A Beast for the Feast

The air is getting colder and the leaves have changed colors. This can only mean that Thanksgiving is here! Of course, what would Thanksgiving be without a feast? The Community Team is doing their best to coordinate with the culinary guild to create the tastiest foods Vana’diel has to offer. However, their hands are tied because they’re busy with the preparations and have yet to secure the main meat dish! Adventurers from all over Vana’diel must slay the tastiest beast and bring it to the feast!

The sky is the limit here, so bring in any kind of monster! (We want to try them all!) Provide up to 5 screenshots to show off how your hunt was executed as well as a short commentary as to why you chose your beast for the feast and what adventurers can expect taste-wise.

Three lucky winners will receive a contest-exclusive rare dish of Rolanberry Delightaru to decorate their Mog Houses with. Also, all participants will receive an Athena Orb!

So put on your Hunter's Beret and bring home the Behemoth!

Contest Entry Period
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 to Friday, November 30, 2012 6:00pm PST

How to Enter
Hunt down a FINAL FANTASY XI monster for this year's Thanksgiving main course and show us how you caught it! Any monster is fine!

Post the following with your entry:

1. Screenshots of the hunt (up to 5 images)
2. In 500 words or less, comment on the below:
3. What were the keys to getting this marvelous monster for the feast?
4. Why do you think this monster is the best choice for the feast?
5. What can adventurers expect taste-wise?

*When posting your screenshot images, please utilize image hosting sites such as Flickr, Imgur, Yfrog, etc. as attachments will not be enabled.

Please Note

• One entry per person. If multiple entries are posted, only the first one submitted will be accepted.
• Prospective contestants must have a North America Square Enix Account to enter.
• Normal forum rules apply to all posts within the contest thread.
• Square Enix reserves the right to judge whether or not material is appropriate for public display.

Inappropriate submissions will be moderated. If entries fall under any of the below categories, it will result in a disqualification and the post will be deleted by a moderator:

• Any posts containing obscenity, vulgarity, discrimination, or any other offensive subject matter
• Infringements upon copyright/intellectual property, personal credit, privacy, etc.
• Counter to public order and/or morals
• Submissions with content judged to be grossly deviant from the established theme
• Images that have been heavily modified by photo editing software

Prizes
Three Grand Prize Winners

• A "Rolanberry Delightaru" in-game furnishing

Attachment 5407

• An Athena Orb - This orb grants entry into the Heroines' Holdfast battlefield.

All Participants Receive

• An Athena Orb - This orb grants entry into the Heroines' Holdfast battlefield.

*Prizes are all in-game items and do not have any monetary value.
*All prizes will be distributed to the character associated with the forum account that submits the entry.

Selection
The Community Team will select winners based on screen shot quality and overall creativity of the entry.

Winners will be announced on or around December 4, 2012.

SQUARE ENIX OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES
All entries and other materials (the "Entry Materials") (including all copyright, trademark, and other proprietary rights associated therewith) submitted by you become the property of Square Enix upon submission, and Entry Materials will not be returned to any contestant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you acknowledge that Square Enix will own all rights to use, modify, and make derivative works of the Entry Materials, without separate compensation to you or any other person or entity. You agree to take, at Square Enix's expense, any further action (including, without limitation, execution of affidavits and other documents) reasonably requested by Square Enix to effect, perfect, or confirm Square Enix's ownership rights as set forth above in this paragraph. Entry Materials may be used by contestants only for purposes of the Contest or for private, personal, non-public viewing. Entry materials received by Square Enix may be destroyed by Square Enix at any time following the Contest.

ORIGINAL WORK OF AUTHORSHIP
You hereby warrant and represent that (a) as between you and parties other than Square Enix, you own all rights to all Entry Materials submitted by you; and (b) other than the fact that all intellectual property embodied in and related to the FFXI game, including all copyrighted works and trademarks and derivative works thereof, are the exclusive property of Square Enix, all such Entry Materials are original works of authorship on your part and have not been copied, in whole or in part, from any other work and do not violate, misappropriate, or infringe any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary right of any other person or entity.

http://grindhousels.webs.com/photos/...123225522a.jpg

Behold! The Dark Rider!
Upon successful capture of the Rider, I was able to prepare him thus;
Bound and tied like a succulent rack of lamb. (All equipment was kept and will be given out at the Starlight Celebration!)
*Chef's Note* This delicious meal might taste a little like horse meat, but rest assured this equine is exquisite! ENJOY!

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Plentiful dishes, uncommon dishes, rare dishes, exotic dishes; all spectacular in their own right. But none measure up to this single opportunity to feast upon a dish that will never be seen again on vana'diel!! The taste... of a God!!

As he slaved away many a long night to prepare himself for the challenge of bringing you the truly ultimate dish, the Dark Knight Godofgods, sought out to defeat the Dark God Promathia. He marched his way to the battle grounds with his Twilight Scythe in hand, to confront the Twilight God Himself.

In a battle that will be remembered for all of eternity on abyssea, he is bringing home a dish created from the fallen God. For one time only, at the Moogle's Thanksgiving Feast, will the world have a chance to partake in this legendary dish. A dish that can only be descried as... Heavenly

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This year I was going to host a Thanksgiving most Vegan
Not for me of course, for I'm the carnivorous of most,
But for all my friends, who's like for red meat is most seethin
So, I set out on a quest to find the most delicious "roast"

To capture this feast, I set out on Beast,
Sickle in hand, and with my most trusty comrade,
We traversed over the Rolanberry, even collecting some while we harried

Until..

There yonder..

Our main dish was marinating in the shade
surrounded by smashed berries and the Grubs that they fed
She looked already divine on a platter of green
most tender and moist, of course the obvious choice

Some parts grilled and some baked,
Our friends ate and ate!
sauteed vines in a rolanberry sauce,
molboro steaks made just to taste,
mashed buds with extra Selbina Butter,
She wasn't just the main course,
Delicieuse Delphine was a most delicious whole dinner!

(sorry for the poem getting less rhyme-y,
I was too busy drooling over miss Delphine's hiney)

I believe a dish that matches the theme of giving thanks is what is appropriate. The basics of life are what's important. Specifically, life itself. Because at any moment, you will be murdered by me.

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The bodies of each of my victims are buried (You don't get to know where) and forgotten...

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...until now. Well, this particular time the magics of this area seem to have reanimated the corpses of some of my victims, but that is no trouble.

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With Thankgiving, what better way of celebrating your appreciation of life than by devouring the Decayed Flesh of the less fortunate? Adventurers can expect to learn to truly appreciate life once they have bitten into such flesh. As the small pockets of mysterious liquid amongst the meat explode into your mouth, you will have a difficult time choking it down as mixed drops of blood, saliva and pus drip down your chin and onto your plate.

So as you chow down this year, just remember to be thankful that you are still alive.

I look forward to killing (and maybe eating) you all soon!

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Greetings! I am Toadie, a mere “jack of all trades” that loves to cook and leader of Team Toad. My journey begins with my fellow members: Uloulo, the brilliant Scholar, and Lupa, the graceful Dancer. It was up to me to provide the main dish for the grandest feast of this year’s holiday. Only the finest and greatest food ever seen should grace the table for this feast. No feast was too grand to hunt down a mighty beast for the main dish. After much discussion, debate, and deliberation, I concluded that a Thanksgiving feast is nothing without a massive roasted divine bird, Suzaku!

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We traveled to the far-off lands in the sky whispered about in legends, Tu’Lia. We quickly made our way to Ve’Lugannon Palace to explore its twisty passages in search of the cutlass we needed to draw out the Brigandish Blade. It was a long battle before we could claim the Gem of the South from his carcass. Elated, we made haste to the Shrine of Ru’Avitau. Once inside, we navigated through the many floors to find Faust diligently keeping guard. It was no small feat, but we finally claimed the Summerstone from within his shattered remains. All that was left to do in our hunt was to take the gem and stone to Suzaku’s island and use them to flush it out of hiding.

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Once there, we rested and prepped ourselves for what we hoped would be a glorious and triumphant battle. All went smoothly until Lupa took a Flare in the face. It wasn’t long before Uloulo and I met a similar fate. We ended up blistered in places we didn’t know existed! Our eyebrows were burned clean off and our eyelashes were singed into frayed curls! Defeated, we ran like the fried Tarutarus we were before we became Suzaku’s feast. Burned to the base of our bones, humiliated to high heaven, but not completely cooked beyond cognition, I pondered the options before us. Admit defeat and eat humble pie, or change our battle plan and return to Tu’Lia to combat Suzaku once more. I concluded that no feast was too grand for failure! We mended our charred wounds in preparation for our return to Tu’Lia.

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Returning to Tu’Lia with greater caution, we flushed Suzaku out once more. In the end we finally had slain the beast, looking no better than our first encounter. I now had the massive divine bird with which to prepare the greatest dish ever known. Rubbing it down with sage and black pepper, I stuffed it with white bread seasoned with sunflower seeds, bay leaves and wild onions. Delicately glazed in honeyed rolanberry sauce, it was roasted to perfection with popotos and winterflower. One bite of its savory sweetness renders the soul to sigh in quiet joy.

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From my kitchen to yours, I wish you a happy holiday and pray you enjoy the merriment and food with your most cherished companions!

love that last pic Toadie :D

Thank you! :o

It took some time to get the emotes timed right so it looked like everyone was celebrating.

The beast I seek dwells down by the bay.
http://oldschoolhero.com/pictures/B4F1.jpg

I make my preparations and it's time to slay!
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To the island now, I've spotted my prey!
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Die now Kraken, you'll be my feast this day!
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This delicacy can be cooked in any way!

The outcome is so delicious and moist!
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It's clear to me that Kraken's the best choice!

My Links Thanksgiving dinner would first start with appetizers: Flint Caviar on Goblin Crackers, Meat Chiefkabobs, and Herbed Crawler Eggs.

For the main course, I decided to go with a tur-duck-en style dish (small bird inside medium bird inside large bird) made from rare locally raised birds and ingredients sourced from the best stock Vanadiel has to offer.

I start by acquiring the ingredients for our main course:

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Habergoass from Batallia Downs(S). The mild climate and elevation of this area breeds an absolutely succulent species of Ba which has long been extinct on the Quon continent called the Habergoass which feeds off of organically grown amateur adventurers. Naturally for our main course, this birds Earthy taste is a perfect addition to the dish.

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Chary Apkallu from Mount Zhayolm. The hostile and smoke filled volcanic mountain and ashey soil far to the east is home to a rare Apkallu named Chary Apkallu whose smokey, charred taste and tender minerally flesh compliment the earthy taste of the Habergoass and the local vegetables deliciously. An absolute must for our main course.

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Okyupete from Misareaux Coast. The thick lush grasslands and stream fed waterfall outside of the Tavnazian Stonghold in Misareaux Coast has bred an exquisite breed of bird, Okyupete, which thrives at the base of the falls in the overcast weather of the coast. The salty air and fertile land has given this bird the best food possible, and created an environment comparable only to the circumstances existent in the black Tajima-ushi strain of Wagyū cattle (commonly called Kobe') and it is reflected in the flavor of this bird raising it to a pinnacle all its own. We would accept no less for such a fine dining experience.

The three birds are first de-boned and then layered inside one another (Habergoass inside Chary Apkallu inside Okyupete) with layers of Galkan Sausage (removed from casing) in between each. The Okyupete is then sewn shut at the breastbone sealing the two smaller birds inside. The "Okykallugoass" is then rubbed with a spice mixture of Black Pepper, Mhaura Garlic and Misareaux parsley and braised in a large pot with with Olive Oil, San D' Orian Carrots, Wild Onions, Mithran Tomatos, and Popotos.

Our main course will be served with Roasted Corn, Beaugreen Sautee, Nopales Salad, Pumpkin Soup and Karni Yarik. Assuming that by now we are not all passed out with the Itis, drooling in our chairs at the dinner table, we will also be serving dessert: Apple and Rolanberry Pie.

Happy Thanksgiving all :)

The following journal, along with a parcel containing a quantity of magically-preserved meat, was found just outside the granite door in Ranguemont Pass by a San d’Orian guard named Perchond, As per the instructions on the wrapping, the journal was forwarded unopened to the Community Team and the meat was sent to the feast preparation kitchen to be used in the main course.

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Whilst contemplating the forthcoming feast, I remembered a quote in an ancient tome I possess: “Eat the head of the wise, and his wisdom you shall gain! Like eating food whence to gain nourishment.” What better method to determine the truth of this than to consume a monster of high intelligence? I shall record my progress here.

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My inquiries have led me to a tremulous San d’Orian, a pitiable fellow suffering from chiropteraphobia. He has pointed me in the direction of Ranguemont Pass where, he claims, dwells a monster of high magic skill. From the gentleman’s apocryphal description, it would seem to be naught but brainpan and vestigial limbs. A serendipitous development…

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I was beginning to believe the San d’Orian had used a chant of falsities to summon his own private exterminator, but the fiend is nigh!

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Clearly vile but perhaps not so intelligent, the beast fell quickly. But how ignominious to arrive at the banquet toting nugatory nutriment…. In order to ensure succulence as well as sagacity, I have just now eaten a large serving. To my immediate chagrin, the taste was unpleasant in the extreme. The texture was that of an unripe apple. The flavor was a dark and bitter tongue’s bane. I feel no effects as yet.

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I have come to a dead end. Strange, I thought this the path to egress. Concentration is difficult and weariness is overcoming me. The battle taxed me more than I suspected. This place seems oddly comfortable…I will rest here for now. On the morrow, we shall see.

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As a chef, I am always on the lookout for new and exotic dishes.

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I've got it! Now for the final ingredient and my dish will be complete. That didn't go as planned...

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I'm back and this time I've brought some muscle to do the dirty work. You don't stand a chance!

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Success! I shall call my new dish "La Flayer Tentacle-Soup"!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9047331...4365/lightbox/

In celebration of my new dish I will let my husband have the honer of first taste before I am crowned head chef of the feast... this... year... um...


La Flayer Tentacle-Soup
sticky, slimy, gooey, squishy, salty, and extremely sour
might be slightly poisonous

Warring, may case the following:
dizziness, fainting, nausea

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8...33ca4a7b43.jpg

As a chef, I am always on the lookout for new and exotic dishes.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8...1bde6c6f88.jpg

I've got it! Now for the final ingredient and my dish will be complete. That didn't go as planned...


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8...6bf1b0ccb9.jpg

I'm back and this time I've brought some muscle to do the dirty work. You don't stand a chance!


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8...61612d61a4.jpg

Success! I shall call my new dish "La Flayer Tentacle-Soup"!


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8...f695431d3f.jpg

In celebration of my new dish I will let my husband have the honer of first taste before I am crowned head chef of the feast... this... year... um...


La Flayer Tentacle-Soup
sticky, slimy, gooey, squishy, salty, and extremely sour
might be slightly poisonous

Warring, may case the following:
dizziness, fainting, nausea

For an out of this world meal, you have to get your main course from... out this world, right? We headed down to the Silver Sea Remnants to see what tasty treat we could get from the other side. It took a little persuading, but an Archaic Rampart eventually sent us something from beyond! A tasty... Sand Lizard? Well, as I said, it'll be an out of this world taste, but we'll be sure to wash all the sand off before putting it in the oven... ^^;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90506573@N02/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90506573@N02/

Hmm, first time using flickr... let's try this...

I'll... just post the link... /panic

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90506573@N02/

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Mithra loves fishy :D
Adventure wise it'll taste better then anything else because its a fishy!!!
The key to getting it was being very sneaky ;)

A decade ago, I decided to hunt the tastiest meat known. A well traveled Moogle friend named Apie, whose various adventures across many lands and realms, would surely know of the tastiest flesh.

I traveled to her Windurstian home, where I learned the tastiest meat was Gluttonous Gertrude, a notorious monster located east of the coastal town of Limsa Lominsa on an island in the continent of Eorzea. Her stubborn friend, the Orcish Dredvodd, introduced her to it, since he practically lives there. She wouldn't guide me there, for she claimed it was a doomed land.

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After we parted, I searched yet found nothing on Eorzea, nor of this Dredvodd fellow. The Orcs in Ghelsba Outpost surely know him. At the central high point I came across the Warchief named Vatgit who said his bloody assistant Vrukwuk keeps a list of every Orc in Vana'diel, however, he's elusive and can never be found. So I waited...and waited...and waited...until he appeared. I approached him and asked to see his list. He struck me with his staff, exclaiming he was tired of being confused with Vatgit's other assistant Mozzfuzz, the actual keeper of the list. Vrukwuk couldn't take me to Mozzfuzz, for where there is one, the other is not. He stated that Mozzfuzz is known to frequent the tent near the entrance to Fort Ghelsba.

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There I found the fogweaver who was removing Warder Footsoldier from the list since he was leaving Vana'diel, never to return. Once they finished, I asked the weaver of fogs about Dredvodd. He said not much is known, but he's been seen, more than once, on the Phanauet Channel barge.

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I rode that barge for over 9 years, then to my surprise, an Orc jumped aboard. He wanted to battle, I pleaded no, he wouldn't listen, he was being so stubborn, he had to be Dredvodd. Upon my victory he explained that Eorzea is on a planet named Hydaelyn. He advised against going there because Bahamut exploded out of their red moon, which was supposed to crash onto Hydaelyn, and started attacking everything. He plans to return to Eorzea in 5 years to see how things are.

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The tastiest meat in Vana'diel Dredvodd had ever devoured was a deadly dodo that appears in Sauromugue Champaign to avenge the death of Tabar Beaks. After thanking him, he rewarded me a belt with 96 Tathlums for besting him. He spotted me eyeing his wonderous pair of boots and said, "Boots for Dredvodd...next battle me lose...maybe me give...maybe..." He laughed and jumped off the barge.

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After countless slain Tabar Beaks, the dodo appeared and lived up to his reputation, for the battle nearly ended my life. 'Twas worth it, the meat resembled M&P Chicken, but tasted better than Diatryma minus it's infamous awful smell. It took nearly ten years to learn of the tastiest meat and I regret nothing...well, maybe I do regret spending over 9 years on a barge looking for that damn Orc...

The most important thing when planning a feast is choosing a main dish that will satisfy a large number of people. The Culinarian's Guild in Windurst has a great selection of officially sanctioned recipes for one's perusal, but sometimes you just want to try something different! For that, the Optistery is the best place to find unusual research into gustatory experiments. It's not all just dusty tomes on the arcane arts!

Ah hah! Here's a book written before the time when crystals were used for all manner of crafting. And this recipe! So exotic! It could prove a challenge, but won't the dinner guests be impressed?

Herb-Roasted Orobon
1x Cutlet of Orobon
2x Holy Basil
1x Sage
1x Olive Oil
1x Rock Salt
Cook evenly over an open fire until crisply browned.

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Everyone knows that the freshest ingredients are best, but sometimes harvesting them yourself can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are plenty of markets all around the world ready to supply you with locally grown ingredients!

I'll take three of everything!

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The Silver Sea is filled with vibrant and delicious fish. One needs only to take a boat and cast a line before they're rolling in a proverbial smorgasbord. The Orobon is common in the Silver Sea and not difficult to catch at all!

Bringing the massive beast home, however, is another problem...

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Preparing the meal was more difficult than expected. The Orobon's skin is tough to cut through and its smell leaves much to be desired. It's difficult to tell what's what inside an Orobon. Is that a delectable morsel or a bitter liver? Why is everything pink? Is it really supposed to be bubbling like that? Gah, my fingers have gone numb!

After much trial and tribulation, the ingredients were finally prepared. But where to find an open flame? The Culinarian guild was none too impressed with my dish and the MHMU expressly forbade me from setting a fire in my Mog House. Fortunately, the Yagudo tribe in West Sarutabaruta were kind enough to lend me one of their campfires.

With my two good friends to help me, we managed to roast that orobon to a delightfully browned toast. But how did it taste?

Paralytic!

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In retrospect, it was probably not a good idea to prepare a fishy meal without any skill in raw fish handling! I won't be passing that rank test...

I can't say I recommend herb-roasted orobon at all! The taste was bland (at least I assume so, on account of my tongue being completely numb). And no amount of salt and herbs can disguise that fishy smell! Maybe it's best to stick with the sanctioned Culinarian guild recipes in the future...

Oh well! The feast wasn't ruined. After all, when it comes to Thanksgiving, it's not the food that counts, but the people you share it with. Even though we ended up having to eat at the Shararat Teahouse, we didn't really mind. Because we were eating together~

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I set out with my faithful companion Carbuncle in search of a beast for the feast.. "I can't believe dearest wants raptor for our feast! These things will tear us to shreds! What ever shall we do Carbuncle?!" Then, as we were hiding in the bushes we smell something yummy lingering in the air.

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We followed the scent that lead us to a goblin cooking what smelt like barbecued raptor! We hid behind some rocks and decided to wait until he fell asleep to steal the goblin's feast. "This most certainly will please dearest!" I whispered to Carbuncle.

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"Quick Carbunle he's asleep! let's grab it!"

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Carbuncle and I come home to dearest and present to her, her raptor feast. We tell her a tale of how we slayed the vicious beast with our bear hands!


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She samples the meat and cries "Blaahhh!!! This tastes like it's been seasoned by a goblin with mushrooms, heavy salt, and newts!"

Rarabs... The giant beastarus that have long terrorized the Tarutaru since the beginning of time. There is no creature more insidious nor more evil, yetaru none as tasty.

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There are many Tarutaru tales-wails that speak of rarabs delivering letters and repaying past kindnesses, but these are legends changed with time to hide the horrible-worrible truth. Rarab is an ancient Tarutaru word literally meaning "the bringer". But a literal translation of the ancient word misses the nuance that is implied, "the bringer" of destruction. Of course, this is why they "destroy" the old year at New Year's celebrations with their destructive, crushing hopping.

But perhapsy you are not convinced. Ask yourself, when Maat moonlights as a Beastmaster, which pet does he use? The legendary Mithran Tracker Shikaree X's pet is what?

And long ago when the Tarutaru subjugated the proud Elvaan, how did the Elvaan breaky-shakey free? They raised an army of rarabs! (Did you know that Ronfaure means rarab hole?) Although if you ask them, they'll just talk about how Ronfaure has a rabbit and hair infestation. What's a rabbit? And whataru does hair have to do with anything?

Perhaps I ramble-wamble.

There is no creature more fierce then a rarab. But among rarabs there is one that is the most strongest, meanest, biggestaru of them all - the Giant Rarab.

Common rarabs tower over a Tarutaru, but the Giant Rarab is even larger. The Giant Rarab causes earthquakes with a single bound, and can leap lakes and mountains. And it has but one goal - to bring the destruction of Jeuno.

I fought its minions looking to haltaru my progress in tracking it.

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Hoping to stop it before it got to Jeuno, I found its large footprints.

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Obviously, the only thing that could have left these would be the Giant Rarab itself.

However, I failed to stop it in timey-wimey! It hipped and it hopped all over Jeuno.

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Fighting valiantly-gallantly, I struggled against the mightaru of the Giant Rarab.

When I finally engaged it, I stood in awe of how big it was! But I knew what had to be done.

http://i.imgur.com/cVqjH.jpg

After saving Jeuno single-handedly, I lugged-tugged the Giant Rarab over to M&P's Market, where surprisingly they had a potaru big enough to cook the whole thing, although they laughed at the idea of it being able to destroy Jeuno ("Not that big"?!). Sneaking some, I can tell you that the thoroughly tenderized rarab meat makes any dish taste great with a nice kick of victory.

Seriously, did you see that thing? It was giantaru!

I wanted to pick a beast that reminded me of the early days of abyssea. One of the first you and your comrades would run into. And I clearly remeber back then that this; this bunny from hell would distory all, on sight. It is decided Marvin Stew with a side of dumplings will be on the menu. I packed my Automaton pal, Serenade, and went off for the hunt.


http://i.imgur.com/LyZsG.jpg
I found him and went to work on him. Though he may be mangy-tailed, his round plumpness tells a differnt story

http://i.imgur.com/i5Clf.jpg
Immediately some of his own bunny friends joined in, but were no match for my Stringing Pummels and soon their meaty goodness will be going into the dumplings.

http://i.imgur.com/HLD0W.jpg
Marvin readies Wild Carrot! What cha-know, self-stuffings! All This and Marvin Stew.

http://i.imgur.com/elEB1.jpg
Even Serenade joins in with a well timed Magic Mortar.

http://i.imgur.com/oVoAq.jpg
And finaly the deed is done. His pelt, after it is cleaned, will make a fine coat. His meat would be not only a tribute to the liveing but also the ones who are no longer with us. Marvin stew with dumplings will fill hungry tummys with ease.

Brace yourself. Winter is comeing.

One day I was strolling about Kazham, when I noticed the native Mithra preparing for a festival. I approached the Chieftaness to ask what the occasion was.

http://i7.minus.com/ibkjUoVFIG6qXT.jpg

Turns out, a tribal holiday was approaching: a day marking the brave feats of an elite team of huntresses many ages before who slayed a giant legendary beast and saved the entire tribe from famine.

I asked if I could join in the festivities on the off chance that I may add another holiday to my experiences, and to my surprise the answer was yes! . . . on the condition that I brought something from my home land that could satisfy one course for the entire tribe. A Hurculean task, to be sure, but I remember something from my earlier days of adventuring that made the ground shake under even my taller Elvaan compatriots' feet.

http://i5.minus.com/i25bpzXqKTIPr.jpg

I wonder how the Mithra of Kazham would enjoy feasting on Mutton?

To preserve the meat, I ensorcelled my dagger with something that would give the ram an ice surprise . . .

http://i5.minus.com/ib2pZf69naaMlE.jpg

http://i3.minus.com/ibvLnVnc4kj3LK.jpg

The beast went down faster than you could say "BAAAA!" I quickly shoved the thing in my Gobbiebag (this thing has held half the contents of my Mog House before; a ram should be a trifle by comparison), used a Scroll of Instant Warp to return to Jeuno, got funny looks by customs officers, and eventually made my way back to Kazham. You should've seen the look on the Chieftaness's face! (Unfortunately, my camera fingers were too slow . . .)

We made quick work eviscerating the beast, and prepared a sample meal. She ended up surprisingly fond of the haggis we prepared!

http://i4.minus.com/ibn83TxFu7Kq1c.jpg

The feast went on all day and all night, other huntresses contributing their own prizes to the meals. It then went on for quite a few more days and more nights, even long after the ram had been reduced to naught but skin and bones. Turns out the legendary beast that saved the tribe was defeated by the huntresses by them waiting for it to fall asleep . . . and was able to go without sleep for up to a fortnight . . .

BBQ Behemoth Beastkabobs

"Bring home the Behemoth?" Yooou got it! Comin' right up!

Nothin' says good eats like a tender portion'a savory shank, Southern (San d'Oria) style! My twist on this delicacy is perfect fer adventures 'n roastin' by the campfire on a chilly Thanksgivin' evenin'. BBQ Behemoth Beastkabobs are generous chunks'a tenderized savory shank marinated 'n slathered in mah secret spicy BBQ sauce, skewered with wild onions 'n Kazham peppers 'n paired deliciously with roasted sausage over the fire. Enjoy a cup'a hot chocomilk, cuddle up with yer sweetie 'n feast on mah backwoods BBQ Behemoth Beastkabobs! 'Cause us adventurers dun need none'a them fancy forks!

Now we jus' needs ourselves a beast. Hm...
Best way ta catch big meat, is with big meat. This beastly shank oughta do it.
A beastly shank fer a beastly spank! Ahahaha! ;)

To the den~!
(Wish I'da known mah lure meat would attract all the critters along the way... d'oh!)

Ah, there's a good 'un for the eatin', let's get 'im!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8478/8...ab0b8fdb63.jpg

No better way ta tenderize yer meat than ta pulverize it with a large space rock plummetin' at the speed'a sound...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8...41651e8031.jpg

Thank you Altana fer this kill, blahblahblah... TIME TA HACK 'IM UP!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8...9be1fae984.jpg

Cuddled with mah sweetie, tellin' stories and feastin' on the meats.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8...a843bd67ba.jpg

...Ahh! Orc stole mah bob! /fume :mad:

'N fer those'a us watchin' our waistlines this year...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8...f68c10469f.jpg

Hahaha! /em strums her banjo. Enjoy, folks! :o

http://i50.tinypic.com/nn1cau.jpg

Lets do this!!!!

After chasing my meal for hours and hours he turned out to be a little tougher then i was planning. All though i found out if you throw some ice at him pieces tend to break off and he has a marvelous taste! Ever have those rock candys? :D A little salty but very sweet once you get past his outer shell :D

My hunt began with the lesser beasts of the plateau:

http://www.gwcdn.com/albums/images/5...3d281d44aa.jpg

Many had to be culled from the herd before the bait was fresh enough for their lord.

http://www.gwcdn.com/albums/images/5...3d20f317c6.jpg

Finally, I was able to lure him out:

http://www.gwcdn.com/albums/images/5...3d20f317c7.jpg

Thomas put up quite a struggle, but he makes quite a sumptuous stew with his marbled mutton chops! He also makes the ideal meat since he's large enough to feed an entire alliance, and everyone (but vegetarians) loves marbled meat!

Thanks for all the awesome entries! We will be announcing the winners early next week after the Community Team has selected the winning entries. :)