Greetings dear reader, whomever you may be!

Once more the people of Eorzea observe the Rising, a time for remembrance and reflection – upon all which was lost in the Calamity the date marks, certainly, but also upon fonder memories of the time since passed. Curiously, however, this year sees those fond memories bottled up and cast unto the sea, such that faraway strangers might share in them; this letter is to be one of those fond memories.

Ah, but what shall I write about? Even in the span of my few dozen moons in Eorzea, I’ve accrued so many stories! I could tell of my joining with a Free Company to battle machines and monsters fit for nightmares, or of attending the Eternal Bonding of dear companions. Alas, I’ve neither parchment nor ink enough to share all that I’d like. Still, as I stare off into the merciful dark, a simpler tale comes to mind: That of my time spent playing Doman Mahjong.

I’d first heard of the game by way of a briefest mention that some quiet nook of the otherwise rather noisy Gold Saucer had been renovated to accommodate a curious new game, one carried across the seas from Doma – where it is reportedly quite popular. Foreign culture had always piqued some curiosity from me (I did leave home, after all!), and so I paid a visit to “The Manderville Tables” to see what I could learn of the game.

Imagine my shock when the kindly tutor in attendance provided me with a tome of rules that was outright impressive in its girth! Still, I worked through it page by page, forming an admittedly flimsy grasp of the game before putting it to use against the Saucer’s automata. With a bit of time and practice, I soon gained the confidence to pit myself against more warm-blooded opponents, ranging from those as inexperienced as I to those who had long learned the game abroad; it was there that I fell in love with a game of sharp cunning and wildly swinging fortunes.

Across the many moons that followed, the game has remained a fond pastime for myself and the many now-familiar faces that frequent the tables – we’ve even formed a linkshell to keep in touch! Ron by ron, I’ve grown better at the game, and though there remains a vast distance in skill between myself and the best of players, I always look forward to the spirited competition that unfolds when we sit down at the tables.

And so, dear reader, I will end with a simple request: If you’ve not yet played a game of Doman Mahjong, give it a try! It is not for everyone, and certainly it is not the fastest of games, but you might just come to find that you enjoy it as many of us do, and I’m always happy to see a friendly new face!

Fair warning, though: I’m absolutely certain that the damned Moogle mammet is a cheater.

Signed sincerely,
Kyett Corbeau, Mahjong Enthusiast

(prize selection: Bluebird Earring)