Retainer Ad-Venture Contest (EU) - Entry Thread

[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

[Ozglacius]

8:59am... A burning summer's morning, an avid crafter awaits the return of his
adventuring lacky, tapping his foot ever so impatiently while he strikes at his watch,
he hopes for something pleasant from his accomplice.
Today's prize, perhaps a Kingly Whisker? Oz hopes this would be the case.
Our well timed retainer dashes through the markets hastily, brushing past the
morning crafters busy working their fingers to the bone, he hopes this gift given to him
by the twelve will suffice, he rubs his shinbone remembering the previous incident.
After catching his breath, the young one pauses and in exictement exclaims 'I
return truimphantly!', psyched up, what manner of beast had he slain, what mountains
had he conquered to bring such a finely crafted...crustacian?! A Pebble Crab.
He took a walk on the beaches of Costa Del Sol and picked up his little companion here.
With a toothed grin carved upon his face, he exclaims cheekily "Watch out for his claws,
he's very feisty". The ever so impatient Oz with a blank expression stirs daggers at him,
knowing any second his master will explode in temper, he explains that he always enjoys the occasional
excursion and is ready to depart once more. What tales await our hapless explorer?
One venture coin and a kick up the ass later, this retainer is dispatched upon his important
mission. A grumble is heard in the distance as the retainer walks along gazing in awe at his newfound
shiny coin, almost walking into a Roegaeden guardsman who doesn't seem so pleased at this fool, our
retainer picks up his walking pace into the wilds of La Noscea.
A moon phase passes and Oz awaits the return of his retainer, hoping he didn't get eaten by
a Chimera or worse...A hungry goobue.
Clutching a sturdy wooden box, our retainer seems a little unsure this time, a slight smile
that casts a shadow of doubt upon his face and that of Oz when he claims the chest from the
retainer. Oz hesitates for a moment and eyes his retainer up wondering what mischief he landed
in this time. He unlatches the box and the retainer curls up and clutches his shin readily.
The box slowly opens and out shines a light that could only resemble that of a High Quality
Item, blinded by the sheer brilliance of this epic light, what item is this, has he finally
done it?! Oz begins to smile wonderously as he fully opens the box and the light dims,
he is met by the snipper of lines and fingers... Jacques the snipper, another crab...
Oz snaps the box shut rapidly and places it on a table, rubbing his index finger from the previous
incident, he opens up his venture wallet and proceeds to hand the retainer a coin while holding up a
proud posture, wondering why he allows this fool to run rampant around Eorzea. He contemplates drawing
up some plans for an Aquarium design for his newfound critter friends!

[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 from 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 that 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

Fixed sentences that made no sense.

[Ozglacius]

Forgot to add;

Character: Oz Glacius
World: Cerberus
Prize: Ahriman Choker

[EvilYang]

• Character: Kobushi Ryoku
• World: Odin
• Prize: Ahriman Choker

The Retainer Diary

Day 1
Master sent me on a venture, not sure what to get for him so I decided to bring one of my favourite dishes. Master didn’t seem to like it I must try harder.

...

Day 5
I tried bringing some more of my favourite dishes but it seems master wasn’t pleased. I must try even harder. Maybe if I get some housing items, master loves to furnish the mansion. But where will I get it from?...

...

Day 12
Master seems to be pleased with all this furniture but it seems Lavender Beds guards are on to me. Some of the neighbours are reporting the missing furniture, I must be careful not to be caught.

...

Day 15
I was set up! The guards were waiting for me today. I guess stealing the rooftop from that last house was too much. As punishment I was forced to do community service at the Wolves' Den. Mhmm maybe I can bring master some gear from there...

...

Day 30
My community service is almost over. Master found it funny that I started bringing him some Wolves' Den gear and never found out I was "borrowing" all that furniture.

...

Day 35
I must keep master happy, now that my community service is over I need to find something else to bring him. It seems there is no other choice I must become an adventurer like master.

...

Day 40
I've been bringing some gear and materials I find while out exploring. Master seems to be pleased, I think I now understand what master likes. I must become stronger to bring even better items.

...

Day 60
The day had come, I'm was finally strong enough to enter the Coil. It wasn’t easy the enemy’s were strong but I did it! I managed to get an Allagan Leather for master, he was very happy but for some reason he immediately asked me to sell it on the market. I found it strange but no matter, I finally completed my mission, master was happy with me and he doesn’t even suspect that I'm actually exploring Coil.

I heard some adventurers talking about some lands to the north filled with riches, maybe someday I'll try to go there but until then I'll keep my master happy with Coil gear and materials and from time to time I'll mix in some food and furniture just so he doesn’t find out my secret.

For all he knows I'm just a simple receptionist that does trades with our fine guests and visits the city markets…

[Bebekurenai]

Mission Log #0056
Ishgard, day 1

I'm lucky. This adventurer called Chibi Bebe fired both her lalafell retainers and was looking for new staff, and I took the shot.
I am hired together with a fellow Au-Ra and start working straight away. I am given the job of fisher, which fits in perfectly. My target was known to roam the coasts of Westwind, I just needed a little bit of time

to locate the exact position.

Mission Log #0057
Ishgard, day 2

I am sent out constantly for jobs, but I can't access the target's area yet. I need to level fast. Completing minor tasks for the sake of my undercover. I calculate one more day, max two, if my "boss" keeps

sending me at the same pace.

Mission Log #0058
Ishgard, day 3

I have reached the target's area faster than expected. Mrs Bebe didn't spare ventures and sent me out without a break. Will locate the target momentarily. --- Target located. Bebe Karakurenai. It's a female

lalafell. Handing in this last job for Mrs Bebe and proceeding to conclude preperations.

Mission Log #0059
Ishgard, day 4

Arriving in Westwind at 15:45. Getting visuals... this can't be! This is not a lalafell! It's an Au-Ra! I need to confirm with headquarters. --- The coordinates are correct, the picture shows a lalafell but headquarters

confirm it's her. She changed her name and drank a fantasia... Clever indeed. --- Locking on target, ready to fire...

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

My head hurts, it's all blur. My senses slowly come back and i hear my fellow retainer collegue calling me.
"Bischop! Wake up you son of a morbol!"
I remember, I was aiming at her but got knocked out... "Kanzler?" I ask him. "What the hell happened?"
"You were after Mrs Bebe weren't you? Well guess what, you aren't the only retainer in disguise."
I see Mrs Bebe, the target, walking calmly up to me. "Kanzler is my tank. I called him back when I knew you were sent to kill me. Now tell me, who hired you? Was it the Ascians?"
"I... I... I can't tell you!" I gasp. Who are the Ascians? What in seven hells is happening?
"Who is your captain in command? Is it Travanchet?" Mrs Bebe asks, while Kanzler aims my own Musketoon at me.
I panic. "Yes it's Travanchet. Please don't kill me!"
"I see. Just so you know, Travanchet is an ascian warlord, and he is obsessed with killing me, because I keep screwing up his organisation's plans to rule the world." Mrs Bebe explains. "I'm not going to kill you, I

will give you two choices. Either you run, far away from these lands, or you join me and the Crystal Warriors and we beat the Ascians once and forever."
I can only nod. If I ran, Travanchet would find me and kill me, anywhere I'd go.
She offers me her hand and smiles. "Come warrior, there is a lot of eplaining to do."

[Bebekurenai]

Forgot!

Character: Chibi Bebe
Server: Excalibur
Item: Blue Bird Earrings

[Crystalloluminescence]

A Venture for a Venture

”-mine, forget about it!”
”-ace, what is this place!?”
”I don’t understand, what’s going on?”

Lucrystia opened her eyes, wincing at the beam of light meeting her face. She knew this sensation, this experience, and yet it felt new to her every time. It didn’t take her long to piece together the muffled sentences of the voices that had woken her up. Lucrystia looked to her left. She wasn’t alone. It was the same thing every time. Endless beams of light, stretching as far as she could see, and at their focal point, a person… A Retainer, like herself. Doubtlessly on a quest to retrieve important items for the benefactors, their masters.
From what she could glean, at least 5 of the nearby people were new to these 'Ventures' and had no clue what was going on. “No wonder”, Lucrystia thought to herself. The first time was always the scariest. A dark room, like an infinite space with no floor or ceiling. Just empty air, with lights beaming down from some unknown plane of existence.

A quiet thunderous sound started rising in volume. Lucrystia knew what this meant. At any moment now, the beams of light would fade, giving room to a random environment ranging from grassy fields to dry deserts. The trick was you never knew what till it happened.
She would have a set amount of time to procure a splendid item for her Master before being called back; less than an hour at this point.
It wasn’t her usual Field Exploration where she knew her way around, this could be anything. At least she knew her co-workers were currently off searching for things like Floss Silk and Gestahl, but Lucrystia still wanted to bring back something of value.

As anticipated, the lightbeams faded and a natural light paved the way for a spectacular sight. A grand treasury, full of all the desirable items you could ever dream of. It gave cause to wonder where in Eorzea this kind of parallel world existed.
There was however no time to think, everyone immediately set in motion, rushing to find something of value. Lucrystia clutched her fist, her lucky crystal caught within.

For half an hour, Lucrystia used her axe to parry the blows of other retainers, smack them in their faces with the grip, and maneuver her way past every adversary trying to get to the goods first. A Polar Bear almost caught her off guard with a nasty left paw, but she narrowly evaded it, bent her wrist in a retaliating motion and struck true with her axe. The beast was dead.
There, behind the body of the fallen bear, she saw it. Everything within her reach, all she had to do was choose. She had made it; she had beaten her competition, and now chose her reward between all the wondrous, rare artifacts.

Mor Dhona – 1PM ET

“My lord, the venture you bid me undertake has been finished”
You obtain a >Mudstone.

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

Character: Preludis Crystallum
Server: Moogle
Item: Scarf of Wondrous Wit (last one I need!)

NOTE 1: The post itself is over 500 words but the short story IS precisely 500 words, including headline.
NOTE 2: No Polar Beers were further driven towards extinction during the making of this short story.

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

Character: Lyrica Ashtine
Server: Phoenix
Item: Blue Bird Earrings

Short story entry
Being one of the more renowned adventurers of Eorzea, it's not uncommon to be challenged to a duel. Be it from other adventurers or big shots from the one of the Grand Companies. Not too long ago I have received one, actually. It was when I had summoned my retainer to retrieve some items. Some sizable Roegadyn gladiator approached me and examined me from head to toe. Obviously jealous over the feats and tales bards sung in verses of my achievement, he challenged me to a duel at The Wolves’ Den. As the gladiator left, I dispatched my retainer on a venture and started my journey for this tiresome duel.

As I arrived at Moraby Drydocks, I ran into the rather sizable Roegadyn once again. As he approached me he yelled out some incomprehensible words. It seems like he is drunk. We both boarded the same ship heading towards The Wolves’ Den. But I never saw him again during our stay on the ship. Nice and quiet, just as I like it.
We arrived at The Wolves’ Den pier after a brief journey. I entered the proving grounds straight away, but my quarry is nowhere in sight. But even the mightiest warrior can be tardy at times, thus I wait. I wait. And I wait. But as night fell I decided to leave. I summoned for my retainer to check in on her venture report and leave this cumbersome place. As she arrived, she said she had a gift for me. "What's the occasion?" I responded in surprise as she hands me a Warwolf Barbut. It looked strangely familiar and had a strange scent of iron. “Blood?” I thought to myself. I slowly raised my head and directed my gaze towards my retainer. She simply stood there, waiting for my next order. I remember where I saw this Warwolf Barbut before. But I could not question her about the helmet. All I could do was stare at her as she smiled back at me and uttered the words: “At your service, my lady.”

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

Short story title if it wasn't obvious enough:
The story that shan't be told