Al'Mian Oasis (Open)

[Gavriel]

The Setting:

 

This story takes place several leagues to the south of Ul'dah within the small trading outpost known as the Al'Mian Oasis. As the name implies, Al'Mian is strategically located around a small watering hole that is essential for the survival of trade in the remote southern regions of Thalalan. To the east and west the outpost is protected by treacherous desert that extends for as far as the eye can see. To the north lies a sprawling flatland that eventually leads to the city of Ul'dah. To the south lies a rocky, mountainous region populated by tribes of Hellsguard Roegadyn.

 

Al'Mian has been in existence for several generations in one form or another thanks to members of the Ul'dah Syndicate who regularly send food, supplies, and troupes of mercenaries to safeguard their interests. It is very common to see an assortment of travelers and merchants of all races passing through, especially the Dunesfolk, who must water their giant beasts of burden.

 

(I lack the skills to draw the layout of the camp, so a description will have to do for now...)

 

The Oasis itself is located in a shallow dip at the base of a treacherous cliff. The southern part of the camp is completely blocked by the cliff face, but it is easily accessed by any other route. The only road into the camp is from the north, which leads back to Ul'dah. However, Roegadyn and Dunesfolk with their beasts of burden tend to arrive unannounced from the middle of the open desert.

 

There are three mudbrick buildings in Al'Main. The first is the tavern, which houses as many as twenty-five guests at a time with plenty of room outside for stragglers. Like any respectable tavern, there is a well-stocked bar and kitchen. There are a dozen tables as well as sitting room at the bar.

The second building is the Marketplace. Here, traders may set up their own booths and sell their wares to fellow merchants and travelers. Al'Main is a crossroads for several trading routs and a quick deal can be easily made, without burden of taxes, before heading off to Ul'dah and beyond.

The third building is the barracks. This small building houses a-dozen-or-so mercenaries who are hired to protect this vital trading rout. Seeing as how this area is so remote, the mercenaries tend to fight amongst themselves and drink entirely too much wine.

 

The Plot

 

Currently, the Al'Main Oasis is very quiet. There are only a few travelers staying in the tavern and the Dunesfolk haven't been seen for over a week. The soldiers are twiddling their thumbs and the barkeep is growing tired of staring at his empty tavern. Everyone is happy that they will be going home soon. The next group of tenants would be arriving from Ul'dah to take over the camp on the morrow...

 

 

 

Participants:

Gavriel Venitiago (Hyur)

Bear (Roegadyn)

Aveline Blue (Miqo'te)

Shamad Conde (Lalafell Dunesfolk)

Tadir West (Hyur)

Faythiel (Elezen)

Axl (Hyur)

Tabrett Aldurren (Miqo'te)

Dreamer Milcham (Hyur)

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OOC

The purpose of this thread is to have a place for we Ul'dahians(?) to officially introduce our characters into the Final Fantasy XIV Universe! Please feel free to join whenever you want. This is an open RP thread. I hope everyone has a blast!

 

I will be keeping an updated list of everyone who is participating, as well as a link to their Character Archive page if they have posted one. This makes it very easy for folks to quickly look up who they are dealing with.

 

The rules are located here: http://www.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=254

[Gavriel]

The early morning sun had finally risen. A mighty dust storm had ripped through Al'Main during the night, leaving another six inches of sand covering just about everything in sight. That's just what they needed here in the desert. More sand. Of course, it was Gavriel's job to dig out the the tavern and the marketplace. He was good with a shovel. Of course, he was better with a sword, but those things never got used much around here. At least he got paid to do it.

 

After several hours of labor, he had finally finished his task. The sun was much higher now and he was starting to overheat. Hard physical labor was something that was done at night in the desert, but sometimes necessity calls. Of course, he couldn't understand why he had to dig out the marketplace today, since it hadn't been used in over a week. Well... at least he was leaving today.

 

He sat under a palm tree with his bladder of water and began to doze. He looked skyward and starred aimlessly into the blue.

 

Suddenly he was awakened from his daydreams by the sound of unfamiliar voices.

[Bear]

An old Hyur woman stood outside her small stand in the marketplace. It was early, yet the place bustled with movement, people cleaning and dusting their merchandise, things tend to sell much better when they aren't completely covered with sand. It too, was her time to get to work, she picked up her wicker broom and began sweeping down her small stand. Some stands in the marketplace were elaborate, some probably owned by more then one person or wealthier merchants; unfortunately, her business did not flourish so well, all she could afford was a run down tent at the very northern edge of the encampment.

 

As the day grew late the sun became intense, the old woman's brow began to bead sweat, and as she motioned her arm to wipe it she saw a glimpse, a sparkle, of an unusual shine in the dunes to the north. It grew larger as time passed, a figure began to take shape, a Roegadyn suited in full armor. He began to approach her stand, limping, holding his right arm, something was strange about him, he finally got close enough for the old woman to notice the gaping hole in his shoulder plate and the blood running down his arm. In a frantic she screamed to everyone in the marketplace, "Help! Help! The man in the armor he needs help!" A crowd began to form around the giant, people yelling orders at him, telling him to slow down, stop and receive the help. He didn't return any of their plea's, instead he kept walking as if in a trance.

 

He walked with the crowd following him for some time until he came to a palm with a man sitting underneath it and a water bladder lying next to him. "You there... beneath the palm... may I have a drink from your water pouch?" He said wearily while stumbling a little, "I... seem... to have lost mine..."

 

((Sorry for the long opening, and sorry if I mess anything up, I haven't done this for a whiiiile >.<;)

[Aveline]

Aveline yawned and stretched luxuriantly under the morning desert sun. "Another beau~tiful day in the wastelands," she remarked aloud. Before her, the south wall of the marketplace was freshly adorned with a copy of an amateurishly scrawled poster. "That's the last one," she said. "Not that there's probably much business out this way, but advertisement is advertisement I suppo--" her self-conversation was cut short by a commotion around the corner. Peering past the marketplace wall, the Miqo'te saw a crowd of people following a bedraggled-looking man as he walked slowly down the street. Pink-furred ears twitched slightly with curiosity as she moved in to get a closer look at what was going on.

[Gavriel]

Gavriel heard the commotion but didn't bother to get up. The other guards would take care of it. He was on his break.

He gave a heavy sigh and lay his head against the palm tree, humming a little tune to himself. A minute had barely passed before he heard heavy footsteps approaching behind him.

 

"You there... beneath the palm... may I have a drink from your water pouch?" He said wearily while stumbling a little, "I... seem... to have lost mine..."

 

Gavriel turned his head. It was an awesome sight. A large Hellsguard Roegadyn was leaning against his palm tree, blood dripping down his arm. His armor glistened in the sunlight. The crowd that had followed the wounded stranger had paused a few meters behind the two men, gossiping quietly amongst themselves.

 

The unusually placid demeanor of the Roegadyn allowed Gavriel to keep his cool, "I've just drank the last bit, but I'm sure there's plenty of water in there..." He pointed to the waters of the oasis that lapped at his feet. Clearly the wounded Roegadyn was delirious.

 

"It's not a mirage. Drink as much as you'd like."

[Shamadconde]

Two Lalafells trudged through the street. They were covered head to foot in brown cloth. The only part showing were their eyes, one set red, the other blue and the jewels on their foreheads marking them as Dunesfolk. They shuffled to the tavern and entered. They chose a table against a wall and dropped their packs, causing a not insignificant dust cloud to form. They ordered water. The one with red eyes rubbed his wrists and whispered to himself. "Well we have them all. Now to find the Aetheryte crystal that contains Nadma Kal." He sighed. The other Lalafell patted his back in commiseration.

[Tadir]

Two weeks! Two whole weeks without meeting a single Dunesfolk. This was turning out to be one of the least successful assignments Tadir had ever been on. Sitting in a dusty inn in an out of the way Oasis in the middle of an oppressively hot desert is not exactly how he would have chosen to spend his time, but when the editor wants a piece written, you write it. Too bad this piece will never get written.

 

Tadir leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the table. "Water...who would have thought that would replace alcohol in any environment..."

 

The commotion outside brought him to his feet. Looking out the door it seemed that some bloody Hellsguard was causing trouble outside. There was quite a crowd around him at least. With nothing better to do Tadir decided he might as well take a look. It's not the story he was sent to this forsaken desert to get, but the wrong story was better than no story at all.

 

He heads out to the gathering crowd, notepad in hand, completely missing the two Dunesfolk that walk into the Inn right behind him.

[BelovedHatred]

It was during this large commotion that yet another unfamiliar figure would join this crowd...

 

Most hadn't noticed the tan skinned Elezen woman wander in, a few nodded to her, taking note of her colorful attire. She paused a distance away from the commotion, the sun causing the sequins of her black and teal costume to sparkle, along with the jeweled ring she wore in her naval, which was left exposed in this costume.

 

It was hard to read her expression for anyone that looked,all that they could see of her face was her silvery eyes, that scanned over the scene, her hair and face covered the rest of the way by only slightly transparent black veils.

 

After just a moment, she turned inward to the tavern, giving the straps of the map case and satchel she had slung over her shoulder a tug to keep grip on them, then stepped in the door, past the man who was just stepping out.

 

As Faythiel entered, she smiled, taking down the veils from her hair and face as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting.

 

Her silver hair was kept back in a braid, light whisps fell down around her face as the veils had mussed up her hair slightly when she pulled them off, the light caught a few gold colored streaks in her hair as she moved to a table, taking a seat.

"A glass of water will do for now, thank you.." She said to the tender who came by.

With that, she sank into her seat, relaxing, taking in hand the small pendant she wore around her neck, seeming to utter a silent prayer as her eyes closed briefly, only to reopen as her drink was brought to her.

 

She took a large sip, allowing her eyes to scan fully over the inside of the tavern that was mostly empty, though she did nod a polite hello to the two Lalafel who occupied a nearby table.

[Shamadconde]

The two Lalafell nodded back to the rather colorful Miqo'te and dismissed her. She probably wouldn't have the info they were searching for.

[Axl]

Axl dug his foot into the leveled dirt of the makeshift fighting arena, moving into a combat stance raising his shield to cover all but his eyes, rushing forward with the wooden sword provided to him by the pit master, the crowd of gambler's around the arena cheering and whooping, waving their money. They had all bet on the hulking Rogaedyn that was deemed champion of the pit, his thirteen consecutive wins had given them confidence in him, swinging at Axl wildly with his two handed club, all Axl had to do was knock him out, and he would win all the gil in the pit. He brought the hilt of the sword into the Rogaedyn's stomach, but to no effect "Damn!" he was able to spit out just before taking a sweep in the side of his leg, sending him across the pit. Recovering in mid air and skidding across the dirt, using his feet as a break, and deftly jumping at the hulking brute, smashing the blade into the side of his head, blood flew from the Rogaedyn's mouth following smashed teeth and saliva. Then Axl made a big mistake, he stopped and waited to see if he had won, the Rogaedyn wiped off his mouth and charged, Axl counter charging as well. As if from a theatre comedy, they both brought their weapons down on eachother's heads, Axl felt as though electricity run through his entire body, he felt a wetness from the top of his head, was it raining? the liquid dripped into his mouth with a sharp metallic taste "D-damn" he struggled to say, before both of the fighters fell backwards, unable to fight. "Keep your money folks, its a draw!" Everyone screamed in outrage, attracting a lot of attention from the surrounding market stalls. Several hands drug Axl from the pit and into the street, where he exhaustedly sat against the wall of one of the stone buildings. "I almost had it...".

[Bear]

Bear stared at the man under the palm for a while, before shaking his head and realizing what lied before him. Water. He knelt down on one knee, staggering slightly, dipped one hand in the water brought it to his dry cracked lips and sipped, it felt like the sun didn't matter anymore. He dipped his hand again, and this time brought it to his face and let it pour down. Refreshing.

 

After he had his fill he fell backwards on to his buttocks, brought up one knee and let his arm drape over it, at which point he felt the presence of staring eyes. He turned to the crowd that had followed him and said, "I've got no gil on me, if that's what you're looking for." He was still delirious, he was suffering from heat exhaustion and loss of blood, somehow he still managed to stay conscious; However, despite that all he managed to catch, in the corner of his eye, an elaborately dressed Elezen, and in a blink she was gone. The crowd pestered him for some time, to take their help, hide in the shade, drink their potions and elixer's, he just told them the same thing, "I haven't any gil, I do not want to buy your merchandise." Soon enough the crowd dispersed, some felt sympathy for the beast, other's felt he was to stubborn, some were just to hot and didn't want to stand in the sun anymore.

 

The majority of the crowd had left when Bear turned to the man who sat under the tree. He gazed at him for a while, he looked strange, he was of course Hyur, but there was something he could not put his finger on. Bear broke the silence, "Thank you stranger... I don't know how long it's been since I've had anything to drink. I don't even know how long I've been out in the desert. Might I ask your name?"

[Tabrett]

In the tavern, the heat was only slightly less oppressive than outside. At least within the mudbrick buidling the fans hanging from the ceiling stirred the air some in their slow rotation. At a table set out of the way near a wall, a Miqo'te was reclining with her feet propped on another chair, ankles crossed as she watched through the thick panes window until the crowd started to disperse. Then it was, for now, dismissed from her attention with a flicker of her ears.

 

Tabrett turned back to the tavern, taking in the newcomers with her dark eyes. Her observation was a quiet, gentle kind but the large axe that leaned against the wall said she could be all sorts of trouble if she wished. She was one of the mercenaries that had come to guard the outpost, though admittedly she was new. A few months spent in a quiet place like this seemed like a good bit of vacation.

[BelovedHatred]

Faythiel glanced over her shoulder to the newcomer, nodding a polite hello to her, the tiny bells on her earrings jingling in the process, she then turned her attention back to the barkeep.

 

"Kind sir...perhaps you might find yourself with a fuller house, had you a performer.." She smiled a wry little smile, that made her eyes look almost mischevious. "..I myself am a performer, you see...and would be happy to help you liven things up..."

 

She waved a hand indicating the dullness of the bar, the boredom of its patrons nearly tangible in the air.

 

"So what do you think, sugar?" She asked, resting her elbows on the table, lacing her fingers together to rest her chin upon her hands, questioning silver eyes calmly upon the man as he thought over her proposal.

[Axl]

Axl hoisted himself up, using his sword as a crutch to get up. The people of the village bustling around him, carrying out their daily errands. Axl lifted his head in the direction of a nearby tavern, slowly making his way towards the doorway, wading through the people, brushing against his tattered clothes. Finally arriving at the entrance to the bar, swinging the door open and walking in, sweat and blood running down his face, stumbling to the bar. "Hey, gimme whatever this is worth." he said, placing 10 gil on the counter, and dropping his body onto one of the stools, and looking around curiously at the bar's inhabitants.

[Shamadconde]

The two Lalafells watched the bleeding Hyur stumble in and order something at the bar. The one with red eyes put the back of his hand on the shoulder of his companion and nodded his head at the Hyur. His companion nodded back. They got up as one, walked to the Hyur, and cast Cure at him.

[Aveline]

Aveline watched as the bloodied man took deep drinks from the oasis and as the crowd dispersed, so did her interest.

 

Looks like he'll live, she thought to herself. Now to get myself a drink.

 

Pushing a stray lock of long pink hair out of her eyes and behind her ear, Aveline gave one more parting (appreciative) glance at the men sitting by the water and proceeded into the bar.

 

"Barkeep!" She sang out jovially as she sidled up to the counter next to a brightly dressed Elezen. "Get me something light and boozey, with a side of eggs, if you please!" It was nice to for once be the one giving the drink orders instead of taking them. Aveline glanced around the interior as she waited, noticing for the first time a badly beaten man on the other side of her. "Man this must be one tough camp," she mumbled.

[Axl]

(I am a hyur)

 

"Thanks mate." Axl said, glancing at the lalafel and turning back to survey the people in the room. Axl noticed the Miqo'te looking his way and gave a cocky wink. "Barkeep! Hurry it up!" he shouted, pounding a clenched fist on the table to get the barkeep's attention.

[Gavriel]

The bartender was a stalwart Hyur with dark brown skin, dark brown eyes, and graying hair. He looked to be in his mid-forties and had a large gut. Rarely was he the kind of man to let himself be swooned by a strange woman.

 

"So what do you think,sugar?"

 

He melted instantly at the word. The way the exotic Elezen woman looked at him was entrancing.

"E-e-rm... Well. I-I suppose that would hurt business, would it?" he asked with a gruff voice. He hesistated for a moment, gaining his composure and a more inquisitive tone, "What kind of entertainment are we talking, anyway?"

 

"Barkeep! Hurry it up!" shouted a bloodied Hyur from across the table.

"Oh-oh, my apologize, sir."

 

He mumbled something...

((I'm coming Bear!))

[BelovedHatred]

She grinned impishly at the man, mildly amused at his fidgeting.

 

"Well...I can play harp, panflute and drums...I sing...and I can bellydance...assuming anyone here could keep a stead y beat on the drums for me.."

 

Her eyes scanned over the bar-goers thoughtfuly, then back to the man.

 

"Up to you though M'dear...it is your choice in your bar, yes?" she asked in an accent that might seem a bit thick to anyone not from Ul'dah.

 

She paused, her smile only waning a little as she heard Axel shouting at the man.

 

"If you have a problem with the speed at which he serves, sir, you may yell at me...twas I who hindered him with my banter.." she said to Axel from across the bar, loudly enough he might hear her, though she kept a polite tone.

 

"I'm sure he was just getting to you.."She assured him, then smiled into her drink as she took a sip.

[Tadir]

As the crowd dispersed Tadir made his way over to the hulking Roegadyn by the oasis. He maneuverd as close as he could to the two without looking to be eavesdropping, trying to find a way to insert himself into the conversation.

 

This could make a nice little side piece. "Bloodied Roegadyn at the Oasis," he muttered to himself.

"...maybe I'll work on the headline a bit more."

 

Tadir pulled out his pen and began to jot notes about the man's entrance and tried to think of how to get the answers he needed.

[Gavriel]

The Roegadyn plopped down on his rear end to Gavriel's left. After a few minutes the man spoke, "Thank you stranger... I don't know how long it's been since I've had anything to drink. I don't even know how long I've been out in the desert. Might I ask your name?"

 

Gavriel glaced sidelong at his new companion before leaning to extend his hand in greeting. His accent was slight but distinctively foreign.

"The name is Gavriel Venitiago. I'm a hired sword here. You've managed to find your way to Al'Mian. From the looks of you, it's a good thing you showed up when you did."

 

After a moment, he asked his own questions,"What is your name? Do you often wander the desert alone?"

Gavriel smiled a bit as he leaned back against the tree. He was enjoying himself now.

[Aveline]

Aveline wrinkled her nose at the loud Hyur in distaste at his shouting.

 

"The way to a woman's heart, brother, is to never. yell. at the bartender." She raised one eyebrow and moved to an unoccupied spot on the other side of the performing woman and continued to crowd-watch as she waited for her order.

[Axl]

Axl grinned and followed Aveline. "Then lets start over, I am Axl, and to what do I owe the honor, miss-...?" he said, sitting on the stool next to her, hoisting his sword up onto his back.

[Gavriel]

The bartender still seemed a bit flustered. After a week of only having two guests, the place seemed to explode with interesting characters. There was the mysteriously attractive Elezen woman with the seductive voice, the bombastic Hyur with who appeared to have just gotten the snot beaten out of him, a Miqo'te with surprising spunk, and two curious little Lalafell who clearly had an affinity for magic.

 

He started to feel a bit light headed.

 

"Please excuse me... I'm... feelin' a bit woozy. I'ma lie down... Do whatever you..... feel....whatever," he trailed off as he stumbled to the staircase.

 

((dramatic stage-cue to Aveline))

[Aveline]

"Hey, where'd the bartender go? I don't have my drink yet!" Aveline furrowed her brow momentarily before her face cleared back into a determined smirk as if she had come rather quickly to a decision. "He said to whatever," she said to no one in particular as she maneuvered around the persistent Hyur and behind the bar.

 

"All right. First one's for the new bartender!" She poured herself a glass of summer ale and drank half of it down quickly, quenching her sand-parched throat. "Okay, my name's Blue and I'll be your friendly substitute bartender for an undetermined length of time. Please place all payment in this empty glass here and speak your orders! Who's first?" She turned to the Elezen woman at the bar and grnned. "You were going to perform, right? Need something to help get you in the spirit?"