RP type: Quest

Date: Saturday 8th December

Active Attendees:
Avina
Draenen
Kenjii
Kirious
Mirror
Muriru
Niiya
Saerun

Summary:

[[In the Middle Lands]]
Kenjii is training in Gustaberg when he stumbles on Mirror, on his way back to Bastok after a thermal bath in Dangruf Wadi, and decides to follow after noticing that Muriru's work scheduled time has just ended. The two find the Tarutaru girl cheering at the puppetmaster's daily performance, among the children of Bastok. Avina also arrives, and her strange behavior around the automaton seems to only worsen Mirror's mood, who decides to go take a rest at home. As Mirror leaves, Saerun arrives. The Elvaan seems to know more about the automaton, as she claims to have seen more of them in Aht Urhgan. Feeling oppressed by the dominantly female presence, Kenjii goes for a walk to the Port, but is quickly stalked by the three, who seem to be doing it just for 'fun'.

In Port Bastok, the four people eventually meet a strangely dressed Tarutaru, who sort of rushes a strange shiny badge in their hands, asking that they show it around to promote what he claims to be the 'greatest, largest, most renown establishment' in Vana'diel, a mercenary company by the name of Salaheem's Sentinels. As he rambles on, the Tarutaru mentions Aht Urhgan, and the group decides to comply, if only out of curiosity: Avina suspects this heavy recruitment campaign may be the cause of the lack of adventurers around the city of late.

As they wander around town showing the badge, they learn more and more about Aht Urhgan and the group of mercenaries. There seem to be conflicting rumors about the place and its people, with the Hume showing excitement and interest in the nation's treasures and technology (this seems to excite Kenjii to a certain extent), and the Galka expressing concern and saying those mercenary are nothing but money-thirsty people trying to get more men for a war with the Near Eastern beastmen. What of all this could be possibly true?

After returning the badge, Kenjii mentions he was planning to take Muriru to San d'Oria to get her blade fixed. Avina and Saerun then decide to accompany him, to see if there's more to be found about the Empire in the other countries.

In San d'Oria, the group stumbles on Niiya, one of the two Tarutaru twins who helped rescue Muriru from her grandmother's second strike. When asked about any suspicious figure in town, the samurai mentions of someone with a very strange accent lurking near the Auction House in the southern districts of the kingdom. Kenjii convinces Niiya to accompany them, in his own special way. As they rush to the south, the Tarutaru loses the beloved cap and reveals a rather mannish haircut! Neither of the group seems to be particularly shocked at the revelation, either because they didn't know Niiya before, or because they just didn't get it (in Kenjii's case). Maybe ashamed to have revealed his identity, the samurai scoots away at the first chance, unnoticed.

The group meanwhile finds another of Salaheem's Sentinels recruiting scouts, and again is asked to promote the company around the city. Kenjii suggests that they accept, if only for the fact that the badge will be a quick lead to who could possibly tell them more about the Empire and its wonders.

This summary is incomplete (I remember only the most important details of Draenen and Kirious' part, and want to make sure I don't misplace anything). Please post the part taking place in the Near East if you remember all of it.