Retainer Ad-Venture Contest (EU) - Entry Thread

[Neo-Dark]

This is the story of Joe.

Joe is your average retainer. Hard working, loyal, and serves his Warrior of Light diligently. With axe in hand he fights off all manners of beasts. From the lowly monsters around the city-states of Eorzea to the monstrous creations in Azys Lla, Joe can take them all on without trouble. He has explored far and wide. Yet, no matter where he goes, the instant his friend needs him, he’s there. Often with gifts from his journey to give to his trusted friend. His friend cherished all the items that Joe would return with. Using them for crafts, trying them out on a training dummy, or selling them at the market board.

With his skills at the pinnacle of what a marauder is capable of Joe would often head off on short, quick adventures. From doing odd jobs around towns for people for some food, to exploring the wilds, testing his mettle on all kinds of beasts, to just going for a fish in the ocean to pass the time, Joe wanted to try everything.

As he grew in confidence and gained more gear, he fought against beings thought of as gods by Beast Tribes, and legends of the Moogles, he grew in favour with all three grand companies who were willing to provide him with a bunch of their unique items, like floor tilings, and ceiling fans. Yet, even with all of his adventures, he was still overshadowed by his friend; The Warrior of Light.

He decided to try new things. Something his friend had mostly not done much of; The Wolves Den.

Out there, against other retainers, Joe grew further in his prowess, and defeated many a foe. Successful as he was, he soon found himself with an abundance of Wolf Marks. Having been so successful at something his friend was yet to conquer Joe proudly bought a few exclusive Wolf Mark items, including a Warwolf Bliaud of Healing, which he could not wait to give to his friend.

So Joe joyfully headed back to his friend, feeling quite pleased with himself, at least up until there was a thud on the back of his head, and all went dark.

A short while later Joe woke up, on his body a note; “Thanks for the top, My master will be pleased. - Neo.” This left Joe greatly upset.

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Upon returning to the bell, the Warrior of Light called their retainer and over they came.

The retainer handed the Warrior of Light a new Warwolf Bliaud of Healing, happily saying “I've returned from my venture.”

To which the Warrior of Light promptly threw out the top.

-----------

On the way back to the bell, Joe was too upset to pay attention and accidentally tripped over tins of Jet Black Dye on his way. In joy at finding items most rare, he picked them up and returned to his friend who couldn't have been happier for the gift.

Thus ends the story of Joe, the Average retainer.

---// Story Ends Here, total above count; 500 Words, 2720 Characters. Checked with wordcounter (dot) net \\---

Character Name: Lilith Dark
World Name: Odin
Prize: Ahriman Choker

(BTW, my retainer in the story is Neo… who’s the one who returned with a Warwolf Bliaud of Healing. Which I’ve had at least once, and yes, promptly thrown it out. Joe however is just your average retainer who we all would like to have... cause he returns with Jet Black Dye.)

[Eoeo]

[Once upon a time, fulfilling the orders of the master...]
"Hey look! There's the enemy I'm looking for ! What ? It can not be, a horde of retainers like me go for it! It must be mine, I need that and only that enemy, can not be another! "
[Some seconds later]
"Oh, well... "
[Waiting for the respawn]
"And that's why I hate it when the master does not give me the Filed or Quick Exploration. "

--------------------

Character: Eowyn Loire
World: Moogle
Prize: Scarf of Wondrous Wit

[Evilkitten]

The Tale of Evilkitten

Evilkitten, who was sitting quietly on the beach, was suddenly whistled away to come to her master, Evil. She was asked politely if she could go get her that shiny pastel pink dye she had been dying to get for her new dress.

What Evil didn’t know was how hard Evilkitten tried, even as a fisher, how it was almost impossible to obtain these dyes. Evilkitten, nevertheless, set off because she wanted to keep Evil happy.

So off she went through the torturous land and stormy weathers towards to the distance lands where only Retainers can go. She approach a village where she knew dyes were sold and notice that it sold the pastel pink dye, she felt relived as she knew it would make master happy. Yet there was a problem, a very sad problem, she had forgot to bring along payment for the dye.

She realized, however, that she could get other means of payment and through specialize training of fishing she had received she decided to go fishing. Thankfully she had her special goblin jig with her. The one in which she named ‘gobbie’ as it was her lucky tackle, the one she carried with her everywhere.

To briskly went towards the river but unfortunately it was stormy and she knew it would disturb the fish below. So she sat and she waited for the storm to pass whilst feeling very cold. As she waited, she thought about the huge smile which would be on master’s face when she got that pastel pink dye.

After what felt like years, the storm finally passed and so began the long wait. She must have seen that goblin jig bob up and down a few dozen times only to receive hundreds of mudskippers. Then it happens, the hugest, the strongest tug ever. She stood up, she pulled back hard on the fishing line. She pulled and she pulled, she reeled that line in like it was life or death and finally she got the best fish ever.

She looked at it in glee, knowing it was worth the gil for that pastel pink dye and she skipped so happily back to the village. Then it happened, her heart dropped and she felt the whole world crumble around her. The pastel pink dye, she found hours before and know she went through every to get had been sold. She didn’t know what to do with herself as there was only one thing left in the market to buy.

With a heavy heart she bought it and made her way back to Evil knowing full well she wouldn’t be happy. As she heard her final whistle call on master she made her way to the summoning bell. Then with a sad heart yet with a happy smile she proceed to give Evil her present, it was another olive seed.

Evil stormed off, very unhappy at Evilkitten at another unwanted present.

Evil will never know how sad Evilkitten was that day.

Character Name: Evil Kitten
Server: Cerberus
Item: Ahriman Choker

[Latrissa]

Clammed up

The aetherial chime of the summoning bell pierced the air, rousing Lucelle from her reverie with a panic. She, like other retainers, was required to respond to her Lady's summons at any hour with unfailing haste, and being employed under these conditions for an extended period had cultivated a nervous disposition.

"How may I be of service, my Lady?", she stammered dutifully.

Recently, Lucelle had begun to sense that she was making little progress with her attempts to open her Lady's eyes to the fascinating world of Eorzea's marine life. The rolled-eyes, increasingly thin veneer of smiles, and chuckles of other adventurers attested to the fact that Lucelle's earnest scholarly intentions were going largely unappreciated.

As she was assigned a short open-ended task, termed 'quick exploration', Lucelle mused briefly on the inconvenient terms of her employment that dictated she be paid in a currency only recognized by the Adventurers' Guild, namely ventures. The reason for the existence of these coins would forever remain a mystery to her. She once asked her Lady why she kept her ventures in stacks exactly 99 coins high, a question that was met only with a blank stare. She resolved not to ask again. Lucelle extended her hand expectantly.

She felt a brief surge of panic as her Lady's hand wavered in the air, as if hesitant to part with the coins. Ventures were designed partly as a way for retainers to further and test their abilities, but mostly as a way for Adventurers to enrich themselves; Adventurers were under no obligation to pay for them. Lucelle relaxed slightly as her Lady's hand finally continued forward, and with a forced smile she dropped the coins into the retainers hand.

"Of course, my Lady", she spoke in affirmation, clutching the pair of coins tightly in her palm as she turned to leave.

Anxious to preserve her now seemingly tenuous supply of coins, Lucelle realised she would have to convince her Lady of the value of her endeavours. There was only one solution. She would have to present her Lady with the finest example of Eorzea's aquatic denizens that could be obtained. An hour of fishing yielded the exquisite specimen she knew her Lady would appreciate.

"The venture is complete, my Lady" she declared triumphantly, proudly displaying a large and perfectly-formed Vongola Clam.

Character: Latrissa Saphon
World: Phoenix
Item: Ahriman Choker

[Rin_Sato]

The sun shining sunny showers over the shroud,
A played out pesky pun pining with its partisan,
The entertainer's wallet and breadbasket lighter than any feather,
No personal possessions of any kind to even weather,
The retainer's responsibility residing now in mercenary - a marauder,
Was assigned to venture to the burning purgatory of the desert's hot weather,
Given to the temperate turf of the tranquil thicket treeline,
The infernal inferno inferring far too much fear for the frightful feline,
Hitting the horned horror with a hatchet in hand wholly horrified and heading for home in a beeline,
Satisfied with surviving the scorching skirmish safe and sound,
Walking home a trophy in one hand and pastry in the other.

1. Character name: Nomed Nemes
2. World: Exodus
3. Prize: Ahriman Choker

[Bizant]

Approaching the enormous river that coursed through the heart of the Dravanian Hinterlands, the Elezen, known even to his adventurer employer simply as Condit, commanded his jet black, flying chocobo to make its descent. Having landed gently on a grassy verge, he dismounted, and led the chocobo to the water's edge. As he filled his bottle, he was interrupted by a sharp call from some ten yalms downstream.

"Ahoy!" came the voice, shrill enough to be heard over the river's swift current. A mustached Lalafell lay in a reclined, foldable chair, holding a fishing rod. His demeanour was shockingly serene.

Condit smiled. "Good day."

"You're a retainer, am I right?" the Lalafell said.

"Correct." Condit replied as he approached. "How could you tell?"

"Just a skill I've picked up." The Lalafell grinned.

"And you're a fisherman?" Condit ventured. The Lalafell laughed heartily.

"Goodness, no! I don't know what gave you that impression." He grinned again. "I, too, am a retainer. In fact I'm on a field exploration as we speak."

"A very relaxing field exploration, I must say," Condit said.

"Indeed it is! I've returned from no less than twelve ventures with nothing but a mudskipper, and not a complaint yet. This is the life."

Condit chuckled. It was retainers like this that gave others a bad name, but the Lalafell's candour was somehow endearing. "Isn't it, though?" He leapt into his chocobo's saddle, and smiled. "Happy fishing, sir!"

The little retainer grinned once more. "And to you!"

---

Having flown not 300 yalms from the river, Condit spotted a Poroggo lying motionless on the grass below. He swooped down, leapt from his chocobo's saddle, and kneeled beside the creature. It was wearing an ornate necklace, and loosely held a mage's cane in one hand. Raising its head from the grass, it weakly croaked two words.

"Behind... you..."

Condit whirled around to find a Sun Bear, at least 8 feet tall, hurling one of its giant, clawed legs directly at his face. He backflipped to safety 15 yalms away, and drew his lance. The monster leapt after him, throwing another swipe impossibly fast. This time, the Elezen had time only to parry the attack with his weapon. The force of the blow knocked him back, and the bear followed up with a second, more ferocious swipe. He sidestepped the attack, and launched a strike to the monster's midriff. As it roared in pain and swiped at him clumsily, Condit dropped low, and sliced his lance across the bear's hind legs, sweeping them from under it. As the bear lay stunned, Condit launched the finishing blow.

The Poroggo, now recovered, approached with what appeared to be a gift of appreciation, wrapped in leaves. It carefully removed the leaves to reveal a fresh mudskipper.

Condit managed a semi-convincing smile, accepted the gift, and began his journey back to Gridania.

---

Flying low over the river, Condit waved his hard-earned fish at the little retainer. Still reclined, the Lalafell waved his own mudskipper, and grinned.

---


Character name - Bizant Frost
World name - Brynhildr
Prize - Scarf of Wondrous Wit

[LunarisStarchilde]

Earners

LunaStarr jerked her foot back from the water, almost falling out of her chair and spilling her drink. “Tide's coming in,” She frowned over her glass at the waves in front of her. The sun was starting to set over Costa del Sol, beach chairs being emptied in favor of bar stools.
“We should get dressed and get ready.”
Ninyashi stretched and yawned. “Yeah, any moment now that stupid bell's going to chime, and then it's all, 'So what kind of fish is it this time?' ” The last part spoken in a nasal tone.
Luna stood up and bowed to Nina. “This cat has brought you a present, madam." She did her mock-greeting then held out and empty hand to the Au Ra in front of her.
Nina smiled at the Miqo'te, then changed to an exaggerated scowl before continuing her impression of their master. “ 'And what manner of junk is this you brought me? You know food and blankets are for earners.' ”
“Oh madam, it's a new stick for you, that you might replace the one currently shoved up your--”
They both shared a shudder and chuckle as the chime of a crystal bell was heard from their Venture's linkpearl.
“Speak of the devil..” Luna sighed.

The Idyllshire rain beating down on Lunaris Starchilde did little to improve her mood. Nor did the look on LunaStarr's face when she arrived. “Please tell me you brought me something worthwhile.”
Luna bowed and presented a long wrapped box.
Lunaris opened it to find a Madman's Whispering Wand. “A stick!? What am I supposed to do with this!?”

LunaStarr sneezed from the smell of hay and bird in the chocobo stable. The straw that made her bed for the night poked through her clothes and itched. “No sense of humor, that one.”
Nina shot Luna a look. “Couldn't keep you mouth shut, could you.”
Luna smiled at Nina before reaching behind herself to grab a rather large flask. She poured the contents into two ceramic cups and handed one to the Au Ra. “At least she let us keep the blanket.”

Name: Lunaris Starchilde
World: Shiva
Prize: Bluebird Earrings

[Spiroth]

Spiroth Kama got up early today. He would meet his fellow Adventurers and go hunt that elusive Lampalagua they have been trying to conquer for almost 2 yeas now near Camp Drybone again today.

Before he left he hit the Bell and summoned his dream cat Lickykitty to send her on a Venture.

*chim chim*

Lickykitty: "Hello Spiroth, how are you doing today? "
Spiroth: "Really great, I have a feeling I'm gonna get that Lampalagua today."
Lickykitty: "(Yeah Right) Awesome! I believe in you!!!" I'll be omw now, gonna get you something really cool today!"
Spiroth: "(Yeah Right) Thank you, have a nice Venture!


And so, Lickykitty embarked on her adventure.... to Buscharron's Druthers. She ate, and drank, and even fought with a random drunk guy (it was... fate ), she played Triple Triad against Buscharron and lost, and had a fun time all day long.
But she then remembered she was on a Venture and was supposed to bring something great back. She searched and searched, but couldn't find anything... and there was no time.

As the chime bell sounded through the Retainer Magic Portal, and as Lickykitty was being sucked through it, she felt really sad, and as that thought was crossing her mind, she quickly grabbed the bra of the waitress next to her out of her chest and was sucked through the Portal.


On the other side, Spiroth Kama was feeling down.

Lickykitty: "Hey Spiroth... What's going on?"
Spiroth: "Couldn't find Lampalagua again today..."

He seemed so sad... Lickykitty couldn't see him like this.

Lickykitty: "Hey Hey don't be sad you'll get him tomorrow! Here, feast on this amazing prize I brought you!!!"

*Lickykitty hands over the bra*
*akward staring*

Spiroth:"-_-"
Lickykitty: "^_^;;;"

Lickykitty: Ok then, what about this then my love?

*Lickykitty reached out and gave him a warm kiss*

Spiroth: "You're the best Retainer an Adventurer could ever hope to have. I love you."
Lickykitty: "I love you too, my Light in this world."



Spiroth Kama
Malboro
Scarf of Wondrous Wit