(Author's note. This is for NaNo, it is just a first draft so it is by no means perfect and there is probably a lot wrong with it. I gave it an R rating, but aside from a bit of bad language the rating is more for future chapters. Now on to the story!)
Life in Vana’diel
By: Chris Gualtieri
Chapter 1 - Arrival in Bastok
“Hey? Are you okay?”
“Is he dead?”
A small crowd of children had gathered around the body of a young man. Sprawled out on the steps of a beautiful fountain in the middle of the market. People passed by ignoring the small crowd of children gathered around the fountain and the unconscious man who lay on the ground. Mutters of “Drunkard” and “Free-loader” escaped the lips of the adults as they passed by. The curious children started to splash water from the fountain on the young man, but to no avail.
“I think he’s dead Nab.”
“Dead!?” cried the voice of a young girl.
“What are you kids doing?” asked a older woman.
The woman wore a black silk and velvet robe that hung down to her thighs, but below that nothing could be seen which helped elicit blushes from the boys as they whirled around to face her. Her fine black hair was tied back in a long ponytail and smelled strongly of strawberries. Beautiful hazel eyes looked past the children and widened at the sight of the man.
She whimpered and shook her head, “Another one! Madine! Madine! Where are you!”
From within the crowds of merchants and people a small hand shot up above the rest and a cute youthful voice cried out, “Right here! Pio!”
Large fat men blocked her path, creating a current that was like a raging river just ready to sweep her far from the safety of the other side. Despite weak cries of resistance and struggling, Madine was unable to break into the moving throngs of people. At last after several minutes of trying to push through a sharp voice cried out, “That’s it! Curse this vow!”
Madine clad in the same silk and velvet robe as Pio from somewhere on her person managed to reach into a far too small of pocket and produced a sharp fencing sword and pointed it at the crowd. Her soft voice turned to one of rage and anger, “Move or I’ll cut you down!”
The crowd screamed and suddenly dispersed in mass hysteria as the weapon was drawn. Within an instant the path was cleared to the fountain and Madine rushed to join Pio.
The two girls exchanged nervous looks as the children scattered around them at the mere sight of the blade. Throwing their arms in the air and fleeing in all directions with shrill cries. Madine quickly placed the sword back into the pocket which was far too small to even hold the hilt of the sword and laughed nervously, “It worked…”
A faint smirk spread across Pio’s face as she kneeled next to the unconscious man, “He’s hurt bad. No bleeding, but I fear it’s a magical wound.”
Pulling back her long hair with her hand Madine kneeled next the young man and inspected him carefully, “Definitely. Magical asphyxiation and perhaps shocked.”
Pio nodded, “I’ve never seen such crude use. Think we are too late?”
Madine lowered her head to the man’s chest and placed her ear over his heart. A single soft beat reached her ears before she cried, “He’s alive!”
With all the skill of a trained medic, Madine placed both hands over the man’s chest and closed her eyes in concentration, “Altana, give me strength!”
Blue and white light burst forth from her hand, shining and spiraling down into the body of the man. Madine withdrew her hand and looked at Pio and shook her head softly, “I failed him. There is nothing more I can do.”
“It’s alright Madine! You did your best!”
“Still--” Suddenly the man opened his eyes and gasped in pain, “He’s alive!”
“Ugh! Where am I?” said the man, looking up at the two beautiful ladies now staring down at him, “This must be heaven. Angels sure are pretty.”
The two girls blushed deep red as the man looked up at them, but it faded just as fast when he added, “No…pants?”
Madine slapped the man across the face, “Pervert!”
“Madine!”
Covering his face with his own hand, the sting and warmth brought him back to his senses quickly, “I’m alive? Thank you!”
Wrapping his arms around the two girls he pulled them close in a hug and shouted again, “I’m alive!”
Madine and Pio helped the man get to his feet before asking at the same time, “What is your name?”
“Vince.” the man stated briefly, “From Hubara.”
Pio gasped and shook her head, “Hubara vanished almost three nights ago.”
Vince gasped, “What happened? All I remember was we were attacked by a horde of goblins from Dangruf Wadi.”
Pio bit her lower lip and turned her head away, but Madine answered for her, “Exterminated. We helped bury the bodies just last night.”
Vince started to shake uncontrollably and held onto the two girls so tight that they winced in pain, “My family…they are all gone.”
Pio shook her head, “I don’t know if I can handle this Madine! No matter where we go its always the same. War is coming again, isn’t it?”
“Hold your tongue, Pio! He just lost his family! Its our job to help, no matter the cost to ourselves!” growled Madine.
Vince closed his eyes and pushed both of the girls away from him, forcing them to the ground, “You should have let me die! I have nothing now!”
Two men clad in thick armor approached from opposite sides, encircling the three of them. Faces hidden behind a scary sallet that resembled a grinning demon, they barked orders, “Halt! You are under arrest!”
Pio gasped, “Oh great! The Mythril Musketeers! Can this day get any worse?”
Madine grinned, “Vince…someday let’s meet again. That fire that burns in your heart, that hatred, don’t let it be extinguished!”
The Mythril Musketeers closed in as magical energy shot forth from Madine, both of them cried out, “HALT!”
Vince barely nodded his head in agreement as a black spirals shot forth from Madine and Pio’s chest, engulfing their bodies in darkness. As they disappeared into nothingness leaving behind shimmering light, soft words last of Madine and Pio reached Vince’s ears.
“Take up the blade. Take up the scrolls. Defend your new home of Bastok.” whispered Pio.
“In three nights time, meet us at the falls.” whispered Madine.
The two Mythril Musketeers surrounded Vince and ordered him to put his hands behind his head. Obediently, Vince followed their orders as the first guard pulled rope from his pocket and motioned to put his hands forward. The guard tied Vince’s wrists together so tight that it almost entirely cut off circulation, but Vince did not even whimper in pain. The guards lead him away down the empty streets towards a gate house on the edge of the city. Several fully armed Mythril Musketeers awaited the arrival of the prisoner and lead him inside the stone gatehouse which was a small interrogation room.
Filled with only two chairs and a table the gatehouse was not worth the stone to build it. However, in one of the chairs sat a man clad in a strong harness and cuisses and a pair of steel greaves. A white bandana covered his forehead, but served only to make fashionable the long horizontal scar that cut across his face and over his nose.
“Sit down, let’s chat.” said the man. Vince was forced into the chair by the Mythril Musketeers and the rope tied around his hand was tied to the back of the chair. The Mythril Musketeers began to leave as if guided by some silent signal or strange procedure. As they filed out of the gatehouse a deadbolt automatically closed and locked the two within the room.
“The name’s Volker, leader of the Mythril Musketeers.” Volker stated in an informal voice; unbefitting that of a man of his stature, “What’s yours?”
“Vince. Pissed off, to answer your next question.” growled Vince.
Volker laughed deeply and pulled a dagger from within his harness pocket, the shining steel dagger was jagged and streaked with dried blood, “Skipping the pleasantries, tell me all about those two girls.”
Vince smirked, “Even about their lack of proper attire?”
“Everything.” Volker stated with a lecherous smirk.
“Angels that revived me. I don’t know their names, but all I can tell you is that they didn’t wear typical slacks, but I wish I got a better look.” Vince started, but Volker’s grin faded quickly and placed the knife back into its hidden pocket.
“Madine and Pio. Everyone in Bastok knows their reputation and names, but only strangers like you wouldn’t know or try to covering up their identity. Adventurers, a particularly unusual lot. Can never tell what they’ll do! Even if they carry our signet into battle; they fight as a separate force across allegiances and political borders.” Volker said while scratching the back of his head, “How about telling me where you are from?”
Vince lowered his head and stared at the wooden table, “Doesn’t matter anymore. My home is gone and my family is dead.”
Volker kicked back his chair and put both feet on the table in an effort to get Vince to look at him, “You are a lucky one. Those girls probably saved your life. Many people won’t bother to help out around here, the memories are too painful for the adults, but a kid like you never had to go through the hell they did. Bastokan Blight and the Crystal War are burned into their minds so vividly that many are haunted by the past every time they close their eyes.”
“You mean I could have just died in the streets and no one would care!?” shouted Vince.
“In your condition, most likely. No wound, no problem.”
Vince turned his head away from Volker, “I should have died! Those murderous goblins! My father died to protect my mother and me, but they wanted her necklace and chased us all night long. At some point my mother fell behind and…”
“I understand.” said Volker, “Though there is a chance she’s alive…”
Vince shouted, “They used toxic magic on her and she wasted away in front of my eyes! My beautiful mother was reduced to nothing but bone by that foul magic!”
Volker shook his head and sighed, “This might sound crude, but if you join up as an adventurer you will have clearance to take part in adventurer operations against them and avenge your family.”
“Yes!”
Volker stood up and smirked, pointing his right hand open palmed at Vince, “You are now a Bastokan. I hereby grant you our signet. Adventurer Vince, serve us proud as you now serve as a member of our conquest.”
A bright lights shot forth from his hand towards Vince, the light surrounded and encased him like an aura before combining into a crystal signet that fit in the palm of a hand. Vince pocketed the signet into his blue slacks and said, “Thank you, Volker.”
Volker smirked, “Oh and sense you are an adventurer now…I think you should speak to Griffith outside. He’ll help you out.”
Vince nodded, “Thank you.”
The gatehouse door unlocked and opened by a fully armored Mythril Musketeer, motioning for Vince to exit. Vince shook his head in disbelief, “How do you do that?”
Volker only grinned and tapped his right ear with a smirk as Vince was escorted outside back into the full sunlight of the bright day and a fresh breeze carried the scent of the sea. Far off in the distance a large single structure stood out against the skyline, with two large wheels turning slowly. The fountain and shops lined the streets were once more filled with people going about their daily business.
“Welcome to Bastok.” said a kind voice of a young musketeer, “I’m Griffith.”
The musketeer had short blonde hair and didn’t look much older then Vince. A massive blue sword hung in a sheath on his back, the hilt shot up to the man’s neck and the tip of the blade could be seen hanging down past his knees.
“You are the new adventurer, right?”
“Yes”
“Have you received your pack yet?”
“What pack?”
Griffith pointed his hand past the fountain then east behind some buildings as he loosely directed where to go, “Head on over to the residential district, the Mog House Union has already provided a room and a basic set of armor for you to wear.”
“Thanks.”
Running down the streets of Bastok, navigating the crowds of peddlers and weary buyers, Vince had not cleared the fountain before hand grabbed ahold of his slacks stopped him in his tracks
“Hey boy! Watch where the fuck you are stepping!” cried a high-pitched voice.
Vince looked down to see a small Tarutaru held fast onto his leg, eyes hidden behind reflective spectacles. Clad in a bronze harness and cap the little Tarutaru was easily mistaken for a discarded piece of scrap metal.
Vince growled and kicked at the small Tarutaru with his foot. As the swift kick struck home the Tarutaru flew over the stone wall plummeted to the water below, while screaming, “FUCKER!”
A soft splash far below was barely audible above the dull roar of the crowd, but another tiny hand shot out and grabbed his pant leg. Rearing his foot to kick at another pint-sized Tarutaru, Vince looked down and saw Tarutaru girl on robes. Even noticing what sex the Tarutaru were was very difficult when they barely come up past your knees, but the two little pigtails made it clear to Vince immediately. Bending down and scooping the girl up in his arms the girl cried out in a sweet high-pitched voice, “Thank you! He was really bugging me!”
Vince smiled and carried the little Tarutaru through past the crowds of people towards a small alleyway between a giant forge and a large auction house where people didn’t choke the streets. Setting the girl down carefully Vince took a seat next to her on the stone streets.
Vince said “Isn’t it dangerous to walk around in town when you are so---”
“Short? Small? Puny?” she interrupted.
Vince nodded weakly, but the girl only sighed dejectedly. She brushed her robe off and fixed her hair with her hands. Tarutaru were by no means skinny, their plump little bodies and tiny feet seemed to defy gravity and even looking at them brought up issues with how they could maintain any balance at all.
“Bluebell, pleased to meet you.” she said sticking out her little hand towards Vince.
Taking her hand with just his index and thumb, Vince shook her hand in a somewhat awkward manner, “My name’s Vince.”
“Hmm…you must be an adventurer. You kicked that annoying twit, Baro Maro into the river. Most wouldn’t bother to save a lady like me!” she said, smiling warmly at Vince.
“True, but to be honest it was a bit of a fluke.” he admitted.
“An honest man! Don’t find many like you amongst the Humes! Even in Windurst that is a desirable, but rare trait in a husband.”
“Is that so… What are you doing--”
“Tonight? Well aren’t you the shameless one! Perhaps we could meet at the fountain for a date?”
Vince blushed and nodded weakly as Bluebell was quick to force herself upon him.
“Wonderful!” she exclaimed, pulling both hands to her chest and giving him a little nod. “I’ll see you tonight after the first bell. Until then I need to finish these orders!”
She took off at a quick run through the streets and entered the moving crowd once more. Quickly disappearing between a mass of legs that appeared like a moving forest of flesh wrapped in cloth and armor and in some cases bare.
After that bizarre incident Vince quickly made way for the residential district. A mass of stone and wood hotel rooms stood before him and a cheerful flying fine furred creature with bat-like wings popped out in front of him.
“Kupo!” the red nosed creature squeaked, “Welcome to the Mog House Adventurer District!”
The smell of booze filled the air as the moogle spoke; Vince started to breathe through his mouth to avoid smell, but it didn’t work as the drunken moogle continued his speech, “Kupo-pu! You must be Vince! Let me teleport you to your room!”
Vince shook his head, “No-no-no! It’s okay! I can-”
“KUPO!” it shouted bright light encased Vince and sent him to his room before sending itself as well.
As Vince appeared in the room he continued, “I can walk! Oh…crap.”
The moogle appeared a few seconds behind him and shouted, “Welcome to your mog house! Bastok has provided this free room to you adventurers and as a gift moogles have provided you with a complete set of standard issue bronze armor and sword. Hmm…you seem to be sensitive to magic as well! Check with the magic shop later, they’ll give you a free scroll of you could possibly learn.”
Vince nodded I disbelief, trying to figure out exactly how he had just moved from one place to the next without even realizing it. The drunken moogle before him pointed to small steel safe in the room before disappearing in a flash of light.
“What is with people in this town!?” yelled Vince.
A dull pound came from another room and a stifled yell, “Shut up in there! I’m with a Mithra!”
Vince sighed looked at his empty room with nothing more then a safe in it. Magically augmented to store possessions of great size, a small list was marked on it with a specific number of slots on a piece of paper.
Bronze Harness
Bronze Cap
Bronze Subliger
Bronze Mitts
Bronze Leggings
Bronze Sword
The marks for 7 to 50 were empty, but instructions on how to use it were carefully written as follows: To use the Mog House Safe simply turn the dial to the specific slot you wish to access, we are sorry for any inconvenience or hand injuries from turning the dial.
The instructions for using an Adventurer pack were almost entirely the same, but required only to think of the item you wish to pull from the pack to use and it would automatically be pulled when you reach into you pocket. Even if the item was much larger then the pocket itself, including pieces of armor or snacks, but it only had thirty slots to use, similar to the safe.
“Wonderful. This place just keeps getting better and better.” Vince thought out loud. “Just got to love magic, but I wonder where they keep all this stuff when I won’t be using it!”
