Loo~ng maintenance, bored imagination running wild... x)

Well, no, this isn't really the product of the last maintenance, or even all the ones I've had to endure. I've worked on it for quite a while just for the fun of making it, but I thought it'd be nice to share it with someone here (well, if anyone happens to read this blog, that is) if I ever get it near the state of perfection I'm striving for... But look, I've finished making the 'trailer' already! xD

A moment in (Vana'diel) time - a FFXI relationships sim game


A bit of (hopefully at least) slightly amusing parody with some lame inside jokes thrown in, coming out probably this year! ^^;

Pet hunting

Pasifika and Donthitme have taken turns to practice their black magic while the other one (as white mage or paladin) watches over the little black mage. It has been a very efficient way to gather experience and to learn necessary black mage abilities, most notably the cruelty rooted deep inside this particular job - why else would they be killing poor little pets? D:

Blasting away is actually quite nice, although waiting around and repeating the same thing over and over got boring a lot of the time, but finally Pasifika's black mage is good enough compared to her white mage - for a while. Luckily the whm will hit another level cap soon, preventing any accidental level ups in Besieged. x)

The end of an era

Sunbreeze festival is over... The event Moogles have gone to their nests or secret Mog Houses - or wherever they go when they're not around. The fireworks bombardment has ceased and the dancing tarutarus have disappeared, along with the decorations. No more goldfish scooping at Sarutabaruta (Step right up!), Ronfaure (Become one with your aquan brothers...), Gustaberg (Drop what your doing and get your rear in gear!) or Rabao (Goldfish... something...). But it was fun while it lasted! :D

Scooping the goldfish was a relaxing (well, sometimes a bit annoying) passtime, and Pasifika had the right clothes for that... They were nice for dancing, too! ;) Even Romidiant put on his summer gear for this event. (But what's with those pants? o_O;)

After spending her gil on the yukata, Pasifika had to work hard during the rest of the event to gather enough for the high quality beach gear the shady Nomad Moogle was selling in Rabao. Well, looks good!
Clamming at Purgonorgo Isle was very pleasant, even with those cursed igneous rocks, but the garment's properties didn't seem to be as advertised... -_-

'Improved clamming results', the Moogle promised... maybe Moogles like Bibiki slugs?
'Decreased risk of clamming incidents'... the definition of 'incident' might need to be re-defined. -_-;

And the Nomad Moogle who sold the expensive gear (which seems to be made of less facric than the name suggests, to boot... ^^;) is nowhere to be found now and the other Moogles naturally have no idea where that one might have gone to... yeah, right. But clamming was nice and the gear looks good, so that should be enough. ^^

Pasifika actually looked so good in her beach wear that a stranger on the ferry to Purgonorgo Isle stared at her appreciatively - but General Phucrabiont was there and made it clear that he should't try anything. xD

By the way, doesn't the General look like he's going to claim the island for San d'oria, with that flag and all? x)

As the Sunbreeze festival ends, it also heralds the end of Pasifika's first year as an adventurer in Vana'diel. It was the goldfish scooping that attracted her enough to start her adventuring career in the first place (It really was!) and now the events have come a full cycle. She has come a long way... You can't call Pasifika a newbie anymore, not with such a long history of adventuring and more than 50 levels gained... (Or on second thought, of course you can! x) It's almost as if she had become a real adventurer... almost... o_O

More adventuring is needed to confirm that, I'd say! x)
Well, I'll be looking forward to yet another Sunbreeze festival when the time comes... The fireworks were a bit too noisy, but I'll miss the dancing Tarutarus.
Here's a little tribute to them, just couldn't resist the temptation... ^^;

No need for generals? o_O

The beastmen have attacked Al Zahbi more and more fiercely lately, and not once but at least three times Pasifika has witnessed the defenders drive off the invading forces long after all five Serpent Generals have been defeated. o_O The one time Pasifika was unfortunate enough to see Al Zahbi's defences crumble, the beastmen seized the Astral Candescence only seconds after the last general fell, so it had seemed impossible to hold the enemies from taking it without the generals around - but that just wasn't the case, apparently. O_o The brave adventurers and mercenaries can keep the enemies at bay on their own, although it's a difficult struggle at times.

Well, the first two times there *was* one general left, the secret general: Phucrabiont! :D Go go, get Lamia No.2! That one has killed Pasifika tens of times with the deadly ranged attack... ;_; The Lamiae have other nasty tricks, too... like charming little Pasifika. Well, a lot of good that does to them, a white mage wielding a dark staff. x) But there are others, like general Rughadjeen - have to admit charming him was a smart move. XD

During the latest attack all the five Serpent generals fell and Phucrabiont wasn't around - and still, after a lo~~ng battle, the Mamool Ja army retreated once more. :D

During these attacks the defenders of Al Zahbi have had a chance to see the Astral Candescence (after the enemies had opened the doors to the Hall of Binding). If the beastmen take the Astral Candescence, the doors of the Hall of Binding remain open, but there's just the empty pedestal left (like so ->).

After a victory, however, the doors are closed firmly again and so some adventurers got to see the Hall and the mysterious Astral Candescence a bit more than they liked, perhaps, when the enemies retreated and the doors were slammed shut. (<- We won, but I see a lot of dead people... ;_;)

Kind black mages helped the trapped adventurers get out, but apparently there's also a little-known side door for exiting the place... Worth some research, and a screenshot or two... x) The beastmen's dire attacks have been succesfully deflected so far, but they'll be back...

From Dipoli with love

The Europe's largest annual independent, non-commercial roleplaying-game convention Ropecon was held 10.-12.8. in Espoo, Finland, in congress centre Dipoli. (The name comes from the Finnish word roolipeli and should be pronounced accordinly, but as long as I'm not there to hear it, go ahead and butcher it with English pronunciation if you want. ;P) While the focus of the event is on "ordinary" & live action role-playing games, wearing a costume from massively multiplayer online role-playing game seemed appropriate. After all, various kinds of creatures ranging from elves, hobbits, ninjas and pirates to death gods, cat girls and super heroes (and even a lone tetris block) were present.

The inspiration for the costume came from some clothes Pasifika recieved as a gift a good while ago in Vana'diel. The Fisherman's set looks both comfortable and very nice - not to mention 'not too complicated to actually make it' - so it was an easy choice. This year, the overall themes of the event were romance and teamwork, so the weapon of choice is Charm wand +1 and headgear obviously Bridal corsage... or it could be Lilac or Gala corsage, who knows without checking? ;)

Some parts of the original Fisherman's tunica look like they could be made of metal, but because I have only clothraft skills and not golsmithing, it's all made of cloth - and the Charm wand is mostly fabric, too. ^^; Saturday was a warm day, so the boots and the gloves had to go after a while. (Besides, wearing the gloves conflicted with having the Ropecon wristband equipped, which allowed access to the event buildings when shown at the door. x)

You'd think I'd attract a lot of attention in my costume, but like I already mentioned, I was one among many costumed con guests. Although there was a separate event for anime fans few weeks earlier, costumes from popular anime series were everywhere... shinigami from Bleach, ninjas from Naruto, and many others wandered around the event site, mingling with the more role-playing game oriented costumes. (Look, it's the team from Prince of Tennis on a tennis court near Dipoli! ->) Only few came up to me to ask/talk about my costume, and none of them recognised it... but that was kind of expected. I was a bit upset about one guy guessing I'm some kind of fairy godmother, though, but I guess it was the Charm wand that threw him off the track. XD

One of my favourite members of the Ropecon staff is the Interested Rock (Kivi jota kiinnostaa). Sitting on the information counter, the Rock always has a warm smile for me even when the busy and possibly quite uninterested members of the staff just buzz around. I had thought that the Rock would be - like the Galka - of no particular gender, but this year's theme proved me wrong. After spending the first day of the event alone, the Interested rock was joined by a very feminine-looking rock that, according to the sign, was interested in the Interested Rock. Aww.... go Rock! :D

There was a lot to do and see at Ropecon. One of the highlights for me was the historical /historical style dances ball, where tens of dancers gathered together on the dance floor - and during some of the most popular dances the number definitely went up to 3 digits. Usually I've had a medieval-style gown for the ball, but the Fisherman's outfit didn't in any way prevent the lords from coming up to me and asking me to dance with them. ;D Hmm... I'm not in any of the pictures from the ball, though, so... even if there are no screenshots, you just have to take my word for it. x) There was also other kind of dancing... I saw a bunch of people perform the Badgerbadgerbadger-dance at the lobby in the main buiding. XD (There ->)

After the closing ceremony of the event, I was pretty tired... if only returning home could be this easy... x)

The test of courage

The Moogles had planned a surprise for all adventurers: a test of courage, where a pair is sent to a lair of beastmen and they have to find a GoalPoint there. Pasifika tried it out with Phucrabiont, and it was really easy. Davoi wasn't scary at all, not after the first time anyway!

With Nakago, Pasifika went to Beadeaux... She started from a point she didn't remember seeing before (and the memories of another, hmr, adventure there haunted her a bit) - but still it was piece of cake!
Donthitme's company took her to Castle Oztroja, where she actually died once trying to get the items from the GoalPoint Moogle. A bit of a challenge there, but still not a thrill ride.

With Donthitmew the mithra Pasifika went to the Crawler's Nest, and the lack of map might have added some difficulty, if her partner hadn't memorised the whole place... ^^;

Pasifika also tried to take the test with her look-a-like twin, but the Moogle said the responses would be too similar, and refused to warp them anywhere. Yeah... the Moogles gave succesfull adventurers some snacks, but they seemed very interested in the pictures of adventurers surprised by the Moogle at the GoalPoint... "Boo-hah-hah~...kupo!" So they like tormenting adventurers, after all..

The quest got somewhat exciting when Pasifika teamed up with an unknown mithra, and was thrown to Halvung... that was more like it!

Pasifika wanted to take the test again (and again) with different companions and collect all the different pictures for the Moogles. While looking for her next pair, Pasifika watched the tarutarus having fun around her... they always seem to be having fun!

Pasifika thought she'd take the test with her good friend Ametrine... even if it was Davoi all over again, it would be nice in good company. Yeah, right... ^^; The good company was indeed the only thing keeping the test interesting instead of nightmarish, as the two girls were sent to the maze-like Arrapago Reef. After wandering around for a good while trying to avoid monsters with true sight or true hearing, it seemed that the GoalPoint might be behind some of those dangerous mobs after all, as unfair as it seemed. After sneaking around one Soulflayer only to find more waiting, Pasifika was almost sure that was the wrong way. She looked a bit further anyway - and found a GoalPoint! ...with two Soulflayers standing on top. >_<;

Pasifika's sneak and invisible wore off while she was waiting for an opportunity that probably would never come, but the spells couldn't have concealed her presence from the Soulflayers anyway. When the best possible opportunity finally presented itself, Pasifika and Ametrine dashed for it - but one Soulflayer turned and started to cast a spell! Certain they had been spotted, Pasifika turned around, only to find abother of the creepy monsters right behind her! They were surrounded?!

But no... As soon as she realised what was happening, Pasifika ran back to the goal point and managed to recieve the items before one of the Soulflayers finished the duo with a powerfull area spell - and they fell right next to the unfortunate guy who had gotten there just a little ahead of the girls and gotten all the hate at first. That was a stroke of luck for Pasifika, although probably not the favourite moment of the poor guy, in case he wasn't really fast in getting his items from the Moogle.

That had truly been a test, and Pasifika and Ametrine had passed!
Pasifika and Ametrine even entered the area voluntarily again to use the handy event transportation to get the Ilrusi Atoll Staging point, which is hidden at the heart of Arrapago Reef. It took them a while to get there and another moment to play hide and seek with the imps guarding the place, but they got in and attuned themselves to the runic portal. Another victory!

Pasifika thought nothing the Moogles had in store could impress her anymore, but after spending almost equally long time in Aydeewa Subterrane as she had in Arrapago, she had to admit that was an interesting experience, too. The fascinating Aydeewa Subterrane had several goal points, some of them guarded by monsters and others more freely available, but without a map Pasifika was quite lost and it took a long while before both Pasifika and the galka who was guiding her got their items.

The excitement didn't compare to the Arrapago Reef adventure, though, but it was a very beautiful place (with some interesting monsters).

Mission impossible

Nakago had, well, regressed somewhat lately, and Pasifika - among others - had helped him redo some missions. (She even fought that dragon again!) Now the time had come to help Nakago find the mystical Magicite, and so Pasifika, Linathra and Donthitme ventured to the depths of Castle Oztroja and Beadeaux.

The mission itself went smoothly in both places, but the real, um, "adventure" for Pasifika occurred in Beadeaux after Nakago had recieved some necessary items but was still coming back there. Pasifika had been poking her nose to various places (with equally curious Lina) and had to sit down after being cursed. A quadav spotted the opportunity and attacked, but Lina and Pasifika defeated it - but more quadavs had joined during the fight.

All out of mp and hp going to red, Pasifika decided her best hope was to reach brave little tarudin, who was fighting tougher monsters some distance away. She ran like the wind! ...and all the quadavs in her path joined the pursuit. ^^;

A summoner tried to help her - judging by the fact that after she finally stopped, Garuda was fighting the last quadav of the train - but was left baffled as Pasifika kept on going until she reached her tarutaru meat shield. With Cure IVs an Flashes Donthitme kept Pasifika alive and picked the dozen or so quadavs off her back. Just as expected! Pasifika hadn't doubted for one moment the mighty tarudin wouldn't save her! But the tarutaru was taking a lot of damage... D: Inside all that shiny armour they're quite soft and squishy, after all...

At this point Nakago had returned to Jeuno and was coming back to Beadeaux to finish his important mission. While Donthitme singlehandedly fought the quadav swarm, Pasifika had ample time to sit down and heal - and up she bounced, with cures and regens for the weary fighter! When only few quadavs were left, Lina joined the fight and when the quadavs were down to two, Pasifika felt safe enough to join the melee herself - and got her reraise dispelled. :/ They're smarter than they look!

Reraise wasn't needed, though, as the three adventurers defeated the poor quadavs trying to defend their homes. By that time, Nakago had returned to Jeuno a second time and had a very secret meeting with the Archduke himself... and he was awarded the airship pass!

Congratulations Nakago, and thanks for the adventure Lina and Donthitme!

Lunacy

The lunar circle affects people in various ways, but as for Pasifika and Phucrabiont, the full moon made them go on a wild goose hunt... Well, it was actually a treasure hunt for the elusive Moongate pass - and succesful in the end - but a lot of things happened on the way.

The first night Pasifika and Phucrabiont were searching for the pass, the moon wasn't quite as full as needed after all, and they were left empty-handed... but not quite! Pasifika had never been to Ro'Maeve before and found the place very interesting but hard to navigate, so finding the gate with Phucrabiont's instructions (south... then east.. no, back, east there!) was a quest in itself.
Ready for any 'Test of courage' the Moogles have come up with!

The most amazing part was still ahead, though. Long stairs lead the couple up to the Hall of the gods, which held many wonders for the curious adventurer!

The statues were very impressive, but what about the weird control panel gadgets in the middle? Hmm... there's one for each statue... too bad all the buttons seemed to be somehow locked to prevent any experiments. x)

The Hall of the gods became something like a sanctuary and base of operations for the adventuring couple, as they continued their search for the Moongate pass. In case you didn't know, the Moongate is only open during the full moon, but the Moongate pass allows entrand at any moonphase. What Pasifika would actually want to do in the hostile and barren place behind the Moongate is anyone's guess, but at least she can (attempt to) give guided tours there.

After all the sneaking and searching, Pasifika set out as a little black mage on an other kind of adventure with her friend, still under the nearly full moon.