Author's notes: I would like to point out that this isn't an epic adventure. This is a tribute to what I did in FFXI so Razio is your average adventurer. It is also a challenge for me because I'm going to have all the chapters, except for the first one, allude to what I did in the game. Since I can't post these notes every chapter I will create an appendix chapter, if that's allowed, to list them all. As for this chapter, it is nothing but back story for character sake. The only characters that are real, aside from me, are the characters of Kyri and Nazak, I know them in real life and we played together in the game.

Razio's Journey

Chapter 1: A Grand Union

I had longed to see the port of Bastok. A new life called to me there, a life as an adventurer. Of course my long time companions, Nazak and Kyri, gave me a that gentle nudge I needed to leave my homeland of San d'Oria and join them in Bastok. Yes, these two have always made clear to me the path that I cannot see. I remember well the day I met them, how could one ever forget such an introduction.

It was 7 years ago at the Lion Springs tavern in San d'Oria. It was quite a busy day and the tavern's air was filled with much story and laughter. I sat at a table by the tavern's stage, which was empty at that time. I was contemplating on whether or not I should propose to my beloved Fiona. My love for her was great and so was her's to me but I had only known her for a month. I thought it would seem too rash to even bring up the matter. This thought did not last long, for my concentration was broken when a dead silence filled the room. I raised my head and looked towards the door and I saw that two Humes, a red-bearded man and a young woman with short brown hair, had entered the Lion Springs tavern. By their clothing and possessions they seemed to be merchants. However, before entering they must have known they were unwanted, their faces showed a strong sense of strength as they ignored the stares and whispers. I on the other hand, have no ill will towards other races so I lowered my head and continued to stare into my drink, thinking about my dilemma. I believed this caught their eye and with out my knowing they stood by my table. I may have not even noticed them until I heard a woman say, "may we sit here." I looked up and saw the two Humes standing across the table.

"Sure, please sit," I said to them politely, knowing that sitting anywhere else may have been suicide. They sat down looked at me for a moment until the bearded man, who at this range looked about as old as me, gave a big yawn an stretched out his arms.

"Well it's good to see at least someone has some good in him," the man said in a purposely loud voice while smiling, "its the best I've been treated all day!" Some of the Elvaan in the room stood up from their table and looked at him with much hatred. I had a feeling that this would have turned into a problem so a rose from my chair.

"Back to your seats! They mean no harm, they are with me," I said to tavern. They looked at me with much anger and then sat back down. As I sat down I noticed that the young woman look very intrigued.

"I thank you for that but I cant help but wonder…who are you to have such authority," the woman asked. Judging by the look in her eye I could tell they she wanted an answer. Seeing no harm in it, I told her.

"I am a Temple Knight. They know better than to defy my orders. However…", I said in a lower voice, while I began to look towards her older friend, "you would best be careful while your in San d'Oria, not every guard will protect a Hume…and some Elvaan aren't as dignified as you might think." I had motioned to and Elvaan woman across the room who seemed intent to pierce the man with her gaze. The bearded man let out a silent chuckle at the sight and the young woman sighed.

"Well maybe now is the best time to introduce ourselves. My name is Kyri and this is my partner Nazak. We're merchants from Bastok," she had stopped and put a kind smile on her face and asked, "and if I might ask Sir Knight, what is your name."

"My name is Razio. I must say you seem a bit to young to be a merchant. Also, this man you are with, is he your caretaker," I asked Kyri. She had seem to take offense to that.

"What! All because I'm young, I don't have the skill, strength, or will to be a merchant! Well I'll tell you that I-," as she began to get out of her seat in an attempt to deliver a speech but Nazak yanked her back down by her hair. She let out a quick yelp of pain and began rubbing her head. While strange to see, it put a small smile on my face.

Nazak let out a hardy laugh and looked at Kyri with large smile, "She always gets excited when someone underestimates her. She needs an wise 34 year old guy like me to keep her in line." Kyri laughed at his remark an turned way from him. Nazak then stroked his beard and said, "well she does have a reason to be proud. She devised a plan to mine ore in Bastok, then sell it here. Then while we're here we cut down wood, bring to Bastok and sell it there. That's some plan coming from a 19 year old girl. From what she told me, no one wanted to help her because of that. So since my business wasn't going so well, I had nothing to lose. Its been a year so far and at least were still alive at least." He laughed and took a flask from his bag and took a swig of it. I was quite intrigued by these two that I had forgotten about my previous thoughts. Nazak then put back his flask and asked, "so what brings you to kind place today."

It then came back to me, the question that had plagued my mind. I quietly muttered, "nothing," as lifted up my drink, took a sip and stared into it. I felt that Kyri had turned to me and began to probe my thoughts.

"Listen if we were disturbing you, you should have said something. But its been my experience that if something is bothering you, let someone else view it and note what they see," Kyri said soft voice. I closed my eyes and thought about her suggestion. These were total strangers and from another land. At first I saw no reason to tell them anything but Kyri words continued to ring in my head. Still debating I stood silent. Kyri, seeing no response, rose from her chair and said, "well we rested enough…come on Naz." As Nazak stood up I rose as well.

"No, please sit. You have not disturbed me at all. I'll tell you my dilemma…I owe you that much for offending you," I apologized to Kyri as she smiled and sat back down. I ordered them drinks, Nazak beamed a smile. I took a deep breath told them about Fiona and wanting to ask her for her hand in marriage. As I explained my plight to them I noticed that they were taken back by me being unmarried. For being as old as Nazak, and a knight, one would assume I would be happily married by now. Alas, I was too focused on becoming a knight that I paid no attention to anything else. That is, until I had set eyes on my beloved Fiona.

Kyri sat back in her chair and became submerged in thought. After a few minuets of silence she look into my eyes and said, " just ask her. If you believe that you two were meant for each other then nothing should go wrong. Besides its not likes she's my age, right…right?" I nearly choked on my drink when she said that to me.

"No! I have more respect than that, She's 32.," I let out a sigh and expressed my thought on the matter, "you would think that think with all my training as a knight I would be able to ask a simple question." Nazak took a large swig from his drink and slammed his cup down to get my attention.

"Love is stronger than any enemy you will ever encounter. It can either kill a man or make him stronger," I looked at him strangely for a moment then he continued, "but hey…don't listen to me, I try to stay far away from love as if it were a sickness." I stood silent, his words, while strange to hear from a man like him, had shook me deeply. I had understood that if I didn't put aside my concerns, I would never be truly happy with Fiona. I would always have some doubt when I'm with her. I slowly stood up from my chair and began walking towards the door. Concerned, the two gave chase and followed me out the door.

Kyri ran in front of me and asked, "I'm sorry we did not mean to pry in to your life-"

"Don't be sorry, I am glad you interfered. You have given me a great power…and now I plan on using it. I thank you both…I will be forever indebted to you.," I said joyously. Kyri quickly step aside and smiled as I made way to my future wife.

After a month of planing, Fiona and I were married. I do not think I will ever be able to repay Kyri and Nazak for their help. However, they could not prepare me for what happened 7 years later.

I had left the Temple Knights after we got married. Kyri and Nazak got me into the their merchant business and Fiona continued working at her medicine herb shop. I felt that it would be this way for the rest of my life. Over the years, the number of orcs in Ronfaure had been growing. This made it more dangerous to venture in to forest. Even with that against her, Fiona continued to collect herbs from Ronfaure. I strongly pleaded with her to stop this, but she could not let down those who needed her medicines. So I let her continue, who am I to stop a noble goal such as that. For her safety, I always went with her to protect her from harm but it still was not enough to ease my concern. On those days, I would pray to Altana to ensure that nothing goes wrong. However, on that one day, while I was buying food, I gotten word that the watchtower overlooking west Ronfaure had witnessed an orc attack on a lone Elvaan female. The orcs had killed her but the Royal Knights were able to save her body from being taken away by the orcs. At that moment I felt like I had swallowed a stone whole. This feeling rolled around in my stomach as I ran with great haste home to see my beloved.

However, as I walked through the door I found a Temple Knight awaiting me instead of my Fiona. Those damn orcs took her away from me. I couldn't understand then and I still cant understand now, as I held her ravaged body in my arms that day, I could only wonder why. This question froze my emotion, I couldn't cry, morn, or yell out in pain, all I could do was wonder. It was by chance Kyri and Nazak would visit me two weeks later. After that day when I met them, we became close friends. For years we kept in constant contact with each other but in the months before Fiona death, I had not seen or heard from them at all. Their visit would explain just that.