So here is a second chapter, just to see what kind of response I get as to wheather or not I should continue this story. I am going to put here and on all upcoming chapters that I am sticking to the quoting of the original story as much as possible. Everything that any character but Naoh'a says is an exact quote from the respective character, and was written under SquareEnix's instruction. All-in-all, not my work. I am going to keep this story as original towards my character as possible, and if I continue this story, I will be aiming to make more diolouge for him than he had in this chapter. Please let me know if I missed anything, and thank you for reading. FFXIV Belongs to SquareEnix, Naoh'a Cooper is mine.
Arrival In Ul'Dah 1/4
"Hey! Hey, you!" I hear someone yelling at me. I open my eyes to see an older male looking at me. "Ya'll right, lad? You were moaning somethin' fierce for a while there." I see concer in his eyes. "Feelin' the effects of the aether, I reckon. You'll get used to it though, don't worry." I shake my head a little, that was a weird dream I had. A disembodied voice and a guy in a mask, what was that about? Then I hear a distant yell, "You there-halt!" and I feel the carriage come to a slow stop. "What's all this about?" I hear the driver yell back. "Inspection! Men, search the carriage!" I hear that voice again, only closer.
The old man across from me looks out the back of the carriage at a uniformed guard and says "I'm just an honest peddler, friend. So, er...don't be too disappointed if you don't find nothin', eh?" I can't see the guard's eyes, but I can feel him glare at the old man. "Mind your tounge, old man, lest I cut it out!" What a jerk. The guard pulls something from the carriage and turns to his superior, "Sir, look! Somnus!" he says with a smile. The guard takes the item in hand and says "Honest peddler, was it? Since when do honest peddlers deal in prohibited herbs? You're in a lot of trouble, old man. You'll rot in a dungeon til the end of your days...unless you can afford the fine." the guard says with a smug look. The old man turns to me and lets out a chuckle, "Heh, business as usual..." I get the feeling something is wrong, as I'm about the warn the old man, an arrow hits the carriage next to his feet. "Amalj'aa! Amalj'aa! To arms! To arms!" I hear a distant guard shout. "Seven hells...Consider this a warning! Now go-all of you! The captain yells to us as he and his friends charge their foes.
The old man leans back and sighs, "Phew...That kind of excitment ain't good for the heart." he says. He then leans forward and looks at me, "You be careful 'round them Brass Blades, lad. Bastards'll have the shirt of your back if they fancy it. Like common bandits, only less honest! Thank the gods for sendin' some beastmen to the rescue, eh?" he takes a moment and continues, "Hey, seein' as we've still got a long ride ahead, you mind keeping me company til we arrive? Them young'uns don't much care for conversation, see." he says looking at our other companions. The old man points to and introduces himself, "Brendt's the name, an' peddlin's me trade. An' judgin' by your unusual garments, I'll wager you're one of them new adventurers." I nod in response. Brandt continues, "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 dying, I mean. Ain't no secret that adventurin's a risky business-these days especially. What was it that attracted you to it?" he ends with a question.
I don't know how to answer him, I mean explaining my reason is kind of personal, and I'm not quite sure I feel comfortable going into it right now. I slightly shake my head in confusion. Brendt nods, "Well, if you ain't inclinded to tell, I ain't about to pry. Might be as ol' Brendt's a chatterbox, but he sure as hells ain't no busybody. We all have a secret or three, don't we? Me? Dozens. An' I'd rather they stayed secret, too-which is why I don't go stckin' me nose where it ain't welcome, just remember, though: there's more important things than fortune an' glory. Such as breathin'. Ain't no profit in bein' dead, and' that's a fact. By the by, is this your first trip to Ul'Dah?" I nod my head.
Brandt smiles, "It is!? Well then, let this journeyed itinerant tell you the in's an' outs of your destination." Brandt leans back, and begins his tale of the place I seek. "Ul'Dah's ruled by the Sultana in name, but as most folks know, the syndicate holds all the real power. Them and their Monetarist cronies would happily get rid of Her Grace altogether, but that won't happen while she still commands the loyalty of the Royalists-an' the Royalists are nothin' if not loyal. These factions have long fought over power, throwin' the weight of their wealth against each other, an' they show no sign of stoppin. 'Course the lizardmen-that's the Amalj'aa-couldn't care less about Ul'Dahn politics. They have they're own interests, see-an' they ain't afraid to use force to serve 'em." Brandt takes a breath, and leans on his knees, "They say war is a gift to peddlers-need breedin' profit-an' though it shames me to say it, I'm inclined to agree." Brandt looks over his shoulder and smiles, and looks back my way, "Ah, at long last. Behold Ul'Dah, jewel of Thanalan, where people turn sand into gold."
I lift off the seat a little to see over Brendt's shoulder to see a huge stone wall with people either walking though the gates in groups, or sitting outside the walls under tents. Sadly, by looking at this, I can tell who has money and who doesn't.