Retainer Ad-Venture Contest (EU) - Entry Thread

[Vale]

Of the four Retainers under Onion's employ, Beansprout was his favourite. Not that he'd ever say that out loud. Lettuce, Pepper, and Popoto were all Lala's after his own heart.. But Beansprout, that tall powerful Roegadyn just held a warm place within. Perhaps it was the fat cat he brought back the other moon.

As always, Beansprout set off towards adventure and acquisition. His task today was to find something special for his master. But what would you get for the Onion Knight who had it all? Well, most everything. Well.. A few things and a nice suit for fancy occasions. Ser Sprout found himself wandering The Goblet. It was a warm, sunny day. The Roegadyn found himself by a small stream of water and sat to rest his feet. He'd been a busy bear, after all. Not that he was a bear, that is. He was too gentle. Maybe I'll just rest my eyes for a moment.. he thought, sitting down by the water before laying back and closing his eyes. This was the life, a lovely day and a lovely location to enjoy the peace.

Beansprout sat up, stretching. Had he dozed off? If so, how long had it been? Hopefully not too long.. His venture was only to be a bell, after all. He looked up to the sky and staggered before jumping up to his feet. The sky was darkening, he'd been out almost the entire afternoon! Poor Master Onion must've been waiting by the bell for several bells by now! Beansprout panicked, wondering what to do. He gazed around hurriedly, hoping to find something that may please his master. Then he saw it, something that nobody could be without! The Roegadyn saw his prize and snuck up behind it, not wanting to lose his chance..


It had been almost eight bells since Onion sent Beansprout off on his quest. The poor Lalafell worried harder than he had before. Sprouty had never been gone this long before. What if something bad had happened to him? What if he'd gotten lost or hurt? The thoughts were too much to bear! Again, Onion was not a bear either.

"Master Onion! Ah've got yer prize! I'm late but it's worth it!" The panted yells came from behind, and the Onion Knight turned around to see his Retainer running towards him with his "prize" in hand.. Evening came close to an end and Onion and his retainers all sat around at a table, enjoying a drink as a celebration for Beansprouts' return. He'd never dare to ask, but Onion would forever wonder how and why Beansprout came to bring him the rather sheepish looking Elezen man sat beside them at the table sipping away at an ale. Nor, for that matter, why said Elezen had decided to stay. Whatever the case, he was very pretty. If you like that sort've thing. Onion nodded in response to his own thoughts and went back to his tea.


-
Character: Onion Brave
Server: Balmung
Prize: Scarf Of Wondrous Wit!

[Niet]

Another day, another (ad-)Venture (499 words)
Character name: Rentho'ra Niet
World name: Cerberus
Prize: Bluebird Earring

I always know when my master wakes: ringing the bell to summon me is early in his morning routine. Once more I must inform him that the markets are stale; nothing has sold. He seems okay with this and simply requests that I keep the items as they are. Moving on to today's hunt, I'm expecting Amphipteres again, but no. Today he's deploying me to Azys Lla for Chimera Manes. I guess 326 freshly skinned Amphipteres are enough. Well, whatever he's planning to craft is not my business, so I take my Venture and promptly leave.

Azys Lla, once impenetrably sealed, now conveniently accessible via Aetheryte. I beam in at Helix and am immediately approached by an Aetheryte Node demanding payment. I present my Retainer badge. Thankfully the Adventurer's Guild had been swift to reprogram the Nodes to comply with their policies: it recognises my badge and deactivates itself.

Chimerae nest in the Beta Quadrant, so I travel to the Matter Conduit. It's a long trek, and I am constantly tormented by the sight of adventurers riding Griffins overhead, but I press on. Finally, I have eyes on my quarry.

I open my Hive Grimoire, a gift from my master, to a familiar page. There is written the geometry for summoning Emerald Carbuncle. A familiar page indeed, get it? Bad puns aside, I trace the pattern, drawing power from my Emerald Ring in the process. "Come to me, Silent!" I speak as I complete the arcanum. In a flash of aetheric energy, my fluffy and faithful Carbuncle appears.

Our power combined makes a formidable force, especially as my master equipped me well. I can feel my Asuran gear amplifying my aether as I cast Miasma, Bio II and Bio on my target. "Silent, if you please," I say to my pet, and he emits Shining Emerald to extend my enfeeblements. I unleash Bane to snatch a second Chimera with the same effects. They bear down on me but I stand unflinching as I barrage them with Ruin, while Silent helps take them down. The fight is soon over, with my prey overwhelmed by my arcana.

I sheathe my Grimoire and set about harvesting their manes. The thick, bristly hair could be woven into a felt having strong properties, and would craft into high-end gear. It would certainly fetch a good price. I should consider hunting these in free time to sell for myself...

My absent-mindedness is sharply interrupted as Silent suddenly vaults over my shoulder and releases a powerful Backdraft on a third Chimera, which had been approaching with vengeful thoughts in its primitive mind. I whip out my Grimoire once again and engage. Together we make short work of it, but were it not for my dear Silent's vigilance and swift reactions, this story would have ended quite abruptly!

I finish collecting the manes for my master, give Silent a soft pat before dismissing him back to the aether, and prepare to Teleport back to civilisation. Venture complete.

[Taross]

A Dangerous Game

"So, there I was, fighting my way out of the Shroud with this small band of mercenaries I joined up with, trying to get away from this band of delusional Moogles . With The Wanderers' Luck itself on my side I manage to snag along an axe so I could take SOMETHING back to my contract..." The Lalafellin woman peered at her cards, waiting for the four others at her table to make their move before she continued.
"And when I finally give him this Moogle-made axe, he looks at it and and has the guts to tell me he rather hoped for one of those fancy Allagan beanbags... I fold..." She huffed and put her cards away.
"That's a godsdamned shame... I call." The Hyur to her left said while sliding over some Ventures.
The center of the table was filled with Venture tokens while a crate to the side read 'Prize Bin'. The game they played was simple; whomever had the most tokens at the end got to pick from the crate first, followed by the runner-up and so on. The small stack of tokens in front of her said she was going to be picking the bottom of the proverbial barrel though.
Two Elezen put down their hand first, neither of them looking very happy. At least one of them still had three Kings, the other had clearly been bluffing.
Next up was a Roegadyn who had been grinning ever since his hand was dealt. The man was impossible to read with his big dumb smile and had been winning so big she'd almost think he was cheating.
"Read and despair..." He boomed across the table "This old marauder is going to Flush the winnings Straight into his pocket." He put down his cards starting with an Ace, followed by a well-made image of Raubahn. He was in the middle of showing his next card, represented by Nanamo when an alarum suddenly went off.
"Thall's Balls!" the Hyur called out, "Time!"
And with those words the game was called short. The Venture tokens on the table were completely forgotten when almost everyone made a mad dash for the crate and grabbed the first thing they could get their hands on, leaving the diminutive fifth to sigh softly. She gathered the coin left there by the others, seeing no need in letting good venture tokens go to waste and tipped over the crate to see what was left for her.
...
"A... flounder... thanks..." The words from the adventurer taking the fish in his hands could not be more disappointed and she knew the poor creature would be reduced to a handful of sand the moment she left the Lavender Beds. "Here's some more tokens... Try and do your best, I guess."
She took the two bits and secured them with the rest of her stash before bowing and heading back towards Ul'Dah. Determined to do her best and play better this time.

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497 words
Character Name: Taross Blackburn
World: Excalibur, Primal Datacenter
Prize Choice: Scarf of Wondrous Wit
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[Tyo_Green]

Tyo Molkoh
Balmung
Bluebird Earring


==

Open cupboard. Blue suit. red tie. Grey pants. Part hair with perfumed gel from a grey cup. Brush teeth, examine bored reflection of plain boring man. Spit. Rinse.

Grab acceptable pickaxe for work. Keys in hand head out to catch the chocobo keep, three streets away. Stand in sliver of shade, eyes squinted against the glare of morning. Scratch together few gil remaining, stink of horsebird for the rest of the day.

Groups of people, dressed in uniform, splashes of acceptable colour here and there but nothing outrageous. Nothing new. The same tired graffiti etching the walls of boring buildings and the same creamy gum, hardened by the hot western sun, stuck to the same spots on the same seats.

Usual boring chatter in Backroom. waiting to be pulled away by obnoxious twang of the silver button. People stand, leave in unison, mouths moving with no words. Hand slips into my pocket and I quiver.The soft touch Allagan Silk on calloused pads ...my mind slips back.

The Master had looked at me strangely, green eyes full of judgment. A trained miner, even when decked in suit and tie, usually had grit on his pants and sweat on his brow. He was probably more confused to what I had been doing in for the last hour. I slipped my hands behind my back, a single sheet of silk crumpled in my trembling hand as, voice wavering, I replied “No...nothing of interest.”

A few fumbled venture transactions later and I had my prize, hidden safely in the depths of my pocket and a pallor crawling up my neck as slick as the sheen on my spontaneous theft . It was forbidden .But when I saw it, caught prettily on a washing line... how could I hand it to him?

Only the retainer waiting room looming out of the grey masses dribbling along the footpath could squash my new found high, at once reality crawled back under my skin with the intent of dashing me against the flagstones underfoot.A stolen venture? I would be arrested.

A public restroom, the stench of chemical and something foul decaying beneath the unwashed sink. The burning, bitter taste of nervous bile, rising, rising. The door swings shut and the lock clicks duly, engaged. My feet hit the suspiciously marked floor softly, before unsteady hands remove MY silk from its hiding place . I steady myself. Each frantic breath slowing and calming as I press it to my sun-aged cheeks.

Who knew why I had chosen that particular venture, or why the crinkle of the of the creamy silk had caught my eye. I felt liberated, awakened from the monotonous dream of my daily existence. I was no longer a faceless number carving tracks along the litter stretched roads; plodding onward to the Master’s bell ring and slinking home with my tarnished collection of venture coins and the remnants of a lonely dinner stuck to my blue jacket.

I wonder if the rogue’s guild has openings?

[Tyo_Green]

Uploaded a broken link! -pats on back- Good job Tyo, good job.

[Ageofwar]

After coming back from sunbathing in Costa del Sol, Ageofenvy takes a load of her feet but before she could catch her breath she hears the ring of the retainer bell along with her master’s voice

"Ageofenvy, where the hell are you, you lazy miqo'te".

She thinks to herself "oh god not already and I don't want to know what slutty outfit he has for me to model this time".

Ageofenvy jumps to her feet and approaches the retainer bell were a male miqo'te stood in a black short robes.

"I did my best, just like i said " Ageofenvy said.

She hands over a Sea Pickle to her master and was greeted with a look of disappointment on her master's face. Age ofwar hands her a blood red Thavnairian Bustier set and said to her

“put this on, kitty”

Ageofenvy promptly heads to her room and puts on the Thavnairian Bustier and heads back to the retainer bell.

Ageofenvy puts her left arm on her waist and waits for her master’s response.

After staring at her for 30 mins, Age ofwar hands over 2 venture along with a dragonskin map to sell.

Ageofenvy says under her breath “When the master’s away, the cat will play” and left.

After changing back into her black robes, Ageofenvy heads to Coerthas Central Highlands and on entering the area she runs into Ageofsirens and Ageoflust.

Ageofenvy say to them "For the Warrior of light, that Age ofwar is a jerk"

To which Ageofsirens and Ageoflust responds "don't we know it"

At this point Ageofenvy leaves Ageofsirens and Ageoflust and heads for the Howling Eye.

On entering the Howling Eye a green figure suddenly drops from the sky.

"HA HA HA ha, SURRENDER YOURSELF UNTO ME, NONE SHALL STAND AGAINST THE WIND"

No sooner had Garuda finished she was hit with a Fire III along with a volley of Fire I.

Garuda's response to this was to attack with her claws. Before Garuda's attack could connect Ageofenvy manages to avoid the attack and returned with a Blizzard III followed by a Fire III and another volley of Fire I.

Garuda at this point was getting more anger than normal and unleashes her Aerial Blast attack.

Ageofenvy in return summons a Manaward before being knocked from her feet.

Using the last of her power Ageofenvy casts one final Fire III which knocks Garuda from the sky into the Aether from which she came from leaving behind Garuda’s Van.

Ageofenvy picks up Garuda’s Van puts in on her back with her Kujo staff and heads back to Ishgard.

No sooner had Ageofenvy returned to Ishgard she hears the ringing of the retainer bell.

Ageofenvy staggers to the retainer bell and responses “I did my best, just like i said”

and hands over the Garuda’s Van

Age ofwar praises Ageofenvy and gives her another 2 ventures and says “take your time with this one” and leaves.



Character: Age ofwar
World: Hyperion
Desired item: Ahriman Choker

[mbncd]

Character: Crystal Dreams
World: Ragnarok
Prize: Scarf of Wondrous Wit

******************************************

Crystal called me to the summoning bell at her house in the Mist. As usual, she wanted to know what I'd been able to find in the last hour so I tossed her another peace of seaweed from the beach. She scolded me, also as usual, and then sent me back on my way.

As I headed back towards the beach with another well earned venture coin in my pocket, I heard some cheering coming from a small crowd up the street ahead of me. Approaching the group, I saw that Ally was at it again.

Today, she was a little more ambitious as she examined the roof of the large house from her perch atop the chocobo stable. Usually she just took small rooftops or windows.

Despite the daunting task ahead of her, she simply nodded and pulled out her hatchet. The crowd of my fellow retainers continued to watch from a safe distance as Ally worked her way around the roof. Eventually, she succeeded in the impossible looking task.

Next, she blew her whistles and horns. She must have had 10 of them hidden away. That many flying chocobos and dragons and other flying creatures surrounded the house and began to lift the roof off of the walls. They carried the roof down in front of the house.

Then I heard the familiar ring of a bell from within that very same house. Ally went and knocked on the door. Her boss welcomed her at first but started yelling when she saw the roof just outside. These people are never satisfied! She'd worked hard for the last hour!

I simply shook my head and walked on towards the beach. There was sure to be some more seaweed around. I wasn't going to work as hard as Ally, just to be equally shouted at. Hurriedly, I grabbed the first malm kelp I saw and then rushed back to Crystal's place, arriving just as she rang her bell.

[KaenShinzui]

Character: Hieki Shinzui
World: Behemoth
Choice: Ahriman Chocker

"Yes, I will do just as you say!" ChibiHie said and waved energetically at her boss who was disappearing behind the door of their home in Mist.

The boss had given the order. ChibiHie and Flamie had two hours to bring something back, and it'd better NOT be fish. Yet another beautiful sunny day at Mist and they got sent out for work again. ChibiHie looked longingly at the sparkling water outside their window. Flamie knew just what she wanted. But work was work, there was nothing he can do about it so he quietly gathered his equipment and got ready to go.

"Let's go to the beach!" She turned to her partner with sparkling puppy eyes.

"No more fish!" Flamie stressed on each word. "You heard the boss said."

"But it's sunny outside, and the ocean is calling." ChibiHie whined. "And who knows, we might pick up some rare fish and she will be happy."
Flamie frowned at her "Are you a fisher?"

ChibiHie shaked her head. Just like their boss, none of them was fisher.

"Do I look like I can fish up a rare fish?" He said and opened the door. They only had 2 hours, there was no time to waste arguing with ChibiHie.

"We won't know unless we tryyyyy." ChibiHie clung onto his arm, refused to let go.

By "we", she meant "HE". But Flamie knew his partner would cling onto him, stopping him from doing anything until he agreed to her terms. So next thing he knew, she was dragging him straight to the beach. As soon as their feet touched the white sand, her face was shining like the sun itself, and her eyes sparkled like the colour of the sea. And that was when he gave in. They changed into swim suits and set up a small fire away from the water and started fishing. ChibiHie, of course, abandoned the task in less than 5 minutes and started splashing about, which forced Flamie to move to the bridge.

Two hours passed like a second and Flamie could hear his summoning bell ringing. He picked up his bucket and went to get ChibiHie. At least he got some Fullmoon Sardine, they were sold for decent price on the market. But as he reached the campfire, the smell of burnt sardine rushed into his nose. He panicked and checked his bucket; all that remained was two Blue Octopi. ChibiHie had taken the sardines when he didn’t look and she didn’t even do a good job cooking them. Now they have no other choice but to give her the octopi, at least they are not fish. Flamie sighed and sneaked up to the house when the boss was bathing in the basement, left the Octopi at the Summoning Bell and sneaked out. He hoped she wouldn’t figure out that they were having a beach party instead of working... Meanwhile, ChibiHie was still splashing in the water, completely forgot about the sardine and the boss.

[Eilonwyn]

Name: Eilonwyn Hallison
World: Cerberus (EU)
Prize Choice: Mandragora Choker

********************************************************************
"If you bring me back another chub, it is getting shoved somewhere unpleasant!"

Maithieu sighed. He looked longingly at the Agelyss River winding its way through Eastern La Noscea. He wanted to make his master happy, truly, but he was constantly denied his passion for fishing.

Of course the fishing goes to GwenGwen. Lalas just love all that stuff.

He recalled the day Eilonwyn had picked him and Gwen to be her retainers. She'd already made quite the name for herself as a worthy adventurer. His master was a tall, formidable Elezen.

"Maithieu, you will be the Archer. Gwen, you will get me Fatcats. All of the Fatcats."

Maithieus face fell at the memory, and he turned his gaze to the towering crystals North of his location.

Once he reached the Garlean outpost, he dropped to the ground. He'd been coming here for weeks. Perfecting his way into the Coil of Bahamut. Everyday he fought his way through Asclepius. He enraged ADS constanly, happily enduring the shocks. He got sick from the bouncing in what his Master called 'T3'. Relentlessy he AoE'd everything in that infernal lift, until finally he made it.

Oak Longbow in hand, Maithieu prepared himself. Tackling 4 dragons all alone was a mighty task. Eilonwyn had mentioned several times in grumblings as she shoved Materia at his face for him to sell about 'Twintits' and how stupid Divebombs and Twisters are.

Bravely, the Hyur stepped onto Bahamuts claw. He stared up at Twintania, she stared at him. The tension crackled in the atmosphere. The Great Dragon flew down and landed with a loud thump in front of Maithieu. He smiled and extended out his hand, petting the dragon on the head.
"No more fighting eh?" He asked, sighing thankfully. "Finally ready to give it up?"

Twintania snorted and lowered her head in a crude form of a nod. She stepped to the side, revealing the glowing orb he had been after for months.
Maithieu swiped the orb and thanked the Dragon. "You will be at peace now, Twintania. I shan't bug you again."
With that he left and traveled all the way back to the Goblet, where his Master resided.

The familiar bell rung, just as he had made it back. Gleefully he approached the Elezen, who had already folded her arms, expecting to have to provide another lecture about why he was not the fisher.
"If this is another Pike, Matt, I swear..." She grumbled before leaping back in shock. He had heeld out the Orb to her, a proud smirk on his face.

"An ADS Illuminant!? Those are worth Millions! Thank you! Here, have this gear upgrade I was saving."

Maithieu accepted the upgrade grciously. He was glad to see Eilonwyn so happy. So glad in fact, he chanced his luck.

"Can I be a fisher now?"

"No."

[azwtyr]

The Favourite

My mistress, Saran Gesi is not a bad person; but I can't help but feel that she has a certain disdain for me. Perhaps it's the fact that she sends me out to battle with merely a straw hat and a double vest? Or maybe it's that weathered short sword that she got the gladiator's guild that she insists I use. She seems fonder of that other retainer, Veiz. Honestly, I think he has a personality of a Goobbue though.

So there I was at the Sapphire Avenue Exchange when Mistress Saran appeared and tossed 2 ventures at my feet.

"Bring me something nicer would you?" and off she went to chat with Veiz, batting her eyelashes all the way. As I scrambled to pick up my ventures, one of the Ala Mighan refugees swiped one and made off with it. By the twelve do I hate Ul’dah!

So off I went, tracking into Southern Thanalan; looking under rocks and searching for items of value. I had my trusty straw hat on so the heat didn’t really bother me; even when the ground started to look burnt. As I prodded around I couldn't help but feel an intense stare, which I tried to ignore. When I finally gave in, I raised my eyes only to meet Ifrit’s.

“What is this? A sacrifice?” He bellowed.

By my (mis)fortune, I have somehow managed to slip past all the Amalj’aa and ended up in the Bowl of Embers!

“Well mortal? Are thou ready to be a servant?”

No, no, no, this has gone terribly wrong! My legs froze and I began to tremble as I felt his fiery gaze on me. This can’t be the end for me, Sylvernus the Miqo’te can it?
Thoughts of home however, steeled my resolve. No! I must be brave; my Mistress is depending on me! Besides, how am I supposed to get this venture back to my family if I spend the rest of my days worshipping a bleeding Primal?
I steeled myself to let out a fierce battle cry (although it sounded more like a half-hearted wail) and charged at the beast...when I tripped. My short sword went flying into the air and vanished.
Ifrit howled with laughter; by the twelve a Primal’s laugh is terrifying indeed.

“Thou are of great amusement; perhaps thou will make a good servant…”

Right when as weathered short sword from the Gladiator’s guild came flying down and embedded itself into Ifrit’s head. The beast howled and thrashed, and soon vanished into Aether. In its place was the sword; except it looks different now, fierier. I scooped it up and ran as fast as I could back to Ul’dah.

Mistress Saran was already there, tapping her foot impatiently

“You’re late”

“Apologies ma’am, but I brought you a gift” I bowed and offered the blade.

Her eyes widened and a wide grin spread across her face.

“Dear Sylvernus, you are now my favourite retainer!”


Character Name: Saran Gesi
World Name: Tonberry
Choice: Ahriman Choker