Mission: Path of Blood (Treasures of Aht Urhgan)
-Things are bad. Grand Vizier Razfahd capture Luzaf, who will become the Dark Rider Odin. He also captured and usurped Empress Nashmeira. Aht Urhgan is rebuilding Alexander and to start the apocalyptic “Age of Judgment.”
-The only bright spot is this dagger Nashmeira gave me to show Naja Salaheem. Let’s do it.
-As I return to Sentinels HQ, Naja is just getting the news that the Luzaf has been caught and her dreams of infinite gil rewards are gone. Lololol she’s so dramatic.
”Fly, my pretties! Look! In the sky! 2,000 Imperial gold pieces flying away…”
-She sees me and in her wrath at the lost bounty HURLS HER MORNINGSTAR AT MY HEAD. It knocks me out.
-Scene switch to Razfahd and Ghatsad in the palace. They plan to rebuild Alexander using their own technology and magic.
-Alexander still has to choose to manifest in their colossus, but Ghatsad thinks Alexander favors the strong.
-First, they have to unravel the Gordeus puzzle and find the colossus’ control panel. The answer lies hidden in Nashmeira’s puppets, but only Nashmeira can unravel them. She’s not cooperating.
-Scene change back to Salaheem’s headquarters. She apologizes… sort of. “This doesn’t qualify ya for worker’s compensation!”
-I show her Nashmeira’s dagger. “You… you… alrrready? Things are moving too fast.” The dagger clearly means something. She sends me away.
-Travialce, the San d’Orian attache, finds me. We meet with the Windurst and Bastok attaches, Rodin-Comidin and Ayame.
-An allied forces military council will be called to fight the Aht Urhgan threat.
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Mission: Stirrings of War (Treasures of Aht Urhgan)
-I head to the Teahouse, and Naji is here! A low-ranking Mythril Musketeer I haven’t seen since the Bastok storyline.
-He invites me to the war council back in Jeuno.
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Mission: Allied Rumblings (Treasures of Aht Urhgan)
-I head to the palace in Jeuno.
-The main debate: strike now to prevent the Colossus’ completion? Or would that just give the Grand Vizier cause to start a full-scale war?
-Shantotto tells of a supernova 900 years ago. It came from the earth and blotted out the night sky for a full year.
“When the light deity clashed with the dark, rent in twain were the heavens, and devastated was the earth by a storm beyond comprehension.”
-The old Empire of Aht Urhgan launched an Alexander-imbued iron colossus high into the air to dominate the land. A rival nation that worshipped Odin sent him up. Both combatants fell, and the struggle blasted the land into ruin.
-The Gordeus itself is the control panel. The colossus’s heart.
-The scene switches back to Aht Urhgan. Someone reads Nashmeira’s memories – hypnotizing her I guess - to reveal the secret of the puppets. These guys are awful.
-Shit shit shit. The puppets are being made to unlock the secret of the Gordeus.
MNEJING: “So. The day has finally come.”
RAZFAHD: “That voice!”
-Whose voice is Mnejing speaking with? Alexander’s?
MNEJING: “I know not who you are, but it appears you have completed construction of Alzadaal and unraveled the Gordeus. Congratulations are in order! You will soon hold the most awe-inspiring weapon in Urghuum in the palm of your hand – the power of light.”
RAZFAHD: “Father…!?”
Oh shit!
OVJANG: “But the power of Alexander is a double-edged sword.”
RAZFAHD: “Mother!”
OH SHIT!!!!
OVJANG: “It is not too late. If you possess a shred of compassion, you will halt the program immediately. We hope you choose the wiser course.”
-Razfahd tries to be like, “Nice try, Nashmeira!” but this isn’t her. This is your mom telling you to stop.
-The Gordeus spins faster and faster, exploding with light, until an image of the completed colossus appears.
RAZFAHD: “Behold! This is the will of Alexander! I fear no legend or signs of past failures. I will carve out my own destiny.”
-The puppets explode, their role complete. Nashmeira snaps out of her trance and freaks out. Shaking, crying, and even letting out a Vader-esque “Nooooo!” as she holds Ovjang’s head.
-Back to the war council in Jeuno. The decision is open war.
-Except Naji. However low his rank, he can’t stay silent, and I love him.
-He reminds everyone that Nashmeira and Luzaf are both against the Grand Vizier’s plans. Can’t they try spiriting Luzaf away to help him, and try reinstalling Nashmeira to power?
NAJI: “We’ve all been to Aht Urhgan. We’ve seen the lives, the smiles, the tears of her people. The citizens of the Empire are as much the children of Altana as we are. War should be considered only after every other avenue has been exhausted.”
The world needs more Najis.
-His words sway the council. Naji and I, and a small group of others, will go back to Aht Urhgan to try to rescue Luzaf.
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Mission: Unraveling Reason (Treasures of Aht Urhgan)
-Time for infiltration.
-The party assembles. King of Hearts is part of the group, the asshole Cardian. He apologizes for his actions last times. Water got in his systems and caused erratic behavior. He even promotes me to “provisional Jack” as recompense.
-The plan: sneak into Al Zahbi and rendezvous with Rodin-Comidin.
OH MY GOD I LOVE THE KING OF HEARTS. Naji asks how he plans to blend in, and he says he’ll blend in using mercenary terminology:
“Need tank? Please send tell!” IM CRYING
-As our airship nears the city, a bright laser blasts our ship down from the city.
-Scene change. Immortals lead Luzaf away in magical ghost cuffs. He sees the laser.
“The Age of Judgment is at hand.”
-Scene change. Ghatsad and Razfhad are operating their fully armed and operational Death St… ahem, Iron Colossus. It’s kind of small, so I think it’s just the control module.
-An Immortal reports into Razfahd: Nashmeira fled the palace and eluded the Immortals. WOOHOO GO NASHMEIRA!
-Razfahd plans to make a proclamation to the people (probably declaring himself Emperor) after Luzaf has been “dealt with.”
-We keep getting that Palantir-vision. I think it’s Alexander, watching.
-Our party crash-landed in the Wajaom Woods. Naji will stay behind to help survivors of the wreck while King of Hearts and I go ahead.
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Mission: Light of Judgment (Treasures of Aht Urhgan)
-Nice FFVI reference in that mission name, though Grand Vizier Razfahd is still nowhere near Kefka levels of evil.
-I meet Rodin-Comidin in the city. King of Hearts came into Al Zahbi through the bay, underwater, and yet again the water has fucked him up. He moves drunkenly, and thinks Rodin-Comidin (our Tarutaru contact) is Lady Karababa/Shantotto.
-omg this is amazing. Because King of Hearts thinks this other Tarutaru, Rodin-Comidin, is actually Shantotto and Rodin-Comidin doesn’t want to piss the King off, she’s trying to do a Shantotto impression. Laughing a lot and coming up with shitty rhymes. XD
-The Immortals took Luzaf to the Ruins of Alzadaal. And because the King of Hearts is out of commission, it falls to me to break out Luzaf.
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Mission: Path of Darkness (Treasures of Aht Urhgan)
-I head to Nyzul Isle. Amnaf the Immortal meets me here, on orders to kill me from the Grand Vizier.
-HAHAHAHA YESSSS NAJA SALAHEEM SAVES THE DAY [Later edit: I'll soon regret this joy.]
-Amnaf is shocked. She thought Naja would stay put for fear of her company losing power, but Naja has the backing of the Empress. She’s chosen a side.
-Ah shit. Naja died during the fight so I have to restart. This is one of THOSE fights.
-She’s really hard to keep alive.
-DAMMIT STOP DYING NAJA THIS SUCKS.
-Five attempts in and I’m giving up for now. She just dies so quickly. I don’t have a healing job at 99. I’ll try to get a linkshell-mate to join me and focus on keeping her healed. It’s SUPER clunky to swap between targets in this game.
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Next time: hopefully beating this frigging mission and freeing Admiral Luzaf.
