. Again, to keep things simple let's say I pull that off. I'll fire off three shots and try to kneecap each of 'em. Croix could pull it off much quieter and from a longer distance, but he's a hell of a better shot than I am. So let's say I manage to cap two of them, the third comes at me. I'll have the sword ready and try to take him down as well. Not kill him, just...hurt him a bit. Once he's incapacitated, I'll take any gil I can find from the two I kneecapped and toss them into the river. It's slow, they'll be fine. Then I'll threaten the third with the same treatment unless he shows me where their stash is. Once he does, I'll take that too. Then toss him into the river as well. Don't look at me like that, pirates and bandits are different. Well, my lot are. Bandits like that, they don't discriminate with who they target. They'll happily take the shirt off a poor old man's back without a second thought.
You have just arrived for the first time in a new big city. Where do you go first?
The pub. Not just for the booze either, although that's for sure a major concern. No, the best way to get the feel for a city is to find a busy pub and just talk to people for a bit. You'll learn more that way than any other about what's going on, who to avoid and who can be trusted. Plus, booze.
For being the 1,000th tourist to the city, you have been given a 6,000 gil voucher to spend as you like at the Ishgard Department Store (think FFXIV version of Macy's). What do you spend it on?
6,000 gil? Alright, free rum! I'd stock up as much of that as I can reasonably carry - again, assuming the Flame is left back in Limsa. After that, I'd use the rest to repair and replace the gear I used getting there in the first place.
All of that shopping has made you deliriously hungry. What sort of food establishment do you seek out for lunch?
Back to the pub! I love good pub food. It's real cooking, not that fancy crap you get at upscale places where they'll make you pay a few thousand for a sodding apple. No, give me a thick, juicy steak pie with a pint of the house ale.
Five months later and safely back at home, you realize the Winter Festival is approaching! What sort of present do you pick out for your mother (or nearest living relative, or closest friend)?
Mum likes the magical arts a lot, so some sort of talisman she can use in her research, I reckon. For Dad, I'd try and track down some sheet music that I don't think he's found yet. That's getting harder and harder, though...
![[Image: TyFFXIVSig.jpg]](http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae167/Tyriont/TyFFXIVSig.jpg)
