Summary: A family grapples with Padjali nature while hiding in Gyr Abania.
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Unease in the East End
-The elementals are agitated. Must be Tuesday.
-The Seedseer E-Sumi-Yan leads me near Baelsar’s Wall (near the Stormblood zones), where the elementals are most miffed.
-OH HI, IT’S SYLPHIE! From the 1-30 conjurer quests. She’s been following.
-She’s supposed to be studying, but the elementals reached out to her specifically. I love that we see her growth.
-We head into Gyr Abania. Nothing elementally, but we do see a mother and child running in fear.
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An Aura for Trouble
-Sylphie and I find the child with a glowing green aura around them. Are they a ghost?
STRANGE CHILD: “I’m not supposed to talk to stranger… Mama says they’ll take me away and lock me in a cage.”
-Sylphie
does a good job of calming her down. She introduces herself as “Gatty.”
And whatever she’s scared of feels “icky,” not like us. Voidsent?
-…Hm. As soon as Sylphie says she’s a conjurer, the kid freaks out and disappears.
-Our Seedseer suggests that she might have raw power attracting voidsent. Sounds right.
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A Beacon for Bad Tidings
-We start tracking Gatty and find her house guarded by a “Stern Huntress. ” No doubt Gatty’s mother.
-She’s ready to fight us off when she kneels in pain. If this were real life, I’d think heart troubles.
-As
Gatty runs to her in concern, her hat falls off and OH SHIT SHE’S
PADJAL. Her fear causes her to emit aether that draws voidsent. This is
what’s causing the elemental agitation.
-I fight off the voidsent which helps a bit show we’re not evil, but the mother (“Sanche”) is still wary.
-Wow. It really is heart trouble. I honestly had assumed Sanche had some mystical ailment.
-Since
Gatty was born a Padjal, the conjurer’s guild would’ve tried to get
her. Sanche didn’t want to be separated from her daughter, so she fled.
This explains my questions about Padjals! Any Gridanian can be
born a Padjal, a sign that fate chose them to convey the elementals’
will.
-So how do we help while honoring Sanche’s wishes?
Sylphie wants to stay here to teach Gatty control and also do what she
can to heal the mother, all while keeping it secret from the conjurer’s
guild.
It’s a good idea, but it’s not a long-term answer. And she’s still a student herself.
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The Problem with Padjals
-Ruh-roh. Sanche’s condition is worsening and Gatty’s untamed aether is still a thing.
-And E-Sumi-Yan sussed us out. When they see him, they’re going to think we dropped a dime – bye bye trust.
-…Nm. More voidsent attacks have made Sanche a bit open at least to hearing from E-Sumi.
-Good
guy E-Sumi! He agrees that in this particular context, the safest
option is to keep formally training Gatty here with her mother. If
things don’t improve, she’ll relocate to Gridania.
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What She Always Wanted
-Sanche is not long for this world. Sylphie and I find her collapsed in a nearby cave.
-Gatty starts to freak out, then remembers her lessons. Controls her fear enough to say goodbye.
SANCHE: “My precious girl… You have filled my days with love…” This is really beautiful. I’m tearing up.
-As Sanche passes away, Gatty’s aether begins to flare up… then fades. Sylphie for teacher of the year!
WAIT
WHAT THE FUCK?? A demon that had been apparently lurking within Sanche
pops out, preying on Gatty’s worst fears – that SHE killed her mother
with her nature. Battle time.
-The fight itself is a powerful
end to this storyline. While fighting off voidsent, we bolster Gatty’s
spirit and counter the demon’s barbs. Essentially, we help her work
through grief and guilt on the fly.
In the end, it’s about letting Sanche’s love and hope live on in her memory, not the painful end.
-She’ll join us to start a new life in Gridania.
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Whence the Healing Springs [White Mage Level 80]
-This
is immediately everything I wanted from the level 80 quest. I get to
check in on both Alaqa (the witch from the 60-70 quests) AND Gatty.
-Alaqa
is trying to become a conjurer. It’s tough; she apparently sucks at
healing and making friends… except for Sylphie and Gatty.
-They head out to help with a minor elemental problem nearby. Gatty is hurt, and only Alaqa has the aether to heal.
AND
FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE SEEMS TO NAIL IT! I know “power of friendship”
is a meme at this point, but having outside motivation and reasons to do
something is not a small thing.
-It’s really cool to see Alaqa
start to enjoy herself and her life. It’s not like her trauma is cured
or whatever, but it’s a step towards moving forward.
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Random Stuff Around Eorzea
My new level 80 white mage gear set.
-Some great names seen recently:
Farting Hrothgar
Mr Deathclouds
Obama Atemycat (thanks, Obama!)
Barry Dyngles
Tomo Chan (a prozd reference I assume)
Amanda’s Husband
Selina Kyle’
Sybil Carrotflower
Renee Figgleston
Booty Patrol
Adalbert Steiner
Candied Yamz
Indiana Stoned
Acrimonious Knave
Aahaha Hahahahaha
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Next time: the Sahagin beast tribe quests.
