---
A Royal Request
-The Sultana is going to visit the goldsmith guild. I haven’t seen her in an age.
-Ah, she wants to establish a school for artisans! It’ll be in Rhalgr’s Reach, a way to help both Ul’dah and Ala Mhigo provide a way out of poverty.
(Btw, are you still planning to turn this into a republic or not so much?)
-The sultana is serious about this. She’s fronting an elaborate crown from her mother for us to use in the school.
And she’s appointing me head. Principal Ququshu, reporting.
-I go meet my three students outside the city. All refugees, with experience in other fields. All nervous but enthusiastic.
---
Gemworks in Progress
-We meet in Rhalgr’s Reach to get rolling. The school will also double as a business: Crown Gemworks.
-One student was a smith, another worked in a jewelry shop, the third was a miner. They all have strengths, but it’ll take some work.
-The first task I set to them is to create a silver ring, and set a gemstone from the sultana’s crown in it.
---
Blindsided
-The jeweler student, J’khebica, is passionate but clumsy. She’s faltered grown frustrated, disheartened.
-Investigation teaches me two things: she squints and can’t tell two fellow students apart. She needs to update her glasses! This is basically “Major League.” She’s Wild Thing.
The joy of being able to see clearly again.
-J’khebica was already doing well before. With this accessibility tool, the sky’s the limit.
---
The Perfect Tribute
-The Crown Gemworks has been kicking butt. Some samples are being accepted by stores.
-The students are grateful to the Sultana, and want to repay her trust and investment. They want to repay her. What would be suitable tribute, using the gems from her crown?
-Rumors in Ul’dah suggest that Sultana visits a specific store in disguise. We spy and see a “Nanamo-esque Maiden” look at an orchestration. She loves it; just wishes there were a miniature version.
Me too! FFXIV should give players a portable orchestration – an xivPod – so we can use our collected orchestration rolls on the go, not just in our homes.
-I craft a sample chronometer that the apprentices can use as a model for the orchestration.
---
Sultana Dreaming
-The apprentices have the bulk of the orchestration done. All I do is craft a finishing touch, the orchestration roll itself.
-We present the orchestration and she loves it. With all the joy a lalafel can muster (which is a lot).
It’s frigging adorable, even moreso when she tries to regain her royal composure.
-The music is the Ul’dah city theme, a great touch! All hail the tomato sultana.
(Who will hopefully get on that transition to a republic any day now.)
-Not a bad start for the Crown Gemworks. They’re immediately flooded with commissions for this mini-orchestration.
Joking about the monarchy aside, the Sultana is pretty great. She invested in training Ul’dah’s refugees and it’s paying off. Hopefully she pursues this on a larger scale.
---
Random Stuff Around Eorzea
-A namazu-dressed player with a namazu minion:
-I super dig this character design/garb:
-Faepup:
-Not sure what makes this weapon mystic or where it comes from:
-The dapperest Hrothgar ever:
-The Chris Evans Knives Out sweater journeys to Eorzea:
-Possibly the coolest dark knight weapon I’ve ever seen, from the ultimate difficulty of Alexander:
-A Fenris-style chocobo barding perhaps?
-A badass knight:
-Bunnie Brooks and her bunny:
-A culinarian NPC with some solid relationship advice:
-I love the red theme on this Miqo’te dragoon:
Some great player names:
Mr Dinkles
Kiwi L’cat
Rainbow Love
Princess Fufu
Lit’ning Farron
Single Dad
Marty Pants
Jechtstream Sam
Care Free
Epcot Ball
Bobby Dazzla
Smash Force
Prince Of’darkness, in the “666” free company.
Mr Deathclouds
Solar Eclipse
Rod Mc-healer
---
Next time: the Namazu beast tribe quest line, a.k.a. one of my favorite things in XIV.
