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Uncharted Territory
-A new carpenter, Cemi, is worried. Timbermaster Beatin has been working himself to the bone, hardly eating or sleeping. She fears the guild is in dire straits and needs to revamp itself.
Cemi.
-I ask around town what people want, and it’s Doman. Far Eastern-style furniture is all the rage.
-Beatin is open to changing the guild’s offerings… but only if we do it right. No shoddy imitations. He’ll accept our proposal if Cemi and I travel to Kugane and immerse ourselves.
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The Game of Confidence
-We’re here in Kugane to immerse ourselves, so Cemi asks around in Kugane if anyone wants our help. One client has low self-esteem, and wants our help. Through… carpentry?
So how do we solve these problems with carpentry? Three options:
1) Craft a spear “to strike down all who pay her no mind!”
2) A lavish dressing case.
3) A dazzling lamp to attract attention from passers-by.
The answer is clear. We need to arm this woman. Let’s turn her into a warrior.
BOOOO, Cemi nixes that idea. Fine, I’ll go with the cosmetics case.
-It’s quite a nice case (but it’s no spear). Whatever. The Withdrawn Woman appreciates it, and will face the day anew.
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A Lesson in Listening
-Cemi’s been working hard and is ready to show her stuff. She even found a teahouse client.
-She delivers a commissioned sign, which the teahouse owner promptly craps on. It’s geared towards the general public, not towards the recurring clientele she wants to build.
-Again, I ask around. Seeking feedback from clients is a common thread in these crafting quests.
The verdict: customers want somewhere warm, cozy. A place to sit and smoke and read and unwind.
-THIS IS AMAZING – my options to fulfill the owner’s request include option #2, “A cudgel with which she can defend her establishment.” Qushu Carpentry: Better Living Through Weapons!
-The real answer is that we should make a pipe box, to encourage people to chill and smoke.
Crafting a box.
-Timbermaster Beatin sailed here! He felt the “call of the wood.” (don’t snicker, don’t snicker…)
-Cemi feels disheartened by her failure, but Beatin emphasizes how failure is the road to learning.
BEATIN: “There is one thing holding you back: You strive solely for perfection. Remember, your purpose is not to create something flawless, but something authentic.” Legit wisdom.
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Live and Let Dine
-Cemi traveled to the village of Namai. Her next client is a cook. He’s been out of practice since the Empire took over and wants to get a restaurant rolling again. Needs some good furniture.
-Time for an impromptu contest between Cemi and me to fulfill his request. And as before, the first step is to listen. Talk to the villagers, listen to their lives and needs.
-Namai’s residents place a high priority on dignity, manners. They want to be able to eat without anyone watching. I can VERYYYY much relate.
-heeeee, even now I get the choice to say I’m building “a wooden shield to protect the food from, well, you know…” It cracks me up how Carpenter!Ququshu just can’t get enough of using WEAPONS.
-Ultimately, I decide to build… partitions. Not tables, or chairs – just things that let people eat in privacy.
-Cemi makes a table. A great table! But the chef chooses the partition.
“The young lady’s table is a work of art,but does not fulfill my customers’ needs like this partition.”
-Cemi understands, but fears the Timbermaster will give up on her. There’s NO WAY that’s happening! She kicked ass; she just needs to listen a bit better and she’s there.
-We all return to Gridania, where the townsfolk – archers, lancers, craftsmen – are delighted for the Timbermaster’s return. He makes them items just as they want and need.
-Hearing it again reminds Cemi of her first carpentry effort. Her mother worked hard and was frequently in pain. Li’l Cemi crafted an armchair so she could rest.
She’s been so pre-occupied with her own art, her own improvement, that she’s neglected attending to the needs of the end users.
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Tea Party Rules
-Hey, a new/old client! Gairhard, whom we helped in the 1-50 carpenter quests. His new recruits are Ala Mhigans and Gridanians, and racial tensions have flared up. He tried a tea party the other day and it went badly. Wants our help in trying again.
-The Gridanians sound like dicks. The Ala Mhigans brought Ala Mhigan tea to the party, as an outreach attempt, and the Gridanians took it as a snub at their home. *rolls eyes*
-My solution to avoid favoritism in Unity Tea Party 2.0 is a Far Eastern-style tea party. Charming, and neither Gridanian nor Ala Mhigan.
-I craft an eastern teahouse bench. Cemi settled on the same thing. She’s thinking about the client now.
-The party goes far better than the last. The parties become fast friends.
GRIDANIAN SOLDIER: “Sitting here upon these benches has made me realize there are many magnificent things in this vast world. <sigh> In my narrow-mindedness, I nearly missed out on them.
-There are apologies from both sides, but I still think the Gridanians were at fault.
-Cemi has grown greatly as a craftswoman. I’ve loved her arc. It’s something I have to heed in my work and life as well.
-OH RIGHT, what about the thing that set all this off? The looming financial failure of the guild?
-lolol we were fine all along. Cemi thought we were in debt because Beatin was working day and night and barely eating.
BEATIN: “I was temporarily overcome by a desperate need to reconnect with the wood. To achieve this, I began living as a tree would – taking in only sunlight and water.”
He’s always been kind of a hippie.
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Random Stuff Around Eorzea
Koala joeys are adorable:
In fact, most of Australia and its people are. Please donate to help fight the bushfires: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/australia-fires-how-...
A player who’s gone full Noctis:
Some great player names:
Wolfie Blackstone
Rosie Posy
Cherry Vanilla
Rebel Bulbasaur
Shlop Lopper
Scuba Shrimp
Tsuu Kasa
Bigol Critties
Vodou Bloodmagic
Pirateking Cody
Father Playstation
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Next time: Continuing the 60-70 crafting, but not sure which will be next.
