Tales from the Storm Discussion

[Mysterysword]

While I found the story a bit eye-rolling, I don't think that it's a horrible travesty that should never have been written. I consider it to be harmless fluff. I wish that it had been something more substantial, but I'm not offended by what we got.

I have repeatedly stated that I find the story irritating. I do not find it offensive, I did not call it a "travesty". Those are words that others are putting in my mouth. I am irritated because, once again, this story could've been so much better, but fell short due to laziness/poor planning/lack of thought and effort.

Now, this may be surprising, but I actually like shipping, while keeping it confined to the fandom. But I would rather not have the writers deliberately shove it in here for whatever reason. It makes for poor plotting, even in something as simple as a side story.

The more I think about it, the more I'm wondering who this mystery advisor is.

He doesn't get a name, but we meet him very briefly in the level 70 CUL quest.

[Alleo]

Well Lyse being there is not that surprising for me when you are in a world where the ability to teleport exists. Also everyone needs a break sometimes so maybe she was just given the day off because she worked hard enough all the time and they wanted her to relax. Or the situation in Ala Mhigo is not as bad as some wants it to be thus not everyone is needed there all the time.

[Belhi]

I have repeatedly stated that I find the story irritating. I do not find it offensive, I did not call it a "travesty". Those are words that others are putting in my mouth. I am irritated because, once again, this story could've been so much better, but fell short due to laziness/poor planning/lack of thought and effort.

Now, this may be surprising, but I actually like shipping, while keeping it confined to the fandom. But I would rather not have the writers deliberately shove it in here for whatever reason. It makes for poor plotting, even in something as simple as a side story.

He doesn't get a name, but we meet him very briefly in the level 70 CUL quest.

I am not sure if its the same person. Could be though. That particularly NPC doesn't even have a name.

I was expecting someone connected to Erik from the MNK quests. Someone a bit more bookish.

[FJerome]

Next tale is up - "When the Wager Pays Off"

[Belhi]

I wonder when today it would be up. Time for some light reading!

[Anonymoose]

D'aww. Even having known the basics of the story, it's still a good read. The sudden introduction of "Raubahn's adopted son" came out of left field a bit back in the day, so the biographical side of this trivia was nice to see through their eyes.

[YianKutku]

I've always been a bit fascinated by Pipin, mostly because other Lalafell VAs tend to have scratchy or squeaky voices, and then 2.55 happened and I encounter this Lalafell with this deep smooth bishounen voice, complete with flowing silver locks of hair.

The story revealed little new, but it did reinforce why Pipin feels such fierce loyalty to Raubahn, and why he holds Raubahn in such high regard. It also triggered the usual immediate thoughts of "man, Ul'dah is terrible", but then that usually leads to a derail on how other city-states are just as bad in their own ways, so we'll just treat that discussion as done and over with.

I will still screenshot all those occasions of Pipin blithely striding around with a sword about as big as he is, though. Lalafell and equipment don't really scale too well.

[Belhi]

I wonder if Raubahn implemented any changes in policy over the Bloodsands when he bought out the Coliseum. It wouldn't surprise me if he arranged for better treatment of the Gladiators even if he lacked the influence to basically shelve the whole slavery thing. We see someone getting sold off for debts in the SAM quests but the individuals involved end up getting arrested by the Brass Blades. I wonder at the specifics of that. Was it that basically the Merchant was 'paying off' guards with the indentured woman or is there limits to what is technically legally allowed?

[Mysterysword]

The very first NPCs you see in the Gold Saucer, upon turning the corner, are a boy protesting that he doesn't want to go work in the silver mines, and his father assuring him that it'll "only" be for a few months, until the father's debt is repaid.

Given that he's apparently willing to discuss something like that in public, I wouldn't be surprised if selling off your children is legal, except it probably goes by a nicer term. Kidnapping and selling off strangers, however, ought to be a crime.

As for the story itself, going by the screenshots, it looks like a 13-year-old Lalafell isn't that distinguishable from an adult one. Also, this story could've done with some better editing, but that's par for the course.

[Enkidoh]

I wonder if Raubahn implemented any changes in policy over the Bloodsands when he bought out the Coliseum. It wouldn't surprise me if he arranged for better treatment of the Gladiators even if he lacked the influence to basically shelve the whole slavery thing. We see someone getting sold off for debts in the SAM quests but the individuals involved end up getting arrested by the Brass Blades. I wonder at the specifics of that. Was it that basically the Merchant was 'paying off' guards with the indentured woman or is there limits to what is technically legally allowed?

There had been earlier indications that the Colosseum was indeed often used as a place of punishment by Ul'dah's ruling oligarchy, but, it was always tempered by an apparent desire by the earlier owners/Guildmaster that despite the ominous name the 'Bloodsands' was actually not a place of bloodshed, that fighters fought mostly for show and didn't actually kill each other or even brutally injure - (the 1.0 GLA quests showed that), so this tale kind of shows the Colosseum in a more negative and brutal light.

It also goes some way to explaining Raubahn's stubborn determination - I mean, this is the guy who once fought a hundred opponents in the Colosseum single handedly, earning himself enough money to buy the Colosseum and a place on the Syndicate outright! He had to fight to live, to earn his freedom and gain the strength to liberate Ala Mhigo. And Pipin's past is a real tear jerker - that someone so noble, so principled and just had such a terrible childhood. This is definitely my favourite tale so fa (as it really strikes a chord with me, the connections my character has with the GLA's Guild and being Ala Mhigan herself).

Thank you so much for this Ferne! (And the rest of the lore/writing teams too ). I can't wait to see what the final story is about.