Earthsday, the 18th of the 5th Month, of the Year 1009
Dear Papa,
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?
