Chapter One

Vara Silex

What is this creature? Was the first thought Vara thought when she saw the mysterious yellow bird that seemed to give a squeal of a "KWEH" when she approached the carriage that was to bring her the city state aptly named Gridania. There doesn't seem to be any Falcon Porters around here... she thought as she climbed onto the carriage. The motion of the moving carriage was enough to put her to sleep. It was a strange dream...dressed in an outfit she never worn before against an opponent she's never seen before unable to make out his face.

"...Oi!" The voice of the stranger was loud enough to wake her from her sleep, Vara jerked awake and turned around to see a male Hyur dressed in yellow looking at her. "Y'all right, lass?" Vara stared at the stranger before he explained himself "You were moanin' in your sleep an sweatin' buckets besides." Vara raised her hand towards her forehead and felt the sweat that had beaded there. Wiping it off before anything else the stranger motioned towards her. "That'll be the aether, I reckon. Some are more prone to the sickness than others. No need to fret though, you'll soon get used to it."

I see, the aether here is much stronger than the aether back at home Vara thought as she saw the stranger reach over for the drink that was stationed next to him. As the stranger was taking gulps of the drink, Vara heard trumpets of some sort blowing next to her as she turned her head to see some sort of fuzzy white creature. "Feeling better, kupo? Aha! You can see us! I had a feeling you could, kupo! We're moogles, and we live in this forest." Vara looked at the creature in curiosity as she saw another moogle head towards the stranger's drink. She noticed that the moogle was dancing in front of the Hyur. Can he not see the moogle dancing in front of him? Vara thought as the moogle sought to explain themselves. "Normal folks can't see or hear us - which makes you special, kupo!"

Vara turned to see the two other passengers who were undoubtly twins resting their eyes, she turned back towards the moogle. "And seeing as how you're special, maybe you can tell us something. The woods here have been restless of late - lots of strange things happening. Have you chanced to witness something suspicious, kupo?" Vara shook her head at the moogle and looked in shock as she saw the other moogle who was now drinking from the stranger's bottle. The other moogle bowed it's head "But of course you haven't - you've only just arrived. Well there's nothing for it, then - we'll just have to keep looking. Nice to meet you, kupo!" and off the two moogles went just as they came, joining another two at the top as they spun and wriggled around.

The stranger reached around for his bottle and started to drink only to realize somehow his bottle was now empty, with nothing left to drink he turned his attention to Vara. "Gridania's still a fair way off, in case you were wonderin'. Seein' as you're awake, how's about you keep me company till we get there? Them young'uns don't care much for conversation, see." He said motioning towards the twins that were sitting off to the side. "Bremondt's the name, an' peddlin's me trade." Bremondt said motioning to himself, "As for your good self, judgin' by your unusual garments, I'd say you were one of them new adventurers. Am I warm?" Vara gave a nod as Bremondt nodded himself. "I knew it! Goin' wherever the wind blows, seekin' fortune an' glory - now that's what I call livin'! So long as you can avoid dyin', I mean. Ain't no secre that adventurer's a risky business - these days especially. What was it that first attracted you to it?" Bremondt asked as Vara cocked her head to the side thinking.

I can't tell him my reason for being here it sounds too silly to explain to them. Vara thought as she shook her head in silence as Bremondt shrugged, "Ah that's fine everyone has their reasons." Vara nodded in agreement as they continued the small talk on the carriage, just as they finished a conversation they heard someone yell, "Halt! Go no further!" "What's this, then?" Bremondt asked as he turned around towards the sound of the voice. Vara saw a glint of silver and raised her hand in warning towards Bremondt as he turned around in shock as the arrow struck close to him. With a cry Bremondt turned around and saw the arrow plant itself in front of him.

Vara heard the driver stutter a "Wh-what's going on?" as she saw a man dressed in green with a mask head towards the carriage. "A skirmish has broken out up ahead with the Ixal! For your own safety, you must remain here until-" just as the man was about to finish his sentence, Vara saw from the neck of woods a pack of bird like creatures come out from the woods heading towards men in red carrying bows. The man dressed in green drew his weapon in reponse, "Bloody hells! We shall hold them here! Try to break clear!" he shouted to the driver of the carriage as the driver himself ushered the yellow birds to move faster. As they drove past Vara got a clearer picture of what those men were fighting, bird like creatures that were striking the men.

"That was too bleedin' close... Nice of the Ial to send us a welcomin' party, though, eh?" Bremondt said after they had reached a clearing. Ixals? Is that what those bird-men are called? Vara thought as Bremondt reached down towards the arrow and yanked it out. "Jokin' aside, this won't be the last time you meet those feathered friends, so just you take care, all right?" He said while examining the arrow, "By the way, is this your first trip to Gridania?" Vara nodded at his question. "It is? Well then, let this journeyed itinerant tell you the ins an' outs of your destination." Bremondt offerd to Vara to which she nodded happily.

"The city of Gridania lies slap-bang in the middle of the Black Shroud - the biggest, lushest forest in all Eorzea. Though it ain't near as lush as it used to be, sayin' that. Not since the Calamity laid half of it to waste. The destruction promoted a herd of new nasties to move in, an' gave the Ixal unneeded encouragement. Birdman raids've become a daily occurrence. Ah, at long last." Bremondt said with a look behind him, "Behold Gridania, the forest nation blessed by the elementals!" So this must be Gridania...its so beautiful and green...unlike home.

The Black Shroud – the ancient forest close to the heart of Eorzea. Beneath the bough of the towering trees lies the woodland city-state of Gridania. Once a sanctuary from the world beyond the Hedge, even the mighty elementals, eternal guardians of the forest, could not forestall the coming of the Seventh Umbral Era. However, the goddess Nophica was never one to forsake Her children and today She welcomes another brave soul, one who may yet play a telling role in the tale of this great realm.

"An' here's were we part ways, lass. I'm off to the markets to deliver me wares, then it's back to the highroad for me." Reaching into his pockets he handed an item to Vara who took the item and put it in her own pocket. "Here, I want you to have this – by way of thanks for keepin' me company. Hey – you never did tell me your name, did you? Well, here's an idea… Become the sort of storied personage I can brag about havin' met, and I'll consider us square." Bremondt said before departing giving Vara a pat on the shoulder.

May the Matron take her to her Bosom, that she may never want. And in his heart sow serenity, purity and sanctity.