Retainer Ad-Venture Contest (EU) - Entry Thread

[CrystalRanger]

The sprawling great hall of the Retainer Guild was buzzing. In a luxuriously decorated cavern deep beneath Eorzea's forests, plains and rolling hills, imps from every corner of the realm were making merry. It had been almost five years since the Syndicate of the Void had hit upon the idea to take advantage of the rise of adventuring from the ashes of the calamity in what was to become the most audacious scheme to grace Eorzean shores since the Allagan dragon meat scandal of the Third Astral Era.

Through their manipulation of Eorzean markets and the trade in Ventures, sold to Grand Companies at inflated prices, in only a few years the Voidsent had built the wealthiest city state in the Realm, one completely unknown to the surface-dwelling Spoken. No one had questioned how the Retainer network was able to locate new, eager retainers who so precisely matched the preferences of the adventurer seeking their services at a moment's notice. And the matter of retainers appearing to be everywhere at once had seemingly gone unnoticed. As long as the Spoken were gifted with the occasional worthless trinket, the money kept flowing and the imps thrived.

At one end of the seemingly endless hall, three imps were comfortable settled on a couch of the finest cloth, enjoying delicacies sourced from across the realm. Their banter was briefly interrupted as a portly imp drifted past them towards the bar.

"Isn't that Valar?" the imp in the middle of the couch remarked. One of his companions nodded sagely.

"Yeah. Poor guy. Apparently the Labyrinth isn't as popular as it once was, so he has to put in some hours here to make ends meet. Talk about a fall from grace."

"I hear he's looking to get into that new... uh... Void Ship?" the third imp added. "Can't really see it myself."

The three imps continued to observe in silence as they worked their way through their Ul'dah platter until a feint chime echoed throughout the hall.

"Third shift. You're up, Gib."

"Ugh, they come around so fast," the imp on the end grumbled as he rose, shook off a few crumbs and floated off towards a doorway.

Gib joined the short queue at the venture counter and soon reached the desk of one of the Master of Ventures.

"Enna. Gridania markets. Here's the profile. Un, what's she brought back recently... hmm... I guess you can take a quill. We have a surplus of those still."

The officer in charge of the ventures was fast and efficient. "Enna" Gib couldn't recall having been Enna before. The appearance looked simple enough.

Taking the quill, Gib glamoured in a flash of light and in his place stood a diminutive Lalafell lass.


Zhera Kurola
Yojimbo
Scarf of Wondrous Wit

[Lolopika]

Lolopika Nanapika
Ragnarok
Mandragora Choker

------

"See you, Mishanya!"
The Little Master waved and left.

Mishanya clenched the two coins in her right hand: "This time, I'll show him I am the best retainer... Alavyna sure is wise and strong, but seriously, I wonder how she can endure the freezing cold of Cohertas wearing only that tiny swimsuit. And of course I can't compete with Lalabibi, she's simply too cute... Hmm what can I bring him this time?"

Mishanya rushed out of Gridania still thinking about a proper gift.
"I don't know... Another fish? I mean who DOESN'T like fishes...? Nah, last time I brought one he almost incinerated me with his gaze, no...".
Mishanya looked around her, but all she could see was the blooming flora of the Shroud.

"Ok, let's try Limsa."

Running as fast as she could, she reached Middle La Noscea.
"Now now... Let's look for something... Rare!"
She spotted a group of adventurers on her left: they were busy fighting a huge Mamool Ja.
"Yes! I'll definitely get something good from that scaly fellow!!!"
She started casting spells wildly, like a mad jester: "Nyahahahah!!! Maybe I'll get his sword... or a tooth. For the Twelves, even a huge scale would be a wonderful gift, I'm sure of it!!!"

The battle ended, and Mishanya got... nothing.
"Huh? I mean, really...?" Frustrated, she raised her gaze towards the sun.
"Oh boy. Around 40 minutes have passed... I have to find something!"
She run towards Ul'dah, her last hope... But before crossing the gate to the city, she stopped in front of the small path leading to the Goblet.
The Miqo'te grinned. "Oh... yes. I can still do that..."

She silently entered the residential district. It was hot, but there was no one in sight. She set her eyes upon a large house on her left. "That one!"
She jumped on a palm tree and then on the roof of the building.
"Nice roof..." she said touching the shingles. "But I don't have the time to remove them all... too bad."
She slipped inside the house through a round window, and she hid behind a big armchair.
"Like a shadow, nin-nin!" she smiled, doing silly gestures with her hands.
She started moving slowly to reach the table close to her, but before she could touch it, she heard something.
"Dodo shite... There's someone!!!"
She was running out of time, so she stopped thinking properly: she jumped on the armchair shouting "Fire III!", aiming for the fireplace. There was a huge flash, and the fire grow bigger with a blaze. She introduced her hand in a nearby drawer, she grabbed something and she jumped out of the open window.
She run as fas as she could, reaching the nearest airship landing. "Please please please, a ticket to Gridania!!!"

Sweaty and tired, she finally reached the summoning bell.
"Master... I... brought you... this..." she said handing over... an Ink & Quill.
"Next time... I'll... slay a primal... I swear!" she added, before fainting.
The Lalafell smiled... "Oh don't worry... I'll put this with the other 34 ^^"

[Lolopika]

Coerthas*, I spelled it wrong! ç__ç

[DarkPikachu]

Retainer POV:
"Oh dear, here we go again! She is back online... what is she going to ask me for this time." Dark Pikachu Is tired and not a morning person.. "Hello i missed you! what can i do for you." Dark Pikachu hands over two shiny ventures and walks away without a word. "Oh how rude... she didn't even say good morning she just sent me on my way! OH GOSH its not the 2 hour quick grab anything this is the Field Exploration XVII.. she must really be expecting something important from me to set me out for all these hours.. Hmm, where shall i go... I guess i don't want to head out too far I might get lost... but then again, maybe I could go to Idyllshire.. maybe i can go to that place my master keeps talking about, Alexander? I want to go too! tehe'."

And so the cute little lalafell retainer travels all the way to Idyllshire on a trusty little Rented Chocobo. The sun is setting just as the retainer enters the sanctuary.

"I think that trip took a little longer than expected i am not even sure if i will make it back in time.. and I am awfully tired now, eek'. Lets see here," *+looks at map+* "So if i head that way I can find the Alexander place.. Hmmmm."
The retainer leaves the sanctuary, and enters The Dravanian Hinterlands
"WOW! This area is beautiful why have i never made it this far before, oh and those enemies look kinda scary... i, i will stay away from them."

Several hours of exploring passes and it becomes darker... "Okay! i'm kind of scared of the dark so i am going back to my comfy place."

- Heads back home Goblet Residence-
"Oh my gosh!!!!! I forgot to grab something *panics* Uh.... um.. AH... HAHAHA I KNOW! yes i know what to do!!!"

The little retainer reaches into the near by water ponds surrounding the housing district and searches for a fish. "Come on little fishies please!! please please please PLEASE i have 2 minutes AHHH"

*Grabs a Chub* "A Common freshwater fish found in rivers across Eorzea."
"This will do just fine, hehehe she can't call me the lazy retainer anymore!"

The little retainer makes it back a few seconds before the deadline, Dark Pikachu shows up on time and collects the goods. Dark Pikachu looks disappointed.
"NOT ANOTHER FISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All my retainer brings me is fish!! fish fish fish!!"

The little retainer - "I think this is my best work yet!"

Dark Pikachu
Shiva Server
Mandragora Choker

[Friske]

'Wait, I remember I had one! Uh.. maybe it's in your backpack instead.' Minimo the lalafell retainer looked on at her master rummaging in her, well his, backpack. She
was just about ready to burst in joy at the thought of her becoming a fully fledged level 1 lancer. Knowledge passing down from master to retainer, oho the possibilities, the lands she'll visit, and imagine the pay rise!
'Right.. I know it might not be much, but it's the only level 1 gear I've got.'
As always, with a wide grin on her face, repeating the lines she dutifully studied at the Retainer academy, she waved 'time to shine, hee hee!'

Armed to the teeth in her master's favourite snowman outfit and his hand-me-down pointy stick. She stepped forward into the desert plains of U'dah, her face brimming with confidence as she was mentally going over how to best execute a true
thrust. In a whirl of Ul'dahn dust, a few marmots appeared not very far from her.
Still remembering her prep talk: 'Haha, you'll be fine! These are level 1 marmots
we're talking about, all you have to do is just tap your keybind - 1'
The marmots however, unaware of their impending doom, were trampling around in the sand, happily squeaking away at each other as a giant snowlala emerged over the horizon. Animal skins flashed accross Minimo's eyes as she lunged forward with all her might. As if a miracle happened, the marmots instantly sidestepped and circled around her. 'I.. stay away marmots, ah, no! Spare me!'

'Should we attack the snowman?' A marmot looked up at the mysterious creature, their first thought thinking that she had fainted. 'This is the first adventurer I've seen-' In a raging inferno, the marmot went from raw to well done in a matter of seconds. 'This is.. this is cheating! You should be in Ishgard!' Another marmot looked on at the mysterious figure: stamped with the neon blue number 60.

Minimo, stirred from her marmot nightmares by the strong aroma, awoke screaming 'true thrust, true thrust!.' She suddenly paused, then sat confused as to why a pile of scrumptious looking marmots were scattered around her. Suddenly, she came to a quick realisation that someone must've saved her skin.
'Oh, I thought I had to raise you there.' her master looked on at her as he chewed through a leg of marmot. He raised another greasy looking leg as if inviting her to join him. 'You game?'

Character: Emoni lannis
Server: Odin
Item choice: Scarf of Wondrous Wit

[TheTen]

Character Name: Saintrelmaux Savigny
World Name: Balmung
Prize: Scarf of Wondrous Wit
-
It was the fourth night of the second Umbral Moon when I once more ventured forth on order of my Master, who as so oft had found himself occupied otherwise with one of his many wondrous explorations in the cold north. Explorations I was neither privy to nor cared to be, for I was content in the warmer climate of the central regions.

-

[TheTen]

((Ugh, no editing capabilities. Here's the proper one.

Character Name: Saintrelmaux Savigny
World Name: Balmung
Prize: Scarf of Wondrous Wit
-
It was the fourth night of the second Umbral Moon when I once more ventured forth on order of my Master, who as so oft had found himself occupied otherwise with one of his many wondrous explorations in the cold north. Explorations I was neither privy to nor cared to be, for I was content in the warmer climate of the central regions.
As a child of distant lands, raised in the solacing calm of majestic mountains, I had developed a mixture of fascination and inquietude toward the western ocean whose shores I so often wandered now in search of new quarry to catch, and so I found myself yet again testing the wetly rolling wet sand beneath my feet before casting my line. Little did I know what was about to befall me.
I had spent mere minutes idly scanning the vast horizon while waiting for a catch, when all of a sudden a cacophony of voices assaulted my horns. I swiftly attributed the infernal noise to a throng of heavily armed individuals of all races and dispositions rushing toward where I stood. I had never experienced such a threatening event before, and so I could only stare in abject terror at the oncoming horde, rooted to my spot like a meek rabbit about to be devoured by its predator.
You may imagine my relief when rather than descending upon me, the crowd stampeded past my person, parting only just enough to not throw me down. My respite was short-lived however, for I, ever cursed with an unrelenting curiousity for the world around me, turned my gaze into the direction the crowd was dashing.
There, only fulms from where I had been angling, stood the most horrifying creature I had seen since my journey west. A gigantic body of a strangely repulsive red shade, supported by spindly legs reminiscient of an arachnid but for the wetly glistening husk covering the limbs, and two quivering fleshy protrusions atop it which turned this way and that as if scanning the area. Had it not been for its sheer enormity, I would have assumed it to be a relative of the many crustaceans scuttling across the shores, yet I knew all too well that none of these animals would ever reach such towering dimensions.
Even more disconcerting however than the creature's unexplained appearance was the ferocity with which the horde of warriors -for what else could they be- fell upon the hulking beast. It had scarcely turned toward its attackers when already blades and flames assaulted its heavy shell, warcries and spells flying from frenzied lips.
Overcome by the pandemonium of sound and sight, I stumbled away from the scene of slaughter, my fishing line all but forgotten. A piece of kelp clung to my leg as I fled, a circumstance I would later welcome, but at that moment the only matter of importance to me was the sound of my Master's linkshell call, requesting my expedited return.
-

[Venexis]

Character Name: Venexis Bookah
World Name: Lamia
Prize: Scarf of Wondrous Wit

(I know Lamia is an american based server, but I live in the UK. Simply joined Lamia with friends. Hope this still applies!)

--------

The young Lalafell had searched far and wide for her master. Although she had acquired a plethora of goods across her adventures, she felt the master was not pleased with her efforts. She would look at his listless eyes as she handed over every hard-earned item along her travels; every time she would feel disappointed in herself. She wished for her master to be decisive, to tell her exactly what he wanted, but he never did. Every order she was given was simple; "Go out there, get what you can... Make it quick". She would hear those same words one more time, but on this occasion, she resolved to go above and beyond. She smiled, giving her master a small nod, before turning and heading on her journey, head held high.
Some time passed and the master stood, waiting for his retainer to return. Much could be said about his indifferent stance, he had been in this position many times before, yet to be surprised. He turned his head to see the young Lalafell skipping towards him, her face covered in the largest grin he had ever seen. For the first time, he was stuck with a sense of curiosity. What could she have possibly found that would bring her such confidence and joy?
She quickly stopped at his feet, grabbed his sleeve and tugged. "Follow me! I found it!" she proclaimed while dragging him away from Limsa. Shortly after, they came to a stop outside of town; "There it is!", she said, pointing towards her present. The master turned his head towards an unusual sight, only to be struck by a sudden sense of awe. As he processed the sheer accomplishment of what she had brought back, his jaw dropped more.
"How... What... Is that what I think it is?", he stuttered.
He turned his head to the Lala, his face covered in confusion and shock. "Is that... Is that a roof?... Is that a roof to a house?".
A smile covered her face, "You always said how the housing market was impossible! How there was no space. I thought maybe I could bring a house to you instead! So, I found a place filled with them! I know it is just the roof but... don't worry though, next time, I'll get you some walls! Oh, and furniture. Maybe even some plants! You'll finally have a home!"
He looked carefully at the small Lala in-front of him. "How did you even get that here?"

Her smile widened, "Don't worry about that! Just tell me you like it! I think it's my best work yet!".

Although he could not comprehend how such a feat was possible, or what poor resident would now come home to a missing roof, all the master could do was let out an incredibly rare smile and say "Go out there, get what you can... Make it quick".
She laughed, gave her master yet another nod and ran off into the distance.

[MattyR]

Character Name: Matt Reaver
World name: Odin
Prize: Scarf of Wonderous Wit

‘Matt is a lovely boss!’ said Elflady, sharing a drink with her co-worker Hyurgirl at the adventurers guild in Limsa.

‘I don’t know he’s kinda indecisive, makes it really difficult to get him things that are useful, I mean, I met him before you did, when I met him he was a dragoon, jumping about like a maniac fighting the meanest of enemies keeping us all safe, then he got in with that band of fools and went off to stop Bahamut! Decided to pick up a bow for twelves sake, decided to sing to the group. What did that achieve? Yes they stopped Bahamut and saved us again, but in the grand scheme, what did he actually achieve? And now, we move to Ishgard at his lordships command. And what is he doing now, reading books, summoning smaller versions of the enemies he once sought to eradicate from this world. Off fighting large sentient machines!? Gods help me, the man is as indecisive as they come. And to top all that, he’s somewhat addicted to plastic surgery. I mean he started as a Miq’ote, then out of nowhere BAM! Lalafel. Hyur, Elezen, lalafell, after that he became one of those Au’Ra, now don’t get me wrong, Yugiri is lovely, but there’s something about them I don’t trust, maybe it’s the fact they’re part demon, maybe it’s the scales. But I just don’t trust them!’

‘you always see the worst in people Hyu,’ Elf lady retorted. ‘Can’t you just see the good in people and see that he just wants to help. And we’re there to help him help others. I know I may only bring him fish and the odd golden dye, but those fish keep him fed, and the dye. Well have you ever seen anything more majestic than a Lalafel running into battle in gold. It’s a sight to see I tell you!’

‘I know, I’ve seen it. But I wish he’d just make his mind up. Or at least tell us what he wants, there’s only so many times I can run around this world wondering what he wants then running out of time and having to pick up the nearest thing I see, the Goblet is running low on houses for me to steal parts from now!’

With that, the two adventurers retainers went their separate ways, Hyurgirl to outer La Noscea to mine the electrum she was asked to retrieve, Elflady off on one of her whimsical adventures to find something of use.

After a while Elflady saw what she thought to be a Moogle. She tentatively wandered over to it.

‘Hello, can you help me, I’m looking for something to bring back to my master, I was wondering if you still had any of those old Moogle made weapons lying around?’

‘Kupo!’ replied the Moogle. ‘I have all the weapons you need if you have those chocolate coins your master pays you with!’

Elflady spied a great-sword on the bench, this had clearly just been made, the prevailance of the Dark Knights had made the old gods and the new make these heavy looking weapons a highly sought after piece by adventurers far and wide.

‘How many for the great-sword?’ Elflady inquired.

’40 Kupo!’ replied the Moogle.

Elflady rummaged around in her backpack, she knew she had that many in there, she just had to find them. Finding her coin purse she handed the Moogle 40 venture coins, she was unsure why the Moogle thought they were made of Chocolate, the Silver shined in the light of a Gridanian afternoon.

Leaving with her quarry, she hastily made her way to Hyurgirl, still toiling away finding useful pieces of electrum for master.

‘Look what I got!’ Elflady exclaimed, brandishing the great-sword with glee. ‘Do you think he’ll like it?’

‘Who knows, I’m sure he’ll tell you when we get back’ Hyurgirl looked to the skies, her timekeeping skills were impeccable and all it took was a glance at the sun or the moon to give her the time of day. ‘We should be getting back, it’s time for us to present our items.

The two teleported to the summoning bell that had just been rung in its familiar yet signature tune of their master Matt Reaver. The two handed over their items, Hyurgirl 20 pieces of electrum, Matt no doubt would use these pieces to make jewelry to use in battle, this pleased Hyurgirl, as she knew it was helpful.

Elflady showed the great-sword to Matt with Glee

‘Master I brought you this! It’s the latest weapon made with the latest in Moogle technology, they say the head on the pommel sings when you unsheathe it!’

‘oh, cool,’ Replied Matt, ‘that’s a really cool looking weapon, I wonder how much it will sell for on the marketboard!’

Elflady felt her heart sink, she tried really hard to make Matt happy, she knew he was training with the Dark Knights. And she thought this weapon would help him to become the best Dark Knight in Eorzea!

The two retainers went back to their table at the adventurer’s guild. Drinking the smooth alcohol that the bartender served without fail.

‘I thought I had a winner with that one!’ said Elflady with a tinge of anger in her voice. ‘I thought he’d really like it!’

‘These adventurers rarely like anything we bring them back, but we do our jobs, and they’ll take all the glory, as it always has been. There’s no use crying over spilled Yak milk, may as well just accept that all we are is a backpack with legs. That’s all some of these adventurers see us as. Just be glad we have Matt, who does a lot for us, gives us his old armor so we may fight more dangerous foes, gives us what we need to do what we must. All in all, Matt is a lovely boss!’ Hyurgirl looked down into her drink, and smiled in the knowledge that Matt, alongside all the other adventurers in the world, were looking after everyone, and keeping them all safe, no matter how they went about doing it.

[Leory]

Alder Falial
Ragnarok
Scarf of wondrous wit

Dear Diary
yesterday was a amasing day master falial got me a new hatchet and gear to celebrate me becoming a master botanist.
Master Falial did also give me a new job, i was going to a secret area of gridania not even my he can't go to and he is the Hero of Light.
i got 2 venture tokens and off i did go i arrived at hawthorne hut and was off to Fallen Grove it is near brrr....castrum oriens a part only the forest allow retainer botanist safe from garleans and monster so i was told.
that hidden place is so pretty in the center is a big tree as tall as the crystal tower.....vel maybe not that big but it was tall and pink. so i seached sor something to bring back to master but was not able to find anything and alot of time i did not have but out of tree..... å big weird animal appered it was white with orange and black spots it did have pointy ears like a courel cub but was to fat to be one and it tail was like no one i ever seen.
this is what i am going to give master, it was fishing for something in the river so i did sneak closer and closer and then i jumped but it dodged and i did fall in the river......(i hater water)
and got wet the animal was nowhere to be seenand i did not have any more time i did have to return is i was to make it back before time was out i did think i was emty handed.
but then i felt someting thikle me in my boot i was a emerald green eel i was the best i did have so i returned home. master was amased what i did return with it was a fish called a worm of nym and it is super rare, i told my master of the weird animal i saw and he told me it was a fat cat a animal that was thout to be wiped out under the calamety. i am going to go back there soon and i want to see if i can get it and give it to my master