Earthsday, the 18th of the 5th Month, of the Year 1009

Dear Papa,

San d'Oria is so interesting! I have signed up at all of the guilds here, in hopes that I may use these crystals and materials I acquire. Unfortunately, my bag fills fast and I find myself running back to my Mog House to store them. It does not help that I am gaining experience quickly enough to warrant keeping new sets of gear with me.

Speaking of experience, I am part of what people seem to be calling a 'static' party: several people that I have met during my time here have invited me to join them in fighting on occasion, and we have recently started to schedule our forays into La Theine plateau and the Valkurm Dunes together. We aren't really a full party, there is only the four of us, but it is a well rounded group, none-the-less. There is Kurst, our white mage; Pax, our monk and major damage dealer; Bubba, our warrior of many weapons; and, of course, me, the warrior who excels at making the monster take notice of her. I must admit, though, reviving at the home point crystal is rather... I shudder to think on it. Being one of the so-called "Crystal Warrior" generation seems cheating to me, like the sacrifices of the War are meaningless. I hope that the new spell of "Raise" that Kurst is studying will be better than having to be revived at the crystal.

I have started doing missions as part of my work as an adventurer of San d'Oria; there is a gate guard to whom I report to for new missions and to bring proof to when I have completed a mission. So far they are silly little things, ones where I must prove myself by fighting the Orcs in East and West Ronfaure until I get an Orcish axe, or clearing out the bats from King Ransperre's tomb (did you know that its not really the Dragon King's tomb, but one built by King Destin so that the San d'Orian peoples would have a physical location to pay their respects to?) The only ones that have not been silly is when they dispatched me to rescue some children that had been captured by Orcs and taken to Ghelsba, and the more recent one, which I will be journeying to soon, where I must go to La Theine and receive training in rescuing. Also while at La Theine, I have seen the Crag of Holla, a strange edifice with no entrances, and three platforms with floating crystals apon them, similar to the reviving crystals in San d'Oria. My friends and I all went up to touch one of the crystals; imagine my shock when the crystal fractured under my hand! I came away with a shard no bigger than my hand and as wide as my thumb (quite sharp too, I managed to jab myself with it no less than twice and needed assistance with bandaging the wounds,) which I placed in my pack. According to words overheard, this crystal will allow me to be transported back out here through a spell called Teleport-Holla. Other adventurers I've traveled with speak of two other such crags, Mea and Dem. Once I feel I can travel safely, I will visit the other crags and collect shards from them.

In North San d'Oria I found a furniture shop and was able to purchase a few meagre furnishing for my Mog House; I must save up for a bed as of yet, but I was able to purchase some chocobo bedding from the stables so that I do not have to sleep on the floor any more. Once I had placed my new furniture, my moogle informed me that a moghancement was in effect. I had obtained the Moghancement: Gardening, which means that when I grow plants in my Mog House, there is less of a chance of them withering when I am away for long periods of time.

Also in North San d'Oria is the Cathedral. The sheer majesty of its design surely puts the Temple in Jeuno to shame. I am wondering if there is some sort of piping from the lake, as there is a moat around the Cathedral that drains down to Laborman's Way. However, despite following it, there is no evidence of the runoff in San d'Oria's Port. I did find a bit of interesting information; it seems that the air travel agency is almost right behind the Chateau. All the landings and takeoffs of the airship must be noisy, its a wonder the Royal family gets any sleep! Perhaps they have become used to it, much like those who live on the bridge of Port Jeuno?

This brings me to think of my recent adventures in the Valkurm Dunes. Never could I have believed that a place could be so hot! It is enough to make even the lightest armor uncomfortable, and I can barely fight while wearing my lizard armor set. It is a good thing that the ocean is close, in between fights we can take a quick splash in the Sea of Zafmlug to cool down (the leather is cured well enough that it is proof against water so I'm not carrying around my weight in ocean.) Fighting in the Oasis is also nice, with the trees providing at least a little shade.

During some of my parties in the Dunes, I am told quite often that I speak strangely, and many people engage me in coversation just to hear my accent. It is quite unnerving, and I am becoming self-conscious of it... I also found that I am considered short for an Elvaan and asked by residents of San d'Oria if one of my parents was Hume, Mithran, or Tarutaru. Most of them did not know Maman personally; Helbort and Rosel did, and therefore know that she was about my height and that I take after her.

I am having to camp out in Selbina during my time in the Dunes, but it is better than trying to travel back and forth from San d'Oria, seeing as it takes me the greater portion of a day to do so. This also allows for night parties (MUCH nicer, the temperature difference is considerable,) but it also means little sleep and abrupt awakenings. All-night parties are common too, as are ones that go for days. Quite a few of the adventurers I meet hail from the Mindartia continent, and arrive on the ferry from Mhaura. Many of us campers in Selbina gather around one big bonfire near the entrance to the town and trade stories while waiting for either daylight or an invitation to join a group.

I will send this letter when I am next in San d'Oria; after I am done in the Dunes, I will be traveling back to take up training as a monk so that I may use the abilities I attain to augment my skills as a warrior. Until then, I am, as always,

Your Daughter,

Romidant

P.S. Seems that some of us may be heading to Jeuno to get our chocobo licenses; may I stay at home while I am there?

Lightsday, the 21st of the 4th Month, of the Year 1009

Dear Papa,

Today I have arrived at San d'Oria by way of the Westgate. At the gate, a guard is stationed to assist all new adventurer recruits with finding our way around the city. It is so big! Not nearly as large as Jeuno, I am sure, but one can still be easily confused, especially in some of the alleys. I was given my own room here, to decorate as I see fit. They call them Mog Houses, and the moogle inside was very helpful in explaining what my duties were as an adventurer of San d'Oria. I stored away my gear in the Mog Safe in the room, and went exploring.

The gate guard gave me an adventurer's coupon, as well as a copy of what he referred to as a 'magic' map of the city (they were developed by a mage in Windurst after the Crystal War, and show party members' locations as well as allowing me make little glowing marks on it for important things,) and one of East and West Ronfaure as well, so I began with South San d'Oria. Walking through Lion's Square outside of the Residential Area, I noticed a small crowd near the fountain. An Elvaan by the name of Varchet was running a small dice game, so I stopped to watch for a while. The people were regulars it seemed; everyone knew each other by name, and would banter friendly with whomever won the pot or rolled a particularly bad roll. When I asked the rules of the game, they were all very nice and helpful in explaining. The object was to get a higher roll than Varchet; if you didn't, you lost your bet for the round, if you tied, you got your money back, and if you won, you got twice what you bet. After a bit, I said my goodbyes and continued down Calvary Way. From there, a small alley branches off, and seemed to be residential in nature. I will explore that another time.

From the stories you told us when we were little, I now compare what San d'Oria was like when you and Maman were here to what it has become today. Lion Spring's Tavern seems to have grown, though it occupies the same building by the fountain square. Helbort's Blades and Rosel's Armour shops are still in business; I faintly remember hearing Maman talk about shopping there. I may stop in and see if they remember her.

As I approached the Eastgate and Victory Square, I saw the first of what seems to be many little booths selling items from different regions. As only one of the three major nations may control a region at a time, and the regions change hands at any given time, not every shop in the regional market has something to sell. Later, if I wish to take up the cooking craft, I may end up having to travel to the different cities to obtain some of the ingredients. Entering Victory Square, to the south there is a new structure; it seems that San d'Oria opened its own Auction House, modeled after Jeuno's. I wonder what else San d'Oria has adopted from Jeuno since the war's end?

Passing through Victory Square and past the Westgate, I was too busy studying the architecture that I collided with a passerby. Apologising profusely, I assisted him with retrieving the papers that I had caused him to drop. He asked me my name and gave me his: Rochefogne. He told me that he was in San d'Oria to visit his sister's grave; she had succumbed to an illness 15 years before. His name seems familiar to me, though I cannot say just why...? Thanking me, he bid me goodbye and good luck on my adventuring before continuing on his way, and I did the same.

Past the Westgate is Pikeman's Way and Watchdog Alley (I saw that the name of the alley off of Calvary Way is Squire Alley.) Pikeman's Way holds Raimbroy's Grocery, Taumila's Sundries, and the Tanners' Guild. I stopped in the guildhall to talk to the guild leader; I am now able to craft leather goods and equipment using the Archduke's method of crystal synthesis. Right now, I will save my gil for things I will need, rather than spend it on making items that may or may not sell.

After visiting the guild, I continued down Pikeman's Way. I saw an open doorway along the wall, and like the curious cat you've called me, I investigated it. It turned out to be Watchdog Alley; the map is very confusing as to how one would leave the area, but I managed to find my way after a bit. Further down the way, I came to a manor; asking a passerby, I found that it belongs to Count Caffaule.

By this time, it was midafternoon, so I began to head back to the Residential Area, continuing to explore. I walked the inner battlements overlooking the wards of the gates and talked with the people I met there. I learned of the elemental interactions and of how, as a warrior, I would use them to my advantage in preventing certain spells and effects. I learned also of the interactions of beasts, which type has the stronger hand over the other; also, I learned the names of stars and their patterns in the night sky.

Finally, I arrived back at my new home, greeted by my moogle with a hot soup and warm bread ready for dinner. After this hearty fare, I laid out my bedroll in front of the banked fire to warm, and started this letter. I hope that it finds you in good health; worry not, Papa, for I will be able to care for myself while here. Tomorrow, I shall begin my journey as a warrior, armed with a simple sword, for I am unable to use Maman's greatsword as of yet, nor is my strength sufficient to don her armor for long periods of time and fighting as required by one of my chosen class. Therefore, I will keep it here until the time that I will need it; Moogle says he will keep it hale until then.

I feel sleep threatening, so I must end my letter; I will write as often as the caravan for Jeuno travels. I hope that soon I may make the journey back home on my own instead of relying on the caravan's guards for my safety.

Your Daughter,

Romidant

P.S. I dearly miss my bed; this floor is hard.

A letter of explanation

Hello and welcome! Please bear with me as I attempt to remember everything that happened since I first started playing FFXI back in 2004. Not only do I need to remember all that happened in the last two years, but I have to write it down as if I was actually Romidant, writing home to her father. As such, the first line will more than likely always be "Dear Papa," and I will probably write the letters as if she could only write once or twice a month. Seeing as how screwy the time system is in game when compared to ours (a day in game is about an hour outside of game, and don't get me started on weeks, months, and years... If I am recalling correctly, when I first started playing, the game year was 974, and now is 1009,) I will try to keep the date system according to "Dayname, # Day, of the # Month, of the Year #" but the dates will be updated to what the little Vana'navi clock will say at that time.

This blog was inspired in part by a Real Life comic strip, in which Greg Dean's Elvaan character Sagus wrote in a journal about adventuring on Qufim Island.

Also, a nice big shout-out to The Inner Circle, both in FFXI and PSU!

~Romidant

*Edit* It seems that a game month goes by every real life day, which will give me the opportunity see how many months is in a Vana'diel year. I already know that there is 8 days to a week, and there should be 28 to 30 days a month. I am NOT going to post moon phases; those drive me nuts as it is.

*Edit 2* Beware! The posts will be LONG! I am going to try to post once a month.

*Edit 3* Days follow the FEW WILL Die phrase; Firesday, Earthsday, Watersday, Windsday, Iceday, Lightningsday, Lightsday, Darksday. Firesday is essentially Monday and starts the week; Light and Darksday are the weekend.