Memoirs of Adventure Creative Writing Contest (NA) - Official Entry Thread

[Siren]

Hmm.. Where shall I begin to tell my story. Oh I know! My fondest memories of Final Fantasy XIV takes me back to the days of ol' 1.0. A time where I first met Y'shtola as we traveled the Seas on the way to Limsa, getting attacked by all them Aurelia's and praying Leviathan didn't crush us as he jumped over our tiny little boat.
Travelling for days through Gridania's great forest while tip-toeing pass Lvl 99 Treants just to get to that aetheryte in the middle of nowhere.
The days when you got attacked by monsters while walking down the streets of Ul'dah or farming Mottled crystals from Atomos for massive piles of company seals.
Also let's not forget gathering with your friends as you watched Dalamud grow bigger and bigger as it got closer to us, ready to wipe us all out in an instant.

If picked, I would like the "Gaelicap" please

[MythPunk]

Listen well traveler,

I remember when that damned moon fell over the flats of Carteneau. The scent of blood and smoke lingers in my nostrils. The helpless shouts of the dying ring in my ears still. The sight of that dread wyrm, true fury made manifest, bursting free from it's millennia old prison... that sight will never be far from my eyes.

Surely, I thought, that was the end. All that we had fought for would come to naught. The friends around me, the soldiers who battled so fiercely to protect their homes, perhaps all of Eorzea would be reduced to smoldering cinders. But thanks to a valiant few... it was the beginning of some something beyond any of our hopes. Their sacrifices gave rise to realms of light, and darkness, and adventure beyond measure.

Ask anyone who calls themselves an adventurer and they will recount a certain moment in their life that they carry close to their heart. It's something to spur them on and give them hope when times are hard. Instead, I say that you savor every moment. From your mightiest victory to your most ignoble defeat, wear them like badges, and look forward to the next. We cannot be sure which will be our last.

So, if it just so happens that you find yourself hesitating over a thick ledger in a busy bar in Ul'dah, remember what I've said here. Life is short. Be brave, scrawl your name, and adventure forth for as long as there are adventures to be had. Coin, glory, power, or something altogether different, it doesn't matter the reason you go. Just go. Perhaps you will find something you did not know you were searching for.

With hope,
A Weary Warrior

[Thanks for reading.
Art: Mythpunk
Logo: Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix
Prize Option: Scarf of Wondrous Wit]

[ArdentEmbers]

“Where’s the Mailbox?”

It was another hot, dry day day in the cobbled streets of Ul'dah. The blazing sun casting a red-warmed hue onto citizens and visitors both, reminding them who the true master of this city was. General chatter could be heard from all directions; the exchange of coin, boisterous laughter, and the rhythmic beat of drums aiding the provocative steps of some street performers. In all, just another day in the Jewel of the Desert.

Be that as it may, however, it also provided a most difficult terrain to traverse for one newly come to the city, still dressed in the traditional garb of Roegadyn Adventurers, and having no clue as to the workings of such a large city. I wandered around for hours, taking in the sites, but keeping to my nervous self for fear of accidentally offending some devious lalafell. The adventurer's guild could only help me so much.

Don't get me wrong, Momodi was very helpful and succinct in telling me how I might gain employment, directing me even to a man who could help me better myself as a hand-to-hand fighter. A pugilist. She even directed me to the markets where I promptly bought some better gear then the basic drab I had come with.

But.

I needed to find a mailbox.

It was extremely important to me that I find one, or at least someone who could deliver mail, as I needed to tell you that I have arrived safely. I did by the way, arrive safely I mean.

Eventually I got over my initial anxiety in the city, and approached a fairly professional Dragon city at the Adventurer’s Guild bar called the Quicksand. His name was Playne Montae, and not only did he finally direct me towards a mailbox (A moogle actually, that is how they deliver mail here. Funny little creature), but he offered me a job and a place to stay in his Free Company as they call it here.

So be rest assured, my dearest little sister, my life of adventuring has begun smoothly. I look forward to when you can join me.

Sincerely,
Achteyri.

P.S. The moogle threatened to drop my letter in the ocean if I did not give him a Kupo Nut as payment. I tried to find something similar but if it fails then to whoever finds my letter please try to get it to my sister?

(If selected I would like to receive a Gaelicap please!)

[Fionn]

As a fisherman, I find my strength in patience; without it, a steady cast and quality bait don’t mean much. There are other tricks to the trade, like perception, for it’s hard to catch high quality fish without it. I mostly fish to eat, but I try my best to use every part of what I catch. I’ve been known to turn sweetnewts into waterproof cotton cloth, which, with a bit of coeurl fur and thread, can be made into some stylin’ beach briefs.

Outside of food and materials, fishing is just an escape for me. It’s a chance to relax and step away from my responsibilities as the Warrior of Light. On one such break, I journeyed to the Azim Steppe for a fishing expedition. It was there that I met Suigetsu the Enlightened, who told me that he needed my skill as a fisherman in order to save his tribe. Imagine my surprise; a fish asking a fisherman for help? He didn’t need Fionn the Warrior of Light to fight off monsters or search for missing people; he wanted Fionn the Master Fisher to catch fish so that they could put on a festival.

For the past few weeks, I’ve caught a variety of fish at Suigetsu’s request. These have been used to create food and elixirs as well as to trade with others in the Azim Steppe. Slowly but surely, we have worked together, one fish at a time, to save the Seven-Hundred Seventy-Seven from total annihilation. My aid has led his tribe to dub me a bloodsworn ally, and they have given me my own Mikoshi and crew. Although I’ve met many people in my journey as the Warrior of Light, it is the Namazu that I treasure the most. Their squeaky steps and whiskers have weaseled their way into this fisherman’s heart. When I go back to being a Scholar, I’ll wear the Namazu Bell they gave me with pride.

(Thanks for reading! If I'm selected, may I please have a Gaelicap.)

[Mr_Marett]

The Future Unwritten

Tell me, do you remember our journey into the heart of the colossus? For one as experienced as yourself, it may have just been another day of saving the world. But for a new and bright-eyed adventurer such as myself, it was an experience I hold dear to this day. How could I forget the whirring of gears and roaring sounds of machinery buried far beneath our feet as we pressed forward against those who sought to undo our life's work and create a future not of freedom and light, but a future of fear and darkness in the shadow of their ambition.

I must admit, there were times that I doubted our success. Times that I believed my own shortcomings would bring about our failure. And yet, through it all, there was a drive in all of us. A drive to keep going. To keep improving. To know what would happen next. It mattered not what sort of machine the Illuminati fought us with as we all developed quite a talent for destroying their creations. Even as it looked like their fortress would break forth from its watery prison and usher in the future we fought so hard to prevent, even the great wings of Alexander could not block the light of hope that filled each of us with that drive to carry on. I still recall the moment of silence that followed our final fight as we laid the Father's soul to rest. Were we to be happy at our success, or relieved that it was over? Do you remember how as we all looked to you for guidance at this moment, you chose to meet our eyes with a small smile? Reminding us that though the fighting may be over, we still had a job to finish as you ushered us back into the control room.

I remember.

I'm sure that each of us has grown since then and undertaken many other wonderful and memorable adventures since that day, but this one still remains the dearest to me. Should such another creature arise and threaten our world once more, I hope that you will not hesitate to answer the call to action once more. I know I will, all thanks to you.

-Your Fellow Adventurer

(Thanks for reading. If selected, I would like Gaelicap please.)

[GoBallistic]

"Greetings, friend. We may have crossed paths just once in a glistening azure Moon, or mayhap never. Look upon the words I'm about to inscribe in this parchment.

Back then in Ul'dah when I attempted to rescue a troubled girl's sister who had been kidnapped, I stumbled upon one of the fabled Crimson Duelists who had already managed to rescue her and had dealt with the malicious blokes. I was introduced to the realm of red magic, as I saw him gracefully weave the spells of both Amdapori and Mhachi origins, as well as the spruced techniques of both spell and sword. It was a fascinating sight to behold -- or at least when I was gazing in awe when I saw how aesthetic the man in red flawlessly cast off and slash his foes. He had introduced himself to me; his name I won't tell because he wishes to be anonymous, but the moment he offered me the knowledge of Red Magic, I was ecstatic.

Holding a degen with a floating shard on hand as my aetheric source and being able to create stances to cast various magicks and being able to fence was my true calling towards versatility. I became very passionate and dedicated for when the Crimson Duelist taught me about the balance, that I have to equalize the use of each aspected spell or skill -- whether White, Black or Red Magic, even the Sword forms. Such was the true strength of a Red Mage, for which I've become one with great pride. It is a great boon to not only to be able to inflict havoc on my foes but to also aid those in need of healing and assistance. After he had taught me everything I needed to learn from studying Red, he continued onward to where ever the horizon will take him and parted ways with me.

Two summers later and I have mastered his teachings, I wanted to see him again but alas, I'm on the other side of Hydaelyn. I wish to see my teacher again so that we can exchange stories and new techniques I've uncovered and to tell him how much I've wanted to deeply express the gratitude of practicing under his tutelage.

If you happen to see a silver-haired Miqo'te bloke with eyes likened to a clear blue sky and wears a dashing suit in Red, it's the one and only of whom I'm proud to call mentor and if you do see him, please take the opportunity to study red magic.

Sincerely,

A devoted Red Mage

(Post Scriptum:

If you happen to pick up this letter, and I mean you, please meet with Arya soon. I'm not your only disciple that has been worried sick about you after you left to find that relic.)


[If I get picked, please give me Noble Barding. Much appreciated]

[Starrkk]

“F-Fondest memory…?” Gyo was confused. He had been approached by the Wandering Minstrel that he had met on a number of occasions on his travels throughout Eorzea. The Au Ra thought long and hard on the question. All of his fondest memories were all relatively recent in his twenty-seven springs and summers of life. The wandering minstrel waited patiently for Gyo, as he knew just how skittish of an individual he was. The minstrel recalled that day when they met—how he offered a friendly hand to Gyo, and how the mere motion of that alone caused Gyo to dive behind the bar and cause some of the bottles to shake from all the trembling the Au Ra did. It took weeks before Gyo finally warmed up to him.

Gyo thought back to when everything began to change. He lost his vision while on his way to Ul’dah while fending off an attack from the Amalj’aa. He was already nervous around people, but losing his sight brought Gyo’s anxiety around people to extreme levels. His mind jumped all over the place, from fighting the primals, to playing in the forests with his animal family, to working with the various beast tribes that rejected the extreme zealotry wrought by their brethren. And then of course, there were the friends. Never did Gyo think he would have made as many friends as he did. Especially the Scions—

“M-Meeting Minfilia a-a-and the o-others!” Gyo responded abruptly, breaking the silence between himself and the minstrel.

“Oh?”

“Minfilia s-saw m-me f-for m-me,” Gyo shifted in his seat, “Sh-she n-never j-judged me. She m-m-made m-me f-feel…w-welcome.” The Raen smiled fondly at the memory. Even though he could see nothing, he could feel and hear the warmth she had in her voice. It was pleasant, void of something he was so used to hearing from people: judgement. For Gyo, it was unlike any other interaction with a person that he ever had. He expected Thancred to lead him into some kind of trap on that day. The two butted heads regularly when they first met—Gyo’s sensitive nose picked up so much perfume from the Hyur that it made him gag, while Thancred had difficulty adjusting to the Au Ra’s animalistic tendencies, and both had very different ways of tackling the same objective.

“So it sounds to me that your fondest memory is your beginnings with the Scions,” the minstrel observed. His lips curled into a smile as he rummaged through his bag for a pen and paper, “It warms my heart that you have not forgotten your beginnings, my friend.”

Gyo’s expression began to soften as he recalled the eventual fate of the Minfilia he knew. It was something that caused him to tear up, but he knew it was for the ultimate good. And after getting to know Ryne, he knew that, deep down, it was what Minfilia would have wanted too. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, “Meeting Minfilia and the o-others i-is my fondest memory.” He said a second time, much more resolutely.

(Noble Barding)

[Jeenoo]

I recount the days of basking in the sunset with my free company comrades,

on the beach of their grandiose estate that lay before them,

feeling the warmth of the sun and people retelling stories of their glorious adventures past and new,

watching various minions wandering around, glowing in the sun, casting long shadows where the sun did not reach,

as the amber sun reaches dips into the ocean in the distance, affecting the whole sky's color into a burst of orange. everyone was enjoying each other's company,

and we laughed and joked to no end. A bard was playing various tunes of lullaby both sad and cheerful, creating a friendly atmosphere before sun's vanishes out of sight…

Alas, those days are fewer than present, some friends are no longer with us...

but my adventures are far from over, everyday blooming with countless tales for the telling of friends

of the present and future alike. May the Sun never set on Eorzea and the tales never end.

- A fellow Warrior of Light

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story
If i were selected, I would love the Gaelicap!

[Aerios]

‘Scree! Scree!’

The sudden crying from the Great Serpent of Ronka chronometer at the corner of the table smacked Narius awake. As her senses slowly reeled back to her body, she raised her head from some blueprints of the new Amaro-model housing and wiped away a patch of drool that had gotten on the corner of her lips and the edge of the paper.

With a simple stretch to remove the feeling of exhaustion from her body, Narius stood up from her seat and turned to head for the washroom. Before she took more than a few steps, her right foot collided with something immensely heavy. The pain was brief, though the annoyance that lingered in front of Narius’ foot sat still, as if mocking her negligence. A box filled with a number of familiar red-tinted scales. It was the same one she had thrown out two years ago, and how could Narius forget the emotion they imparted her with.

The emotion was one of frustration, never knowing what the true glow that emanated from the weapons imbued by the spirit of the Demon would look like.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into moons, and moons turned into years, but the one piece of news she hoped that would come in regards to these Zurvanite Carapace Fragments never came.

Instead, people moved on to craft the weapons of later primals. Even Suzaku-glow and Seiryu-glow weapons started to see the light of day before Zurvan-glow weapons.

Narius reached down to sift through the contents of the box, her initial notion to make a trip to the washroom on a brief hiatus. As her hands moved through the coarse fragments, each one glowed, making her heart jump.

This was a reaction she did not remember observing in the past.

Her first thought was that the fragments were draining her aether, but she didn’t notice any signs of weakness with prolonged exposure. Narius glanced at a broadsword that leaned against the table, a second idea crossing her mind. The craftswoman grabbed a fragment before approaching the weapon. A small bit of doubt made her unsure whether or not it would work, but she figured it was worth a try.

Hilt of the blade in one hand, Narius pressed the fragment of the Demon into the flat of the blade with the other. The reaction with the red reagent made her wonder why she had not thought to try this sooner. It was as if the fragment was devouring the blade, coating it with sharp crackles of fiery red and bitter cold blue that made the blade seem dull in comparison.

Surprised, Narius could only force a few chuckles as if she had forgotten that she was a veteran crafter. It took a moment for the joy and euphoria to settle into her addled mind so that she could fully display those emotions, by immediately sprinting out of her room, the sword of fire and ice in hand.

“Linnea!! Jayden!! I finally did it!! After all these years, I made a Zurvan-glow weapon!!” Narius ran through the hallway and up the stairs two steps at a time, fueled by sheer joy.

(Prize: Gaelicap)

[WhenPlatypusAttacks]

To the adventurer that doubts,

Blood, chains and Steel came clashing as the Serpeant reared back and struck once more only to meet the enticing grip of my axe. My hands tightened around the grip, and my eyes met the savage blue eyes of the serpent. I could feel it's sickly aether weaving its way down my weapon. For the first time I could feel myself slipping into siren's call of the beast. This monster was strong- too strong.

In ice and fire I started to hear screaming. The maiming of the adventurers that had come with me- one after the other they began to fall- They had trusted me to protect them, and I could hardly even look at them- so preoccupied with keeping myself alive. The monster was too fearsome and wild.

Lightning struck and amid the deafening booms I saw the the serpent rearing back. I shifted backwards into a defensive stance, but it wasn't enough. The entire force of the monster crashed into me- I floated in the air for a moment before crashing onto the frigid ground below.

In the blurred euphoria of death the screams slowly began to drown out. I could feel the gentle splash of another world washing over me; I was in Gridania- Apkallu falls. A Roegadyn- hellsguard at that approached me. He was dressed in decedant robes. A little to fanciful for my tastes, and lets be honest for a hellsguard at that. He reached his hand out to me, and it took a moment for me to realize- I had seen him before. He was one of the adventurers that had followed me into the bloodbath. The stalwart aether I had felt pushing back against the serpents sickly aura. I reached out my hand, and gripped his firmly.

My body heaved upward, and not a moment too soon, because with a scream the paladin's body came flying past mine- the same attack that had felled me. The serpent was interlocked in a battle of stone, light and wind. The only one still standing on the battlefield was the Hellsguard; orbs of aether drifted down around us as he expelled all of his energy to slay the beast. The serpent began to rear back amid the onslaught- the same attack that had felled the paladin and I.

My body reacted; Surging towards the Serpent. With a click my thumb undid the clasp holding my chains in place. In a violent roar I launched both of the chains towards the beast. I watched their bladed ends fly through the air, "Make it", I thought.

The chains immedietly went taught; my arms tightened twisting them around my forearms as I dug into the dirt. The Serpents momentum was thrown off- flailing all over on the ground. In a final eruption of stone and light the Hellsguard blasted a spear upwards. Piercing through the restrained Serpents head. The Serpent went limp. The drifting aether gently began to dissolve among the ground; vines stretching up the chains grasped around the Serpent. Purifying the last of its aether.

Lean on those around you. Do the impossible- adventurer

Noble