Сүх

by MintyFeet

An Au Ra hailing from the Azim Steppes finds herself violently thrown from her homeland into a world entirely unlike her own. Here, in the land of Eorzea, she will forge her own path and find her true calling: that of a warrior, ready to face foes both old and new.

11. Chapter 10

6TH SUN OF THE FIRST ASTRAL MOON
YEAR 5 OF THE SEVENTH UMBRAL ERA
Limsa Lominsa

"Hey, wake up, sister."

Baatar yawned, stretched and blinked several times to clear the grogginess from her eyes; Xomni'to and Momolk were sitting on Momolk's bed across from her, fully-dressed with their weapons and their picatrixes hanging from their belts.

"Oi. What'll be the meanin' 'a wakin' me up?" Baatar groused, scratching her head. "Thought we hads the day free t'be doin' as we liked?"

"Afraid not, Baatar," Xomni'to said, shaking his head. "Staelwyrn came by - we've trouble again, and with that arsehole Sevrin, no less."

"Ah, fuck - again? How?" Baatar shouted, getting out of bed. "I swears, next time, I'll be shootin' 'is knees out fer sure."

"Ye might just be gettin' that chance, sister," Momolk informed her gravely.

"He didn't say much - just that he'd be wantin' our help. Come on - Staelwyrn and the others'll be downstairs, when you're ready."

"Shite, a'right - I'll be down quick-like." Xomni'to nodded as he left the room; once again, Baatar strapped on her gear, checked her pouches and set off downstairs. Terbish's clinic was empty, and so she exited the building, locking the door behind her.

"OI! SLEEPYHORNS! OE'ER HERE," Momolk shouted from down the street to the right, within spitting distance of the Fishermans' Guild's aetheryte station. "YE FUCKIN AWAKE OR WOT?"

Baatar sighed and jogged over to the group; Staelwyrn was with them, a scowl set into his face.

"Mornin', Kanna, Staelwyrn," Baatar offered. "What'll be the trouble?"

"Sorry to be ruinin' yer sleep-in," Staelwyrn spat, "but I gots a problem that needs fixin' - thanks t'Sevrin, no less."

"You said as much," Kanna noted, nodding. "What is the issue?"

"Well, Sevrin came back the sun last - said 'e were sorry to 'is old mates, that he wanted to be makin' it up t'them for leavin' them as goblin fodder," Staelwyrn explained. "Said he had a big stash 'o wines an' ales, an' that he'd be sharin' it with anyfolk who wanted some. Did hisself a big fat apology t'me too, sayin' that maybe he'd be tryin' farmin' again - that he were just real frustrated or summat with the new life."

"Bollocks, I think," Baatar muttered.

"I know, I know," Staelwyrn sighed. "But, well, somethin' 'bout the boy - he can't be older than any'a yous - sets me feelin' sorry, and so I lets him stay. Anyroads, this early this mornin' I let Sevrin an' 'is mates off to do that drinkin' or summat - but it'll be damn near three in th'afternoon, and I says to be back by one.

"Well, if they were indeed partaking in Sevrin's supposed stash of drink," Kanna noted dryly, "perhaps they are simply… unable to move from their current position, let us say."

"Aye," Staelwyrn replied, rubbing at his beard, "but somethin' sets me the wrong way 'bout this. An' what with you lot already havin' brought back 'is mates before, I figures you'd be the best to go 'bout this - 'specially if there's goblins involved or summat again." He shrugged and shook his head. "I know it'll not be...serious, aye, but either way I'll pays you two-thousand gil, flat, whether ye find somethin' or not."

"Fair 'nuff," Momolk said happily. "Ye comin' with?"

"'Fraid not fer now," Staelwyrn answered. "I'll be havin' an aetheryte installed up at the farms - I've got meetin's to be gettin' to wi' the Maelstrom an' some folks from Sharlayan. Ye might try askin' some folks up't the farms where Sevrin an' is mates fucked off to - Grynewyda, she'll be with th'artisans what're buildin' th'aetheryte. Ye can ask'er - she'll know fer sure, what with her watchin' the gates an' all." He snapped his fingers, and nodded. "Oh, an' we's supposed t'be the first place beyond Limsa what gets a public Chocobokeep Station t'day!"

"Oho, those'll finally be happenin', eh?" Momolk exclaimed cheerfully. "Too fuckin' right - right tired, I'll be, o' walkin' everywhere!"

"Hey, the keep just takes us to the farms for now," Xomni'to scoffed. "You'll still be walking everywhere else."

"Shut it. Right then, Staelwyrn - ye don't need t'be worryin'. We'll sort this shite out quick-like," Momolk said, looking up to flash a smile at the roegadyn as she pat him on the leg.

"Thanks - I appreciate it much. Anyroads, I needs t'be off - I'll be back't the farms in a few bells. Best'a luck t'ye!" Staelwyrn strolled over to the nearby aetheryte, waited for a few fishers from the guild to use the station, then popped into nothingness.

"So," Kanna said at last, "we shall be dealing with Ser Sevrin and his ilk once more."

"Told'ye I shoulda' shot the bastard," Baatar spat.

"Perhaps," Kanna ceded. "But we would be better served with concerning ourselves with the present, I wager."

"No harm done. Let's get to the Chocobokeep and head out - if something untoward's goin' on, better we figure out where Sevrin is, fast," Xomni'to said.

The group teleported up to the Aetheryte Plaza and returned to the Zephyr Gate; where before there had stood an archway in front of the bridge housing an inspection station manned by Yellowjacket guards, there was now a new building standing opposite - this one a clean, well-kept stable with a dozen yellow riding-chocobo of various breeds - from giant Destriers for roegadyn riders, all the way to the diminutive Jennets for lalafells. The stable and its accompanying stand was manned by a pair of hyurs dressed in yellow-black tunics, long yellow gauntlets and wearing feathered half-masks styled like the head of one of the giant yellow birds Baatar had dreamed of owning since she was a small child.

"Ho there," Xomni'to said, approaching the staff. "Is your Chocobokeep station open to the public?"

"Aye, it is," one of the men said, bowing slightly. "Good timing - we opened to the public this mornin', though we'll only be offerin' rides to the Summerford Farms fer now. That fine with ye?"

"Yes, that will be good," Kanna answered, staring in awe at the birds. "They are very pretty."

"'Aint they, huh? Y'ever ridden one, miss?"

"No, I have not," Kanna replied. "The tales of the Eorzean 'horse-bird' are quite well-known, even in lands as far away as Kugane, though."

"Well, today's yer lucky day, miss- a ride t'Summerford'll cost y'only fifteen gil per soul," the other attendant explained. "If ye come back in a few suns, we'll be rentin' these fine birds out, too - no pricin' yet, though."

"Right then," Baatar said. "So - we'd all be needin' a ride to Summerford. Sixty gil, aye?"

"Aye, that'll be so," the first attendant answered; he held out his hands as Baatar fished out a handful of coins from her coinpurse, and deposited them into a cashbox on the stand. "So, three of ye'll be more or less Hyur-sized, an' a lalafell - I'll have Rounseys an' a Jennet for ye quick." The man walked over to the stable and pat led four of the birds out to the group; each one was a bright yellow, and bore a riding saddle. "Now then, there's little to be said - ye hop on the back, grab 'hold 'o the reins, and ye don't let go. They'll bring ye to Summerford, no more, no less. Fair?"

"Wonderful," Kanna breathed, eagerly eying one of the birds. "Yes, more than fair."

The four mounted the backs of the birds - Kanna with more than a little difficulty - and with a sharp whistle from the attendants the birds were off, setting off at a trot down the bridge as Kanna yelped in surprise and joy.

"Who would have thought!" Kanna shouted as the four of them rode over the bridge and beyond the city. "Such wonder! A bird like a horse - oh, this truly is as fine as the books said!"

"Aye, an' did yer books say much 'bout shovellin' chocobo shite-piles?" Momolk laughed as they rode into the countryside.

"No, they did not, and I shall not have you ruin the majesty of this!"

Baatar simply whooped and laughed as the birds cleared a small dip in the road with a mighty leap, grinning madly at the speed with which they travelled. Soon enough, they had arrived at Summerford Farms - in thirty minutes, rather than two hours of walking - and the chocobos stopped at a set of stables nearly identical to the ones in Limsa Lominsa, though the attendant - who wore the same robes and masks as the others - here was a lalafellin woman.

"Well met," the attendant said as the group dismounted from their birds. "The travel, I hope, was without trouble?"

"None at all. It was incredible," Kanna said, putting a hand to her chest. "The view - the speed - the wonder of it! Breathtaking, I must say."

"Glad ye liked it," the woman said, smiling as she led the birds by the reins over to a nearby trough of water. "Have yerselves a fine day, now!"

"Oh, question - d'ye know where th'aetheryte's bein' built?" Baatar asked.

"Aye - that-away," the woman replied, pointing to one of the farms's gates, by the western base of the spiral hill.

"Thanks t'ye."

The group made their way over to the gate; there, several artisans - some Sharlayan and others Lominsan - were hard at work assembling pieces of an aetheryte station, fusing crystal-shards and pumping aether into inert crystals which sat on workbenches. A tall, green-skinned roegadyn woman in farming clothes stood nearby, watching the farmhands who were working the nearest set of fields; she smiled and waved once she noticed the group approaching.

"Oho! Kanna, Baatar, Xomni'to and Momolk - full glad'm I to be seein' you lot," Grynewyda said, nodding. "Ye been a fine help t'Staelwyrn - so I figures, when 'e says you'd be comin' later t'help with...whatever shite's Sevrin's got now, I were real happy-like."

"Thank you, Grynewyda," Kanna replied, bowing. "Staelwyrn said that you might be able to shed some light on where Sevrin and his friends were headed?"

"Aye, I'd me eye on'em - the bastard an' 'is mates, they'll set out fer Woad Whisper Canyon, up north, past the Descent - it'll be the big drop-off where the Dreadwyrm blasted what used t'be a nice, long hill into bits. There's the Skylift - helps movin' goods up'n down, aye, but if ye goes right from the stairs that'll bring ye down, ye'll find a path into the Canyon."

"Aye, that'll be direction enough, I think," Xomni'to said, nodding. "Thanks - we'll set out quick-like."

"Idjits," Grynewyda spat. "I bet Sevrin an' 'is mates'll be drunk as shite - ye find'em, ye beat the tar outta'em fer me an' haul their sorry arses back 'ere, ken?"

"I ken," Baatar replied. "So! Off we go!'

This time, the group walked northwest, going past the Agelyss River all the way up to the very edge of a massive cliff; Baatar, Xomni'to and Momolk had seen what had been termed "The Descent" from sea, but up close, it was another thing entirely.

Momolk shook her head as she approached the Skylift - lifts and pulleys, scaffolding, stairways and ladders built into the cliffside to facilitate moving both persons and goods down the cliff with ease - and let out a low whistle.

"Shite," Momolk exclaimed, "this were a mad thing to be seein' from sea, but up close this'll be somethin' else."

"How odd that there is nobody up here," Kanna said, rubbing at the scales underneath her chin. "Should there not be...attendants? Or other persons, such that they might assist traders or travellers?"

"Hrm." Baatar walked onto the wooden walkway that was nearest to the group and peered over the railings, hands cupped over her mouth. "OI! ANYFOLK DOWN THERE?" She paused, searching with one above her eyes for a moment, then returned to the group, frowning. "Queer as shite -there'll not be a single person 'round this part o' the Skylift - there'll be some workers, all th'way down to th'west side, aye - but that'll be at least...fifteen, twenty minutes walk away."

"Something is wrong, then. Yellowjackets, Maelstrom, even just some regular workers - somebody should be posted on this side," Xomni'to muttered darkly, pulling his picatrix from his belt. "Momolk - barriers."

"Aye, I were thinkin' the same," Momolk replied.

Both flipped to free array pages and unhooked their quills from their sleeves; with practiced ease they each summoned their Carbuncles and with a whoosh-pop of aether, the two tomes shone with brilliant light as two of the diminutive familiars - Momolk's yellow, Xomnito's blue - winked into existence at their feet. After both cast their blue-white barriers around the group, Baatar unslung her axe, keeping it ready in her right hand as she led the party down the long, winding wooden steps towards the bottom of the Skylift, left hand outstretched with her blunderbuss at the ready.

It took several minutes for the group to make their way to the bottom, as Baatar carefully cleared each corner in the stairs; they were just rounding the last bend leading to the bottom of the scaffolding when Baatar flinched and swore upon seeing a crumpled body on the wooden floor.

"Oi," Baatar shouted, moving closer - but keeping her gun raised. "You. Up!"

"W….who's there?" The moan that came from the body was weak, raspy; with visible exertion the hyuran man rolled himself onto his back.

It was Aylmer - one of Sevrin's mates - and a massive hole in his robes showed a massive, swelling bruise radiating out from the center of his chest which was beginning to turn a deep, dark purple.

"S...shite," Aylmer managed, struggling to keep his eyes open. "Gods...hurts…"

"Hey, hey, stay with us," Xomni'to said, rushing forward; flipping to the middle of their books, both he and Momolk began pumping Physick spells into the wounded man. It took nearly half a minute of healing, but the bruising began to subside and Aylmer swore as he let loose several coughs.

"Aylmer," Kanna said as she knelt by the man. "What happened?"

"Fuckin'...that stupid, sodding, shitehead bastard," Aylmer spat, chest heaving with exertion as Xomni'to eased him into a sitting position. "He says he were sorry, did hisself a big cry-up an' the like - so we buys it! Says he'd bring us to 'is ale stash - only to be leadin' us right into a fuckin' trap!"

"Trap?" Baatar exclaimed. "How so?"

"Iunno," Aylmer answered, shaking his head. "Somethin' 'bout 'is old crew or summat? There were a buncha big, muscled sailor-types - soon as we came near th'Canyon they came runnin' outta the caves."

"How many of these sailors were there?" Kanna asked sharply.

"Shite. Iunno - only a few, I thinks," Aylmer replied. "Hells. Only reason I gots way's 'cause I thought the whole setup smelled shite-like - so I ran, first sign'a troubles. The others-" Aylmer's eyes widened, expression going from anger to pleading in an instant. "The others! You's gotta save'em - they done nothin' wrong!"

"We'll do the thing," Baatar replied coolly. "Don't ye be worryin'. Can ye walk?"

"Aye," Aylmer wheezed, shakily getting to his feet. "I'll be a'right - go!"

With a nod, Aylmer took off as fast as he could up the stairs of the scaffolding; Xomni'to, Baatar and Momolk all drew a gun and nodded.

"Ye watch the back, Kanna - shouts, if ye sees anyone skulkin' 'round behind us," Baatar growled. "There. That'll be th'way," she added, pointing to a section of the wooden bridges to their right; while most of the paths off the scaffolding led down into the grasslands they'd scene from up top, the path to their right led into a series of smooth-stone caves, with the waterfalls of Woad Whisper Canyon visible in the distance.

With cautious speed, the group moved through the open tunnels, creeping along; nearly two minutes passed without incident until, from around a corner, another of Sevrin's friends - Eyrimhus, the roegadyn - limped out, the worn axe on his back chipped and his hands clamped over a bleeding wound on his leg.

"Oi," Baatar hissed, lowering her gun. "Eyrimhus, aye?"

The man nodded, shaking his head and jerking his head back down the tunnel; Xomni'to and Momolk rushed forward, healing the deep, bleeding gash on his leg with a few casts of Physick magic.

"Lissen," Eyrimhus muttered, eyes frantic, "Sevrin's old crew or summat, they's in there - careful, you lot, if you means to go. I tried to be fightin'em and all I gots were this slice in me leg."

"We'll be fine," Kanna replied. "Just go, get yourself out of here."

"Ye don't have t'be sayin' so twice," Eyrimhus spat as he scampered off into the distance.

The group forged onwards - and now, they could hear the sounds of steel-upon-steel and battle-cries. Beyond the next bend stood Sozai Rarzai - Sevrin's lalafellin friend - hidden behind the last corner of cave before the tunnels opened into the canyon itself; just beyond, Sevrin was on one knee, supporting himself with the haft of his axe and bleeding from several wounds while a trio of heavily-tattooed sailors - two roegadyn, one male and one female, each carrying axes, and a third hyur with sword and shield - stood over him.

"Well, well, well. Won't this be the sorriest sight I's seen in me life," the roegadyn man - clad in red leathers and wearing woad upon the left side of his face - spat. "Yer a sack'a shite, through'n through, Sevrin - betrayin' folks over, an' over."

Sozai Rarzai saw the party coming and glanced nervously between Sevrin and his attackers - and the party as they crept up to him. "Shite - yer here t'help? They's 'bout to fuckin' kill Sev, they are - if ye wants to be doin' something, now's the time!"

"Now now, Sevrin," the roegadyn continued. "We was prepared t'be overlookin' yer desertion if, and only if, ye brought us some fine replacements. That were our deal, no?"

"F-fuck off," Sevrin spat between laboured breaths. "Yer not takin' me mates! Yer not takin' nor kidnappin' nobody!"

"How rude! I's not the one who's left debts unpaid," the man replied, shaking his head with a smirk. "Ye betrayed the Serpent Reavers, Sevrin - not once, not twice, but three times now. Why, even ifs I wanted t'be lettin' ye go, I couldn't! There's rules, boy," the man said, tone lowering, "and you's broken'em fer the last time."

"Now!" Baatar shouted; the party leapt forward, guns barking and belching smoke while Kanna threw a pair of daggers at the trio of sailors; the hyuran man with the sword and shield went down, but a blood-red barrier flared to life in front of the roegadyn, blocking the fire.

"Ahhh," the roegadyn man said, clapping his hands slowly. "Well met, ye shites. Anyhows, Sevrin - we's got other things t'be doin' - so ye have a fine time, and yer friends too."

"Other thin - get ta fuck, you will," Baatar shouted, drawing her second blunderbuss. "Yer not goin' nowhere, ye blue-faced bawsack!"

"That so, eh?" the man replied. He simply winked - and a voice rang out from somewhere in the canyon - seething, reedy, the accent unknown to Baatar.

Creator, who art mournful, the voice shouted, send unto me one of your abyss! A thrall of my choosing and a thrall of my command! Give me thine power, so I may smite mine enemies!

Baatar and the others jumped back - Kanna dragging Sevrin with her - as the earth before them began to churn and rumble.

"Aether," Xomni'to shouted. "The fuck - the aether! It's purple again!"

"That'll be our cue. We won't be meetin' again." The roegadyn man and his partner leapt off the canyon into the water below, disappearing from sight; Baatar had no time to consider chasing them, as the rocks which were coming out of the ground directly ahead were beginning to cluster together - first into one pile, then another - then into a legs, torso, arms, and a head: altogether, the thing was a towering beast of seething rock which was easily double or triple the height of Baatar.

"What in thefuck," Xomni'to hissed.

"Golem," Momolk exclaimed - quiet, then loud, frantic. "THA'S A FUCKIN' GOLEM!"

"FUCK YOU, GOLEM!" Baatar unloaded her second blunderbuss onto the rock-formed beast - and cursed as the shot simply bounced off it; she blinked and sighed. "Ah, piss. BEHIND ME!"

The golem surged forward and slammed its mighty boulder-formed "fists" down towards Baatar; with all of her strength she managed to deflect the blow with a well-timed strike from her axe and began furiously chipping away at the creature, the sounds of axe-upon-rock echoing throughout the canyon as Momolk and Xomni'to - and their familiars - hurled warmagic as fast as they could cast: unaspected Ruin spells chipped away at the rocks upon the Golem's surface, while casts of Miasma and Bio sent floods of caustic toxins cascading towards the creature's aetheric core and eroding away its rocky hide.

Kanna, in the mean time, circled around to the rear of the golem; her katana was ill-suited to simply battering the creature into submission, and so she bided her time, waiting for Baatar's attacks to expose seams between the boulders and rocks which formed the golem's skin; every chance she could get, she would drive her blade into these openings, slicing open whole sections of the golem and sending massive chunks of rock and dirt crumbling into the canyon floor.

The fight dragged on; kept aloft by Momolk and Xomni'to sending healing her way in between volleys of spells, Baatar stood before the beast, panting and bruised with a grin on her face; though she was far from unscathed, the others had only suffered minor scrapes and scratches from flying debris, and now the glowing yellow core of the golem was visible beneath what little armour remained on its chest. As if in reaction, the Golem roared; Baatar braced herself for the towering creature to charge at her and flinched as, instead, it seemed to curl in upon itself-

-and Baatar's eyes widened in surprise as everything seemed to pause.

Her jaw dropped.

She was looking at herself from behind; Baatar frantically struggled, realized that she was floating in mid-air, transparent.

The golem started moving slowly, as if wading through water or mud; it unfurled, and shed most of its rock-body-armour in a spray of aether-sharpened shrapnel. Baatar watched herself - there, on the floor of the canyon - scramble to get out of the way, running out of the shrapnel's reach - but the Baatar there was too slow.

Baatarsaikhan watched in horror as the spray of rock shards hit her double-self in the back, slow spouts of blood spraying into the air as the rocks dented her armour and pierced her skin-

-and her vision swam as other-Baatar fell to the ground, zooming in on the farthest space that the spray of rocks reached, about ten paces away from the golem-

-Baatar screamed as, once more, she stood upon the canyon floor looking at the golem begin to curl in upon itself. "RUN! IT'S FIRIN' ITS ROCKS!" Baatar shouted, turning tail and sprinting away from the creature without any hesitation. Forewarned by her nightmarish vision, this time Baatar made it past the ten paces without trouble; a stray rock managed to hit her in the arm, though instead of killing her it simply dented her shoulder-guards.

The golem, now, had barely any rock upon its frame; it was a skeleton of visible yellow aether traced in the outline of a humanoid body; Kanna shouted and lunged forward, leaping over the rock-shrapnel that lay in a ring around the beast, plunging her blade into its core. With a loud cry, she tore the blade out - and with that the beast crumbled into inert rock and dust upon the canyon floor.

"Ho, shite, that were close," Baatar wheezed, falling to the floor on her butt. "Twelve. Did...did ye...shite, Sevrin!"

Momolk and Xomni'to - both panting from aetherial drain - scuttled over to Sevrin, who'd managed to drag himself away from canyon and towards the caves. Xomni'to and Momolk both immediately began pouring healing casts of Physick into Sevrin's limp, bleeding form; Baatar and Kanna watched with bated breath; maybe a minute passed in silence before Sevrin let out a loud, wheezing gasp, his body shuddering to life. He tried to move - then howled in pain, as Momolk and Xomni'to did their best to hold the man still.

"Hold - GET YER SHITE TOGETHER, SEVRIN!" Momolk shouted, laying all her weight into his legs while Xomni'to cradled his head. "FUCKIN' - STOP - MOVIN'!"

Sevrin kept thrashing, screaming for a few moments - then stopped, his body going still, save for his laboured, pained wheezing; he groaned, opening his eyes, staring down at his blood-soaked clothes.

"Hoo - ho, fuck," Sevrin gasped. "Fuckin' hells, that hurts. How...how's I livin'?"

"We healed you - and hold still," Xomni'to hissed, sighing in relief as he shakily got to his feet with Momolk. "We might'a closed your wounds, aye, but barely. Move overmuch and they'll tear right open."

"O-okay," Sevrin replied, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. "M-me mates. Whe-"

"They're safe, Sevrin," Kanna replied, her voice stern. "They're all heading back - if not back by now - at the Summerford Farms."

"Gods. Oh, Twelve be praised," Sevrin muttered.

"I do suppose that having a group of goodly adventurers save you from your mistakes - saving your life in the process, no less - might very well be counted as an act of divine intervention," came a familiar voice; it was Y'shtola, her white plaits swaying as she jogged, wand drawn, into the canyon; she glanced between Sevrin, the adventurers, and then the cliffs of the canyon; with a sigh she hissed with frustration and kneaded her brow. "Damnation - the snake slipped away, again." She exhaled deeply, then turned to face the group. "I suppose, though, that we should be glad he did not sink his fangs more deeply into you."

"There weren't no snake," Baatar replied, scowling.

"She refers to the person - I assume - what summoned the golem?" Xomni'to noted, head cocked. "Do I have the way'o things?"

"Mmm. Yes - that is so." She glanced down at Sevrin, a look of distaste creeping into her expression. "And you, sir Sevrin. You may have made the right decision in the end - but you've done a great deal-"

-Baatar froze; she was no longer in the middle of the canyon, but rather back in the caves - and she flinched as she saw Y'shtola creep up to a wall, ears twitching as she listened in on a group of sailors. Baatar tried to call to her, but found that she could not move and that her body - when she looked down -shone a bright, brilliant white. Despite the glow, Y'shtola paid no attention to Baatar, her gaze passing right through her.

"Pirates?" Y'shtola muttered to herself, frowning. "But not of any of the Lominsan factions - then - whom do they serve? The beast tribes - no, unthinkable - but their timing. The Sahagin and kobolds resurgent - no, it is too fitting. Something is afoot - but what?" The white-haired-woman dared to peek around the corner and saw that the sailors were now climbing down a ladder they'd thrown over the side of the canyon into the river below; she scowled, sighed and kneaded her brow. "Primals - oh, twelve forefend - if they plan to summon the primals - Limsa could hardly keep one at bay, let alone two. More. I need to know more."

Baatar blinked again - and now she was in Limsa Lominsa, the city streets looking oddly wrong - and she cried out in shock as she recognized the fishing pier she was standing on, the streets, the people -

-it was before the Calamity.

Y'shtola walked into view, standing at the end of the pier, staring up at the blood-red moon hanging in the sky; Baatar wanted to scream, to shout, to cry some sort of warning, but no words escaped her lips.

"The seas continue to rise," Y'shtola muttered, staring darkly up at Dalamud, its red glow perfectly visible in the midday sun. "The lesser moon continues to fall - ilm by ilm, the world becomes ever more unlike itself." She sighed, grinding her teeth for a moment, her tail and ears twitching with palpable unease. "It is as you foretold, Louisoix," she continued. "The coming of chaos has sundered the laws of nature; material and the aetherial, no longer separate, their boundaries blurred - nothing stands between us and the Primals, now. " Y'shtola paused, tapping a foot on the pier, then marshaled herself, inhaling and exhaling deeply. "But they are not here yet. 'Though time be against us, hope shall ever be on our side;' never did the creed of Sharlayan ring more true, I suppose."

Baatar blinked once more - and she was in Limsa Lominsa as it was now, rebuilt, whole again; Y'shtola sat upon a crate, before pulling her strange lens-mask from her belt and strapped it to her face; the device, a set of goggles with a larger, siwrling circular lens hanging over her mouth, made an odd whining sound as she depressed a button on its side, and with an audible click the lower portion of the goggles snapped upwards, the third lens now sitting by her forehead.

"Never," Y'shtola said to herself, "did I dream I would possess the means to see aether - and yet, now that it is so, I so often take it for granted. How swiftly do the wonders of Sharlayan seem commonpl - ah!" Y'shtola flinched, her gaze drawn to the sky. "A disturbance in the aetheric flow - but whence does it emanate - hrm. Perhaps - Seasong Grotto - like before?" She pulled the goggles from her face, strapped the device to her belt and took off into the city-

-and Baatar wheezed as her vision was pulled back into Whisper Woad Canyon; she was laying on her back, staring up at the sky, while Kanna, Xomni'to and Momolk were similarly laid out.

"Oho. The four of you awaken once again," Y'shtola said, looking from the tunnel entrances; she was slowly healing Sevrin's battered body, clouds of bright green aether flowing from her wand into his body. "You - you four collapsed from your exertions, once again. Are you suitably recovered?"

"Re - recovered?" Baatar groaned, getting to her feet as she rubbed her horns. "Ay - wait. Oi, oi! I saws you - who'll be this Lou - Lou-ee-swah, huh?"

"Louisioix? How do you know that name?" Y'shtola replied, her voice turning to ice.

"I - yes, I know the name - I think perhaps we - we shared a vision?" Kanna said, her tail - and Baatar's - both flicking about uneasily. "I - you were in Limsa, twice, and once, here."

Baatar nodded - and paused as she noticed Xomni'to, his tail ramrod-straight and his ears twitching; his gaze was unfocused, and he said nothing.

"Aye," Momolk added, eyes searching Y'shtola with a discerning gaze "And - and I thinks we saw ye 'fore ye came t'the Season Grotto, from two suns ago."

"Is...is that so." Y'shtola nodded slowly, her tone flat - before a small smile spread across her face. "Well, in any case - Sevrin here filled me in with the details - and he shed some light upon how you came to be attacked, of all things, by a golem," Y'Shtola explained, jerking her head at the pile of rubble on the canyon floor. "Such a summoning is no small arcane feat - common pirates, I think, would be hard-pressed to even hope to control such a being. But then - these tattooed pirates of ours are no common men."

"Oi," Baatar spat, her tone low and her tail thumping a steady beat on her legs, "ye didn't fuckin' answer our questions - again, I might be sayin'."

"Hmm. Just be careful - these men serve the Sahagin in all ways," Y'shtola continued, as though Baatar had not asked her question. "As to their purposes? Who can say - though I shall be getting to the bottom of this."

"Ye frosty, snow-haired b- yer name's...Y'shtola, aye?" Momolk said, tone unimpressed. "Ye don't have t'be ignorin' us, y'know. Ye can do yer explainin' and not be rude-like t'us."

"My apologies," Y'shtola said, finally getting to her feet - evidently done healing Sevrin, who simply sighed in relief and resumed laying on the canyon floor in silence. "Well, yes, my name is Y'shtola - as, I assume, Staelwyrn explained. I am a...naturalist of sorts, primarily engaged with the study of aether."

"Right - yes - I saw you," Kanna said, nodding. "Your - your lenses, they allow you to see aether and its fluctuations?"

"That is correct." Y'shtola's expression flitted between consternation, cheer and worry; she opened her mouth and shut it once before finally speaking again. "My apologies, once more. I meant none of you rudeness or insult in my manners - I have simply had much upon my mind. If y-"

Y'shtola paused as her linkpearl began ringing - a chime, thrice - and she put her hand to her right ear.

"I - yes, yes, I am well," Y'shtola said, nodding. "No - I am afraid not. He eluded my grasp. Of course - I will inform Commodore Reyner, and return forthwith." Nodding, she turned to the group and nodded. "I'm afraid I must take my leave at once - I shall escort Sevrin back to Staelwyrn for you."

"Oi - HEY! The fuck ye think ye're goin'? Ye - come - COME BACK 'ERE!" Baatar shouted; she spat on the floor as Y'shtola took off into the tunnels at full speed, Sevrin wincing as he followed; Baatar growled in frustration as she slumped back onto the ground in exhaustion. "Oh, that slimy, shite-eatin' bitch - I gets my hands 'round her next time, she'll be answerin' t'me real quick-like!"

"Should we follow?" Kanna muttered. "I...I dislike the fact that she clearly knows...something, and yet was unwilling to share that knowledge."

"Seven hells, what 'bout that vision?" Momolk added uneasily. "Ye saws the same, right? Y'shtola, in Limsa and shite? The fuck were that 'bout?"

"Well, I can see the future sometimes," Kanna replied after a moment's thought, her tail curling around her waist as the tip tapped at her hips in thought. "Would it be so difficult to believe that perhaps I - and you three - can also see the past? If - if that crystal which called itself Hydaelyn is of divine origin - if she is the planet Herself - who is to say that you three are not blessed by the gods, too?"

"Ah, fuck, I don't want no gods-blessin' - I want answers, fer fuck's sake!" Baatar shouted. "Oi, Xomni, ye hasn't said nothin' - y'alright?"

Xomni'to blinked, and his ears flicked as he shook his head. "Oh - yes. Yes, I am fine. Merely - I - I cannot shake the feeling that I have met - nevermind. The vision, too - I find myself ill at ease, not knowing the providence of these visions."

"I wonders if Chernatai an' Valére has these things, too," Baatar wondered, groaning as she got to her feet. "Ah, shite - we can be figurin' this pisspot out later. Firsts, we should be gettin' back t'Staelwyrn. Who knows - maybe we'll be runnin' into this Y'shtola 'gain. Everyone's fine?"

"Yes - yes, I am alright. Tired, a little hungry, but no worse for wear," Kanna replied.

"Aye, I'll be fine, too - m'aether's low, as is Xomni's, but that'll be nothin' a fine meal won't be fixin'," Momolk added as Xomni'to nodded.

"Right. Let's be goin', then."

Much to Baatar's consternation and frustration, the group did not see Sevrin or Y'shtola on their way back to the farm; by the time they had returned to Staelwyrn, Baatar was muttering angrily to herself, though she cut her curses short once Staelwyrn came to meet them at the base of the spiral hill - with an exhausted Sevrin in tow.

"Oho - I knew ye'd bring the boy back," Staelwyrn said, smiling as he waved the group over. "Y'shtola brought Sev back, and 'is mates returned not long before, aye. Tales 'o yer heroism abound!"

"Aye - we killed us a golem, we did," Baatar said proudly.

"An' - an' - oh, gods," Sevrin said, wiping tears from his already-stained face. "Fuck - look - ye can be bringin' me to the Maelstrom fer whatever punishin' they might give. This'll be my fault."

"Ye can say as such again," Momolk spat.

"No - ah - lissen," Sevrin said, rubbing at his eyes with both hands. "Those bastards - those'll be me old crew, the Serpent Reavers."

"Reavers, eh?" Staelwyrn muttered. "Rumours has them bein' the servants o' the fishback tribes. That so?"

"Aye - I mean - look. We weren't famous or nothing' - least, not beyond th'darkest bits o' Limsa's worst. We...we were the folks, the sort what stole from Eorzeans," Sevrin muttered, staring at the ground in shame.

"And you went along with this, in direct violation of both the sailors' and pirate's code of the Lominsan authorities," Kanna said coolly.

'Aye. Aye, I did. But then - a few years back - I were just 'bout to be a full shipman o' the Reavers, done me rites an' tests an' such - and then, the big cap'n - 'e says we's to start snatchin' Lominsans. Someone asked why so - and then 'e says all us Reavers, we's to be servin' his - our - new Sahagin masters." Sevrin shook his head. "I were a right bastard, a real shitehead - but I weren't no traitor, what worked fer the fishbacks - I had to be gettin' out. I crept off one night, got meself a new name - Sevrin, from me gramps - and thoughts I'd be free. 'Cept the Reavers found me quick - hows, I's no idea - and theys cornered me one evenin' 'round the'edge o' the farm. Says - says they'd be killin' me, or worse, bringin' me t'be servin' the Sahagin by force - but they'd let me be. Freedom. Alls I had to be doin' was to payin' wi' the lives o' my mates."

"And - and ye lured'em to th'canyon? So ye could be...spendin' yer mates' lives fer yer own, ye fuckin' traitor coward?" Baatar shouted. "Gods damn you, you're a right dick of a man, ye know?"

"I know - I know - I know!" Sevrin wailed. "But - but I - I couldn't be doin' it - an' so, once the bastards showed in th'canyon - I drew me axe, told'em to run." He stopped, eyes closed. "Ye...I'd be dead, an' maybe me mates taken, too, if ye hadn't saved m'arse from'em."

"But...but, however late," Staelwyrn said quietly, laying a massive hand upon Sevrin's shoulders, "ye made the right choice."

"Too late, aye," Sevrin muttered. "Looks - I's bruised an' shite - that Y'shtola woman had t'be pumpin' me fulla conjury just to be gettin' here. Second I's good fer more walkin', I'll turn meself into the Yellowjackets an' the Maelstrom. I'll not shame the farm by hidin'." Sevrin looked up, stood a little straighter. "If I'll be hung, so's it. I'll not shy way from't."

"Good man," Baatar said flatly. "No runnin', no longer."

"Aye," Sevrin replied.

"I - well, I won't be stoppin' ye," Staelwyrn said proudly. "Each man sails by 'is own compass - and yers seems t'be workin' fine, at least now. Stills - I'll bring ye to the city shortly, if ye wants - and if ye do live, I hopes you'll come back 'ere and work the fields proper-like."

"I'll...I'll be in yer debt, Staelwyrn," Sevrin replied, nodding. "And yers, fine 'venturers - I's caused ye no shortage 'o trouble, that'll be fer certain." Sevrin took a deep breath, bowed slightly - wincing as he did so - and hobbled off back up to the farmhouse; Staelwyrn watched him go with a sad look.

"A right fuckin' shitestorm, this was," Staelwyrn muttered, shaking his head. "Still, ye lot did good - ye saved me farmers, and ye's done good by me. I'll...I'll pay ye back in more'n gil - tomorrow I brings yer payment, an' I'll be passin' free goods 'long t'Idree, an' the Bismarck."

"Will...you have paid us a fortune already," Kanna said quietly. "Can you be affording to hand such to us?"

"Aye. Things'll be tighter, fer sure - but better I cuts the drinkin' an' such fer a while, rather than not sleepin' right 'cause I didn't do right by ye folks," Staelwyrn stressed. "I's may be no sailor, aye, but I has me honour." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, exhaled, opened them, and smiled. "Ah - and if I could be troublin' ye for a final job - could ye be tellin' Baderon what happened 'ere? I...I's mad at Sevrin, aye, but I...I don't wants 'im to be shot or strung up fer this. The farmers 'ere - hells, even I - we's all...done our share'a shite. It'll be whys we all jumped to be farmin', I'd wager. Poor bastard - 'e deserves the chance t'be payin' ye folks back, t'be payin' Limsa back for what he's done, no?"

"Deserves?" Baatar hissed. "'E deserves what the lawfolk gives 'im, that's what 'e deserves." She spat on the ground and sighed. "But I'll be sure t'tell Baderon 'bout it - y'ave me word."

"It...it means much t'me." Staelwyrn gazed back over his farmlands, staring for a long moment at his farmhands as they laboured the fields, singing old shanties as they worked. "Really. A thousand thanks."

"It is no trouble," Kanna reassured him. "And, in the end, I think things have worked out for the better."

"But," Momolk added, "maybe be keepin' an eye on yer famers? Check t'see if ye gots any more shiteheads - I's not wanna be comin' back t'find you's dealin' with another Sevrin, ken?"

"Oh, gods - aye, I'll do the thing," Staelwyrn muttered.

"Well - ye keep good, and we sees ye next sun," Baatar said, standing on her toes to pat Staelwyrn on the forearm. "Have yerself a fine day, Staelwyrn."

"And you - you lot get some rest, haves yerserlves a drink. Or ten," Staelwyrn shouted as the group set off.

"Now," Baatar said as the group walked up to the edge of the farm, "we could be portin' back t'Limsa - or," she said, smiling at Kanna, "we's the coin t'be doin' ano'er ride on the chocobos. Ye wants that?"

"Oh - oh, yes, please," Kanna replied eagerly. "That - that would be wonderful."

"Right then," Momolk sighed as the group returned to the Chocobokeep station. "I'll be needin' a bath and a real fuckin' feast, after this shite. Come on!"

The party returned to the Aetheryte Plaza in Limsa Lominsa and stepped aside to one of the nearby benches; Baatar flopped down into it, wrapping her tail around her waist as she sat, while Momolk simply plopped herself onto the ground.

"So, what is our plan?" Kanna asked. "I am quite hungry, and I am sure the rest of you are as well - but I am also tired. Shall we retire first? Or head straight to Baderon to inform him of Sevrin's...fate, as Staelwyrn asked?"

"I says we just get ourselves to Baderon - we can be eatin' an' gettin' this shite with Sevrin outta the way," Baatar groused.

"Aye," Momolk added, leaning back so that she could look up at the group. "Sooner we's done with Sevrin - the better. I don't have t'be botherin' 'bout him any longer."

"That suits me fine," Kanna noted, nodding. "Xomni'to?"

"Eh. I've no complaints," he replied, shrugging.

"Right, right, let's be movin', then." Baatar and the others teleported up to the Aftcastle and made their way over to Baderon's; by the time they were outside the Drowning Wench the sun was just beginning to set, and the tavern was starting to slowly fill with patrons.

"Oi, ye lot'r back?" Baderon shouted, waving the group over as he passed along a tray festooned with tankards to one of the miqo'te waitresses. "I heards you folks were proper 'venturers now, eh?"

"Aye, that'll be so," Baatar replied as the group approached the bar; Baderon passed her a cushion, which she placed on Momolk's stool as the lalafellin woman clambered up, and she remained standing as Momolk, Kanna and Xomni'to sat down. "Anyhows, I'll not waste yer time - Staelwyrn wants us t'be talkin' t'ye 'bout Sevrin."

"Sev? Ah, shite. Staelwyrn's talked 'bout the lad plenty-a-time 'fore now," Baderon sighed. "What's the bastard done this time, eh?"

"Turns out the man was an ex-Serpent Reaver," Kanna explained, nodding at Baderon's hiss of displeasure. "You're familiar, I figure?"

"Those cunts? Aye, I know'em," Baderon spat. "Pirates what spit on the Code - bastards, the lot've 'em. But I hasn't heard've their shite, not fer a while." He shrugged, shaking his head. "I figures they learned 'bout the Code all proper-like, or someone else bashed the thing into their skulls."

"Eh - no. Not quite," Xomni'to muttered. "They - well, according to Sevrin, anyhow - apparently the captain of the bunch, they've turned themselves oe'er to the Sahagin."

"What in the fuck? Gods damn, I thought the Reavers a bunch of fuckwits, aye, but I never thought they'd be servin' the fishbacks," Baderon said darkly.

"Right - so Sevrin, fine man that 'e'll be, he tried t'be runnin' from the group then," Baatar explained. "But they found 'im at the farm, they did, and they threatened him, sayin' Sev had t'be handin' either his mates oe'er - or hisself."

Baderon whistled, and nodded as he scratched at his beard. "So - so wot, Sevrin handed, or tried t'be handin' 'is mates oe'er?"

"He tried t'be, a' first," Momolk replied, "but once 'is Reaver crew showed 'e pulled 'is axe, told 'is mates t'be runnin' fer their lives."

"Grew a spine, aye. Late, though," Baatar hissed. "Stupid shite. If we was late - a minute less - Sev'd be dead and 'is mates taken. Arsehole shoulda talked t'the Maelstrom or summat. Anyhows, us goodly adventurers saved the man's arse, an' Sevrin done turned hisself in."

"Staelwyrn bid us talk to you," Kanna continued, "because he believes you might be able to lighten Sevrin's sentence - since, I imagine, he will probably be met with the noose or the firing line, at best."

"Fuckin' waste'a time, y'ask me," Baatar spat. "Fucker deserves whatever 'e gets, I thinks."

"Aye, aye, I ken," He sighed, grumbled something incoherent, then rubbed at his brow. "I'll see what I can be doin' - maybe I can be commutin' the sentence from a hangin' to a keelhaulin' or summat."

"Uh, I am no sailor," Kanna offered, "but...I was under the impression that keelhauling generally results in death by drowning."

"It were a joke," Baderon replied, raising an eyebrow.

"No joke," Baatar added. "Drown the bastard, for all I cares."

"Easy, sister - ye keeps talkin' like that, we'll think you'll do the thing yerself," Momolk said, patting Baatar on the arm.

"We all makes mistakes," Baderon muttered. "Aye, Sev's done a big shitestorm, he 'as - but, the man deserves a fair trial, at least, eh? Better, I thinks, that 'e pays Limsa back in the mines or summat. I'll see what can be done for the lad - ye don't need t'be worryin' 'bout such. Anyroads - that all? Maybe an early supper, or a drink to be takin' yer minds from this shite business?"

"We'll take supper, I think," Kanna replied. "I think the four of us are quite hungry."

"You lot have preference fer food? I don't think you fours, of all, needs a menu. Special t'day's beef stew."

The four looked at one another and shrugged; Baatar nodded at Baderon. "Stew fer all? Cool-beer, too, perhaps?"

"I'll fetch the thing, then." Baderon scribbled on a piece of parchment and brought it over to the hole in the wall behind him that connected the bar to the kitchen, then poured tankards of cool-beer for everyone. "You lot need anythin' else - ye lemme know, a'right?"

Baatar smiled as she set down her axe against the bar before she sat down. The group watched Baderon return to tending bar; nobody said anything for a moment, and they drank heavily from their tankards before Baatar broke the silence.

"So, uh, that - the golem," she muttered, staring into her tankard. "Did...did any've yous...see a vision then?"

"What, of the golem? No," Xomni'to replied, frowning. "Just Y'shtola."

"Wot? No, like - when the golem did the thing what shot the rocks at us," Baatar explained, concern spreading across her face. "How'd ye knows to be dodgin' the things?"

"Th'aether 'round the golem got all orange-y - real thick and fucky and such," Momolk answered, as Xomni'to nodded. "Figured that'd be a bad place t'be standin'. What, did ye not see such?"

"Hold on a moment. Now, I saw no such thing myself, but then again - Baatarsaikhan and I cannot see aether," Kanna mused, "Myself - I saw a, a ghost-like vision of the golem firing the rocks at us, before it happened, and was about to warn you when Baatar shouted to run. I assumed that was just my seerhood - or something akin to it." She frowned. "But - but if I received a vision of the golem's future actions, and you two," Kanna continued, nodding at the Molkohs, "were able to perceive the incoming danger as a shift in aether - then how did you know to run, Baatar?"

Baatar flinched, winced. "Uh...I saw meself dyin'." The three gawked at her; Baatar frowned and scratched at her horns uneasily. "I….I thought ye lot might've been seein' the same."

"You….you died? In your vision?" Kanna pressed, tone nervous. "How?"

"I, uh, I saws a vision of me not runnin' fast 'nuff from the golem's rock-bits. Watched the things hit me all bloody-like - and then I sees how far I had t'be runnin' so I wouldn't die," Baatar explained quietly. "It were...it were a little frightnin', t'be frank. But then I weren't havin' the vision, and I warned you lot so, y'know, we'd not be dyin'."

Nobody said anything for a moment.

"I...I have sometimes thought of my visions as a burden," Kanna whispered, shaking her head as her tail thumped uneasily on her stool, "but I have never had the...horror of seeing myself dead."

Baatar sighed, and drank some more beer. "Well, it saved me scales, eh? So I'd rather be seein' meself dead, than actually bein' so, ken?" With a long draw Baatar drained her tankard and set it down, wiping her mouth with the back of her gauntleted hand. "Ech. Let's...let's not be talkin' more 'bout this, aye? What I wants t'know is who this Y'shtola is, y'ask me."

"Aye - we all has those visions of her, no?" Momolk added, clearly excited to change the subject. "Both 'fore an' after the Calamity, eh? At what - what 'bout those pirates we saw? Somethin' 'bout servin' the Sahagin? The kobolds up north? The fuck's that 'bout?"

"Well, I would have have asked Y'shtola, but the second she took that linkpearl call she seemed to desire taking her leave rather urgently," Kanna groused. "And she very, very clearly knows more than she claims, or such. I dislike that she has failed, twice now, to inform us of goings-on."

"Oi, an' Xomni, ye looked like someone done a shit in yer boots when we was talkin' t'er," Baatar noted, nodding. "What were that 'bout?"

"I - hrm." Xomni'to ran a hand through his hair, as his ears twitched and his tail flicked back and forth. "For whatever reason, I find myself thinkin' that I've met this Y'shtola before - before Seasong Grotto."

"Well, Staelwyrn says that this woman studies aether around Limsa Lominsa, no?" Kanna replied. "I see no reason why it wouldn't be entirely possible that you've laid eyes upon her before."

"No, I mean-"

"-ah, shut it - food's 'ere," Momolk shouted, cutting Xomni'to off as one of the waitresses laid heaping, steaming bowls of rich beef stew on the table. She grabbed her spoon, picked up a chunk of meat and glared at the others. "Let's not be worryin' 'bout this shite while we can be eatin', fine?"

"Fine, fine, fine," Xomni'to answered. "But - nevermind."

"Just be eatin', brother," Baatar sighed, patting Xomni'to on the back. "We'll figure this frosty bitch out, no trouble."

Baatar was the first to finish her food; the others, hungry as they were, wolfed down their food in silence until, only a few minutes later, their bowls were empty. She watched Kanna take another swig from her tankard, paused, and frowned.

"Now holds on a minute, eh? Since when will you be drinkin' beer?" Baatar asked, pointing her spoon at Kanna. "I thoughts you said it'd be disagreein' with yer stomach or summat."

"Oh, no, this - well, I was going to say something, but Baderon had already left. And, besides, I figured that perhaps cool-beer might not upset my stomach as much as the ales I've tried," Kanna explained, her pale skin flushed. "So far, this seems quite alright - and, in truth, I quite enjoy the taste of cool-beer over ales, stouts and such."

"Ahhh, now there's a right relief. You can't be a proper Lominsan if ye don't drink beer," Baatar laughed. "Ye can be thankin' Momolk fer that, then!"

"Oho, well then," Kanna giggled, nodding at Momolk, "thanks, Miss Momolk! At last, I can truly say I live in your fine city."

"Aye, a good thing, too - any more orderin' of punch from Baderon without pineapples, an' yer likely to make the man mad," Momolk replied, grinning. "Well? We wants t'be leavin' now?"

"Y'know what, I wouldn't be mindin' another drink meself," Baatar said, shrugging. "Not that I's lookin' t'be rowdy or what - just...we's had a nice few days, and I think it'd be a right treat. On me, even!"

"Yes, that sounds quite nice, really - and perhaps I shall have another cool-beer," Kanna added.

"Oi, Baderon, another round, if ye please," Baatar shouted; the man nodded from further down the bartop, and returned not long after with another set of tankards.

"Thank you, Baderon," Kanna said as she took hers and watched Baderon return to dealing with the ever-increasingly crowded tavern. The group raised their tankards and drank; Kanna sighed loudly, and set hers down. "I must say, I think we have done quite well for ourselves in our first days of adventuring," she said, nodding vigorously. "I will confess that I thought we might not fare so well."

"Oi, wot, 'cause we weren't heroes or nothing'? I'm offended, I am," Baatar said with mock sorrow, a hand upon her chest.

"N-no! Not - that's not what I meant," Kanna sputtered, shaking her head. "Just that, well, none of us had any real experience with...you know, adventuring. What - I mean, I was a law-woman, and you three were sailors! I just am happily surprised. Don't - don't look at me like I'm mad," Kanna added, before taking another drink. "I'm not mad. It makes sense!"

"I suppose," Xomni'to replied, shrugging. "But it's not as though we were just a bunch of ah, how to say, gardeners, or something. You knew how to fight, and though we were sailors we trained to fight, too - not always are the waters 'round Eorzea safe, as you've learned."

"Oh - fine, never mind, then." Kanna chugged down most of her tankard and waved a hand in dismissal. "You get my point. I know it."

"Well, I'll say, it'll be a surprise t'me how much I likes the adventurin', y'know," Baatar admitted. "I thought it'd be more...stupid shite, an' such. Fetchin' fruits an' killin' pests, eh?"

"Most adventurers, they has to be doin' that," Momolk pointed out. "We gots lucky, since yer mum knows the Maelstrom - and she knows Baderon real good, too-"

"-oi, OI, stop that, I'm beggin' ye," Baatar wailed. "Bad 'nuff that I has to be lookin' at mum or Baderon knowin' - yech - anyhow - no. No more've that."

"I find it odd, Baatarsaikhan, that you disapprove of your mother finding happiness in a man," Xomni'to snorted, a tiny smile creeping across his mouth.

"Lookit, Baderon'll be, like, a whole ten years younger'an mum, firsts. Second - I mean - Twelve, it's Baderon," Baatar whispered, glancing up at Baderon, who was well out of earshot. "The man's a step or so 'way from bein' a pirate, t'say nothin' 'bout...whatever'n the hells he's got with Momodi, no?"

"That'll be their business, no?" Xomni'to countered. "They're adults, the lot've 'em - let'em do as they please."

"Aye, and 's'not like mum got up yer arse 'bout yer, ah, proclivities while we was at sea an' abroad," Momolk sniggered.

"Oh, goodness," Kanna chuckled, a hand over her mouth. "Proclivities. That sounds...scandalous."

"Hey, shut it, now, thank ye very much," Baatar hissed. "We agreed ye wouldn't be sayin' nothin' 'bout such!"

"Actually, as I recall, you said, ahem, 'not to be tellin' mum, since she'd have me scales fer decoratin',' if I have the way of it. Exact words, I'm sure've it," Xomni'to noted dryly. "Nothin' there 'bout Kanna."

Baatar opened her mouth, then shut it, expression growing uneasy. "Oi, I means it, don't be sayin' nothin'. Ah, ehe, like Baderon hisself says, we all makes mistakes, aye?"

"Ahh, I'll say no more, but that'll go on yer tab," Momolk said, grinning. "Heh - 'cept that Baatar's as fiery a woman in bed as she is with that-"

"-OI! I SAYS TO BE STOPPIN'!" Baatar shouted - loudly enough that Baderon looked up from his cashbox.

"Hey, there a problem?" Baderon said, walking over with a concerned look. "If there's trouble, take it outside - no repeats o' yer old behaviour, aye?"

"No, no, there'll be no trouble," Kanna replied after she finished her tankard. "Well - well except that, good sir, I seem to find myself out of drink again."

"Wait - wot? I hasn't even finished my second," Baatar noted, glancing into Kanna's empty tankard. "Hows you finish 'fore me?"

Kanna, skin flush and a relaxed, lopsided smile upon her face, simply beamed. "I - it would appear that I take to cool-beer better than you," she said happily.

"Won't that be a right surprise - I thoughts you weren't a beer-drinker," Baderon said, an eyebrow raised at Kanna.

"Ehe. Who knows! Maybe I can drink more cool-beer than Baatar here," Kanna replied, grinning.

"Bollocks, more like." Baatar drained her tankard and set it on the counter with a thud. "Another round, Baderon!"

Finishing their drinks, Xomni'to and Momolk both set their tankards down; Baderon collected all of the tankards, sent them sliding upon a tray into the kitchen and returned not long after with fresh drinks.

"A toast, then!" Kanna exclaimed. "To us!"

"Ah, come on, then, ye can't be just sayin' 'to us,' or summat," Momolk replied, shaking her head. "That'll have no glory to it. Ye has to mention our fine feats! Like, we killed a golem! And goobbues! And we...helped Staelwyrn, I s'pose?"

"To all of that, then," Kanna grumbled, shaking her tankard and spilling a little of her beer. "You ruined my toast!"

"Only if you thinks it that way. Don't be lettin' Momo piss y'off," Baatar snorted. "To us!"

The group drank, cheered slightly - and watched with amused surprise as Kanna did not, like the other three, set her drink down for several more seconds.

"Uh...ye don't drink often, do ye," Baatar asked.

"No, I don't," Kanna answered, wiping her mouth with the back of her robes. "Too busy, until now. Did you know," she continued, leaning forward with both hands on her stool, "that - that the Bismarck's staff - sometimes - sometimes they don't leave until midnight? Even later?"

"Huh. No, I didn't, actually," Xomni'to replied thoughtfully. "Cooking sounds rather tough, frankly."

"Tough? More than tough, I'll have you know! Oh - and the work isn't even the worst part. It's the customers - ohhhh, they're not all bad, but sometimes you get the ones who have to have everything. Just. So. And not even in the sensible use of the idea! If you're food's cold, we can fix that, no trouble - but, oh, no, Chef Minamoto, my stew hasn't enough pepper - we put the pepper shakers on the table for a reason! Oh, kami, my heart - oooooh, sometimes, sometimes I just want to go out there and pop them on the head with my pans," Kanna shouted, waving her hands in frustration - and swaying as soon as she took her hands from the stool. "Oh, goodness. Best to keep my hands upon my seat," Kanna muttered, putting one hand back and another upon her tankard.

"Hehe. Since when does Kanna, most refined and learned of our group, threaten men with a strike with a pan, of all things?" Xomni'to said, chuckling slightly. "Taking lessons from Oyuun?"

"Oh I can't even begin to imagine what sh - she puts up with," Kanna said, waving her tankard around. "Or Baderon! The restaurant's enough - bad enough - a tavern! Full of drunken louts and peop - people with no taste! At - at all! None!" With a heavy, long draw from her tankard, Kanna chugged down her drink once again and set it on the bar with enough force to rattle the other drinks.

"Uh….Kanna? Y'alright? Ye seem...upset," Baatar said slowly.

"Ups - ooh, no, not upset, just frustrated, very frustrated sometimes," Kanna muttered, swaying slightly despite her best efforts to keep herself still. "Before - before our adventuring there was liiiitle for me to do besides rest on my working days, and off - well, most weeks I had but a single day offff! So, of course," she explained, her speech slowing down, "well, I - I usually just liked to sleep on that day, or be calm, and there's not much space for a woman to vent those frustrationnns - I coouldn't be clocking a customer in the face with a pan, riight?"

"I think we might be switchin' yer drinks with water, now," Baatar said, doing her best not to break out laughing at the sight of Kanna - usually the picture of prim, graceful propriety - being drunk in public.

"N-nonsensse," Kanna stammered. "I am perfently fine, Baatarsaikhan."

"Yup. Yer done," Momolk sniggered. "We keep this up and sooner or later you'n'Baatar'll be payin' men to strip again."

"Oi, hold it, you did the thing, too," Baatar pointed out.

"Aye, but I ne'er did the thing again after Vesper," Momolk scoffed.

"Oi - point, point," Baatar conceded, scowling. "Anyroads! That'll be it, Kanna - ye have to be buildin' yer tolerance te drink, not jus'...doin' it."

"I - I'm fine! I don't - don't need - Baaderon!" Kanna shouted, looking for the man; he wasn't behind the bar, and only seconds after leaning over her shoulder to see if he was in the dining area Kanna yelped slightly as she toppled off her stool, hitting the ground with a loud thump.

A few patrons in the tavern laughed, but most simply continued on with their buisness while Baatar and Momolk began to roar with laughter - even eliciting a few chuckles from Xomni'to.

"Oh, oh, Twelve, if we could be showin' this moment again'n'again," Baatar howled. "Kanna? Y'alright?" she asked, hoping off her stool and kneeling besides Kanna - who was rubbing her backside and wincing.

"Ffffine," Kanna slurred. "Jus' fine. Ooooh, that hurt."

"A'right - enough laughin' - we needs t'be getting y'upstairs. What'll be yer room?"

Kanna attempted to get up on her own, nearly fell over again, then sighed as Baatar helped her shakily get to her feet. "F-four-twelve," she managed to say, fumbling around her pouches before pulling a small keyring out. "It's thhe silver one."

Baatar took the keys, then stepped back. "Can ye be walkin' straight, or does we have to be carryin' ye?"

"I can walk just - ah!" Taking a few steps, Kanna nearly tripped, just managing to steady herself, her tail wobbling back and forth. "Maaaaaybe not."

Baatar sniggered. "C'mere, Princess Kanna." With a grunt, Baatar hoisted the much shorter woman over her shoulders, ignoring Kanna's slurred protests, tossed her coinpurse at Momolk and shook her head. "Ye lot can be headin' back home if ye like, freshen up an' such. I'll carry Kanna up.

"Wot, ye don't wants more drink?" Momolk asked.

"Naw, not now, anyhows - plus, if I wants more, we's got plenty at home," Baatar replied.

"You want anything else for when you're home? Food, or the like?" Xomni'to asked.

"Eh - if Oyuun's made those pies or summat, sure? Otherwise - ye know, I'll eat whatever's there." With a jaunty wave, Momolk walked over to the waitress manning the cashier and settled the group's bill before she and Xomni'to took off - and with a hearty grin, made her way over to the entrance to the Mizzenmast Inn's long-term apartments, which stood to the right of the doors leading to the short-term rooms. Nudging the door open with her foot, Baatarsaikhan began carrying Kanna up the long, narrow, winding stairwell to the fourth floor. Kanna's complaints had begun to fade into incoherent ramblings at this point, and Baatar didn't even bother to hide her laughter.

"Ye know," Baatar said, snorting, "yer not as heavy as ye look."

"Hhheavy? I'm...very fit...for a cook," Kanna managed. "Did - your hair is very long, did you know that?"

"Yes," Baatar replied, laughing. "I'm aware that me hair's long. I see't every day when I checks the mirror."

"Yyyyou could pick a neww styling," Kanna mumbled. "Very un - unk - unkempt."

"That'll be the point, aye. I don't thinks 'bout it."

"Eheehehee, I - I bet - I betcha your hair - it's like grapes!"

"Kanna, I'd be givin' me left pinky to put ye words on record, I would," Baatar sighed as she came to the door on the fourth floor; she opened it, shaking her head. "You'll never be believin' me when I says this t'ye when yer sober."

"N-nooope! I - hic - I won't!" Kanna exclaimed proudly. "Not. A. Word!"

"Piss. A right shame, that'll be - hold up. Silver key, you says?" Baatar asked, coming to a stop in front of Kanna's room. "One sec - and here." Shifting Kanna slightly to better fish through the dozen or so keys dangling from the ring, Baatar unlocked the door and opened it; the apartment inside was fairly small, at least compared to the one that was shared between her family; there was a small combined kitchenette-living room by the front door with a few spots for seats, a door leading into a tiny bathroom which bore a toilet and shower, and a much smaller bedroom behind the living room, the door to which was open.

The apartment as a whole was sparsely decorated; a few paintings of the sea sat upon the walls, and nestled between two of the three chairs in the living room was a small altar that was foreign in design and shape to Baatar. Still, it was a cozy, lived-in-space, and Baatarsaikhan could not help but feel as though she were intruding slightly.

"Bbbeeeed," Kanna mumbled.

"Yes, ma'am." Baatar carried the squirming woman over to her bedroom; inside, there was a comfortable-looking bed covered in blankets, perhaps slightly smaller than what Baatar would have preferred, as well as a dressing-desk, a closet, and a well-stocked bookshelf full of books that Baatar didn't recognize. Two racks sat atop the bed, and as Baatar laid Kanna upon the bed the younger woman grumbled something and pointed up at the racks.

"Yer swords?" Baatar asked.

"Mmmmf," Kanna replied; with a great deal of frustration and effort Kanna managed to undo the metal band around her waist, passing it over to Baatar; she pulled the scabbards off the belt of the band, placed each in the rack above the bed, and set the band down on the desk.

"So?" Baatar asked, doing her best to not resume laughing as she watched Kanna squirm out of her robes without really using her arms like some sort o f worm. "Ye want water or summat?"

"Hrrrrmfhm," Kanna replied, her head stuck in her robes; Baatar helped pull them off, and set them on the desk with the band.

"Water. I ken," Baatar sniggered, heading over to the kitchenette; she found several metal mugs by the sink, filled one with water and brought it over to Kanna - who, in her underclothes and flopping about her blankets trying to make them comfortable, really did resemble a demented worm. She gazed up at Baatar with unfocused, bleary eyes, and managed to miss the mug by a solid distance on her first attempt to grab at it; Baatar pressed the mug into her hands, shaking her head.

"Easy. Ye drinks too fast, you'll hurl, and I's not here to clean yer puke up," Baatar cautioned.

Kanna - who was eying the water eagerly - drank slowly, stopping a few moments later to stare at Baatar.

Baatar stared back, an eye raised. "Uh…..y'alright?"

"You haf a loottta muuuscles," Kanna managed.

"Yes. Yes I do. I's a strong woman," Baatar replied, chuckling. "Yer a strong woman too, Kanna. Though...maybe ease up on the beer, next time, eh?"

"It was ffffun," Kanna mumbled. "A-ad-adventuring with you three."

"Well, I's glad ye thinks so. I has to be sayin', I thought it'd be the hells of a lot worse - but I'm glad I did the thing."

Kanna nodded as she sipped at her water, before her eyes brightened. "Are you hugnry? I'm reaaaaaly hungry."

"Ye just ate. Try summat tomorrow, maybe."

"Uuuugh." With another groan, Kanna returned to her water, finished it, then - before Baatar could take it - dropped it on the ground before dropping face-first into her pillow. Within moments she was snoring away peacefully, tail snaking back and forth lazily; Baatar chuckled to herself and covered her up with a blanket before patting Kanna on the back.

"Sleep tight, then," Baatar snorted; she made her way out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her; once she was back out in the hallway she locked the door and slid the key through the space between the door and the ground.

Not long after, Baatar returned home to find Momolk in the living room of the apartment, dressed in casual clothing and happily reading a book; Momolk waved as Baatar unlocked the door.

"Oh, yer back? How's our fine swordswoman farin'?" Momolk asked.

"Ah, she'll be fine. Once she were outta her robes an' in her bed - like that! She were fast asleep - took'er a minute, maybe less."

"Awww, no hot, steamy romance twixt the two've ye? No drunken confession?" Momolk teased. "The twos've you didn't do no serious talkin' 'bout yer futures or nothin'?"

Baatar snorted. "Naw - she could barely be puttin' words together - and I hads to be helpin' her get herself undressed, so shut it. Where's Xomni?" Baatar asked as she unslung her axe and unbuckled her belt, leaving it on the kitchen table.

"Out gettin' some drawin'-graphite," Momolk said, shrugging. "Somethin' 'bout wantin' to do some drawin', he says."

"Queer. He's never done drawin' or the like," Baatar noted, scratching her butt with her tail. "Anyhows - ye wants to be stayin' home or summat? I's thinkin' I could clean meself up, wash me stuff, relax a tad then we could go t'Uldah or the like."

"Oho, now there's a plan," Momolk agreed, nodding vigorously. "Go on, then - hurry yer bath up!"

Baatar grinned and set off for the baths, her axe's haft behind her head and her arms stretched around it, humming to herself as she set out to the bathroom.

7TH SUN OF THE FIRST ASTRAL MOON
YEAR 5 OF THE SEVENTH UMBRAL ERA
Limsa Lominsa

"Well I were going t'ask Baatar if she wanted t'be comin' long with us," Momolk muttered as she and Xomni'to - both fully dressed - stood before Baatarsaikhan - who was laying on her stomach in her bed, pillows firmly piled over her head, snoring loudly as the tip of her tail flicked lazily from where it poked out of the blankets. "But, uh, we's the day free, eh? We can be comin' back later if we needs her."

"Hrm. Perhaps we should let her sleep in, for once," Xomni'to replied. "Besides - if we're doing work at the Arcanists' Guild, I doubt Baatar'll be happy about the arrangement."

"Eh - likes I says. We needs her 'round for summat, we come back and I hits her with a broom like normal," Momolk replied.

"Should probably leave her a note, though," Xomni'to noted. "Ah - maybe we oughtta check in on Kanna?"

"Prolly fine, I wager," Momolk replied with a shrug.

"Come on - you could test out your latest cure, no?" Xomni'to noted.

"Ah - hrm. The last batch...that weren't so good," Momolk muttered sheepishly.

"Okay, but that time Baatar was drunk enough to be throwing up before she fell asleep," Xomni'to pointed out. "Frankly I'd wager she'd've been in poor shape, drink or no."

Momolk sighed, and scratched her head. "I s'pose. Just don't wanna be, y'know, makin' poor Kanna sick or nothin'."

"Ye don't have t'be givin' her the whole bottle or nothing."

"Works best that way, though. It'll be a right pain in th'arse to do records that way - everyone's drunk the whole bottle, otherwise."

"Everyone?" Xomni'to scoffed. "That'll be...T'thoruma, Baatar an' Arnar? Three's not a crowd."

"Oh, piss off. One day I'll make the thing work - you write that note and I'll see where I put the damn bottle in the kitchen."

So it was that, not long later, Momolk and Xomni'to made their way over to the Drowning Wench and ascended the stairway into the Mizzenmast Inn's apartments; they stopped in front of Kanna's room, and Xomni'to knocked gently on the door.

"Bollocks to this," Momolk sighed. "I bet ye she's not even up."

"Doubt it. She seems the sort who keeps a schedule," Xomni'to replied, shrugging. "Listen."

Momolk pressed her ear to the door and nodded in surprise as she heard someone stumbling towards the door; it opened a few moments later to reveal Kanna, her white-pink hair unstyled and messy, wearing a blanket around herself. Bleary, unfocused eyes flitted between the two, and Kanna sighed.

"Morning," she muttered. "What...what time is it?"

"Seven in the morning," Xomni'to offered. "And - good morning to you too. We just wanted to make sure you were okay - apologies if we woke you."

"Aye - how ye feelin', eh?" Momolk asked.

"Not...not particularly well, no, but I am not in any pain, either. Come on in, then." Kanna shuffled back into her apartment and gestured at the chairs in the living room. "Please, seat yourselves, if you would like - I have a kettle on and shall be making some tea."

"Oh, right!" Momolk reached into her satchel and pulled out a tall, thin vial; she passed it to Xomni'to, who set it on the kitchen counter. "Hangover cure - I was thinking it might help."

"C...cure? Will this be the same cure, Momolk, that Baatarsaikhan speaks of in hushed, dreaded whispers?" Kanna replied, expression amused. "If so, I hope you will find no offense in my wanting to stay well clear of it."

"Well, you don't have t'be drinkin' it. But I has done some refinin'," Momolk said with a shrug.

"Perhaps I shall take a little bit of it, then," Kanna muttered, eying the vial suspiciously. "A moment - I shall return after I am more proper."

Momolk and Xomni'to watched Kanna disappear into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her; the two looked at one another and shrugged as they sat down on the chairs in the living-room.

"Oi, Kanna," Momolk shouted, "yer place is pretty small, eh?"

"It serves me well," Kanna replied, her voice muffled through the door. "What few possessions I have fit here easily, and in truth I do not think that a mere upgrade in size for an apartment would suit my needs."

"Really?" Xomni'to replied. "What, you don't want more space? I thought you were lookin' for a place to be movin' to."

"Yes - I desire somewhere with a garden, or balcony of some sort," Kanna said; she reappeared, dressed now in a set of simple robes as she ran her hands through her hair. "I have little need for more space indoors,"

"If ye don't mind me askin', hows yer gil? I'd like to be thinkin' we're friends enough to be knowin' so," Momolk asked.

"More than well, really. I spend very little of my money, you know." Kanna shrugged as she took the kettle from the stove and set it aside on the counter, filling a teapot and fetching three mugs. "I'd like a house, I think. A nice, large garden to work in. Flowers to cultivate and plants to grow. That would be nice."

"Might be tough," Xomni'to muttered. "Unless you want to be buildin' a place, there's not much land left for housing like you want, not any more."

"Weren't the Maelstrom workin' on getting some space in Lower La Noscea set up fer houses or summat?" Momolk offered, scratching her head. "Swore I read so in the papers a while back."

"Yes, that is the case - the Admiral herself said as much," Kanna answered, expression inquisitive as she picked up the vial of blue-green liquid from the counter. She popped the cork and sniffed at it, a frown spreading across her face. "Smells...strange. Momolk, what exactly is in this?"

"That'll be a secret. And 'sides, if I told everyone what were in it, that might be colourin' yer reaction," Momolk replied proudly.

"If it is alright, I will just have a sip and see about that before drinking the rest."

"Eh, fine by me," Momolk sighed as she pulled a notepad and graphite from her satchel. She watched eagerly as Kanna took a small drink from the vial, eyes widening as Kanna's expression turned sour.

"That," Kanna muttered, re-corking the vial, "might truly be the vilest thing I have ever consumed in my life. The initial taste is like mint, not unpleasant, no - but then the flavour turns to...I can only describe it as spoiled custard."

"And? How d'ye feel? Less hungover?"

"I….no, not particularly. In fact, my stomach feels a little upset. Not much, but whatever this concoction is I don't think it works."

"Ah, ye gotta wait, maybe."

"Fair enough," Kanna said, taking one of the mugs by the teapot and filling it with water from the sink. "I will not be drinking any more of that...elixir of yours," she added, tossing the vial back to Momolk.

"Shame. So? Ye got plans fer today?" Momolk asked, tucking the vial back into her satchel.

"Well, no, not particularly, Most of my plans more or less revolve around following you two and Baatarsaikhan," Kanna pointed out with a dry smile. "That is why I came to Eorzea, you know. Where is she, anyway? Asleep, I presume?"

"It's only seven in the morning," Xomni'to snorted. "Unless there's something important going on - and even then, depending - getting Baatar up before noon generally requires a great deal of effort."

"Or a broom," Momolk added, tapping her head. "Aye, I thought it out - first, ye poke her in the sides with a broom-stick, and that'll usually get 'er up real quick-like. Otherwise, ye switch ends. It'll be the bristles, see - she don't like that on 'er face."

Kanna laughed lightly, shaking her head. "You know, my visions portrayed a bunch of heroic looking adventurers - not once was I shown you, Momolk, sweeping Baatarsaikhan's face with a broom to get her out of bed."

"Full glad 'm I that you didn't see such," Xomni'to added, chuckling. "See that, and I'd wager you'd not have come to Eorzea at all."

"Will the two of you take tea with me?" Kanna asked.

"Sure. Ye got milks an' sugar?"

"I do, Momolk - I'll fetch some for you." Kanna poured tea from the pot into each of the mugs and brought them over to the tiny seating area in front of the kitchenette, before taking a spoon and sugar-box from her drawers, and a small pot of milk out of her icebox, setting both down in front of Momolk. Watching the lalafellin woman fill her half-full mug all the way to the top with milk, then mix in several heaping spoonfuls of sugar, Kanna shook her head and sighed.

"If you wanted sugared milk, Momolk, I could have whipped some up for you," Kanna said, grinning as Momolk - scowling - mixed her drink.

"You - not a word, Xomni! I'll take my teas how I like, damn ye, Kanna. I like me drinks sweet. How'll that be a problem?"

"Ha! It's not a problem - personally you can enjoy the drink as you like, in my opinion. But, ah, plenty of my old colleagues back at the Bismarck have much stronger opinions on the matter," Kanna explained in between sips of her tea. "Order any of the fancier teas - or coffees - at the Bismarck and adulterate your drink like so and I guarantee there will be unkind whispers about your tastes within the kitchen."

"Bollocks, more like. I pays for the drink, I can be doin' as I like with't," Momolk muttered darkly. "If I wants t'be puttin' the shite into soup, that'll be my choice."

"I enjoy how upset this makes you," Xomni'to noted. "Of all the things you take a stand upon, your sweet tooth might very well be the most amusing."

"Piss off." Momolk took another swig of her tea then rolled her eyes. "Anyroads - we'll be headed to our guild today, see if there's not work we can be doin' - ye wanna come?"

"I don't see why not," Kanna replied with a shrug. "If, of course, your Guildmaster will not mind my being there?"

"No, she'll not mind - having extra help, especially if we're doing fieldwork, means less worrying on her part," Xomni'to explained.

"Very well, then." Kanna finished her tea with several long swigs and set her mug down, getting up and nodding. "If you will allow me a bit of time to shower and make myself ready to go out, I will be happy to accompany you."

Several minutes later, Kanna emerged from the bathroom wearing her black fighting-robes, her white, pink-tipped hair carefully worked into its usual two-tailed styling.

"So," Kanna said, heading into her bedroom and returning with her metal waist-belt and her swords, "to your guild, then?"

"Aye, that'll be the plan," Momolk confirmed as Kanna put on her belt on and slid her scabbards into their holsters. "Come on, then, let's be going."

The Molkohs left the apartment first, Kanna following behind; she locked the door as she left, and the group made their way out of the Mizzenmast, passed through the Drowning Wench and walked to the aetheryte station in the Aftcastle. A quick teleport later, the group arrived outside the Arcanists' Guild, and entered to find the guild's lobby full of cargo inspectors and arcanists working at the desks. Murie, the guild's hyuran receptionist, waved at the Molkohs, regarding Kanna with interest.

"Momolk, Xomni'to - a fine morning to you," Murie said, shouting to be heard over the din of the other conversations going on. "Who's that with you?"

"This'll be Kanna Minamoto," Momolk said as the group walked over to Murie's desk. "Works at the Bismarck, does th'adventurin' with us."

"Ah - a pleasure to meet you then, Miss Minamoto. Murie Turner, at your service," the black-haired woman said with a small bow.

"The pleasure is mine," Kanna said, smiling as she took in the guild around her. "I must say - I was aware that this was both a guild of magic and cargo inspection - but I do not think I ever quite grasped how...busy, things are here."

"Magic and customs both require papercraft," Murie replied with a smirk. "Lots of it, in the latter case. Anyhow - Xomni, Momo, I gather you're here to see the guildmaster?"

"What, is he actually in for once?" Xomni'to answered, a brow raised.

"What? Oh, no, of course not," Murie replied with a sigh. "It's just Thubyrgeim - trust me, if K'rhid actually deigned to grace the guild with his presence the celebrations would be loud enough to shake the damn city."

"Wait," Kanna interjected. "Does the guildmaster not… you know, run the guild?"

"Nope," Momolk replied, shrugging. "I's seen the man once in me life, frankly. He'll be more concerned with roaming the lands an' shite - he wanders the realm doin'... stuff."

"Stuff," Kanna echoed, expression confused.

"Researching natural manifestations of arcane geometries, I think was the way he put it last time he was here," Murie pointed out. "Anyway - Guildmaster Guldweitzwyn is in the back of the library running some tests, if you want to see her."

"If she's busy, you need not bother her," Xomni'to noted. "We were just wondering if there was any work we could help with."

"Oh - oh! Yes, there's plenty of work available. Give me a moment to check my books," Murie said, leafing through one of the massive tomes on her desk. "Ah - here! K'lyhia actually needs an armed escort; she's looking into a group of goblins suspected of dealing in black market goods later today."

"Ah, that sounds perfect. We haven't worked with K'lyhia in a while," Xomni'to said, nodding. "Where is she?"

"Downstairs - last I heard she was hanging around one of the training pits."

With a wave, the group left the reception desk and walked down the main stairwell which sat to the right of the guild's entrance and descended into the training area; Kanna took in the sight of the dozens of arcanists summoning familiars and casting spells with obvious, wide-eyed interest.

"Arcanima catch your fancy, hmm?" Xomni'to asked, smiling slightly.

"Honestly, as someone who knows little about the actual mechanics behind your magistry," Kanna replied as the group arrived at the bottom of the stairs, "I cannot help but find the idea of learning more about all… all this, quite fascinating."

"You've magic in Hingashi, no?" Momolk frowned, and crossed her arms.

"Indeed, yes, - fūsui- geomancy would be the closest Eorzean term, I believe," Kanna answered. "But, having tried my hand at it, I find I have no talent whatsoever at it."

"Talent's got nothin' t'do with't," Momolk replied sourly. "Fer thaumaturgy 'n conjury, sure. Same fer advanced arcanima - but the basics, anyfolk can be doin'. Yer no Garlean, so aether'll be no problem for ye - maybe ye might not be usin' complex arrays or the like, but even Baatar can fumble 'er way through a Physick array."

"Perhaps I could give it a try," Kanna mused, "when we have some spare time. I suppose it would not hurt to take a shot at it, anyhow."

"Aye, sounds like a plan," Xomni'to added, scanning each of the training areas until he paused and nodded. "Ah - there we go. Come on - let's not keep K'lyhia waiting." He set off, Momolk and Kanna following behind, as he walked over to one of the training pits at the far end of the basement; a young, lavender-haired miqo'te woman clad in blue robes and sporting a hefty set of spectacles was sitting on the floor of the pit, a small mountain of parchments set out before her.

"K'lyhia," Xomni'to said, waving as they approached. "You need an escort for work today?"

K'lyhia looked up from her papers, expression flat as she took in the trio walking towards her. She muttered to herself for several moments, then got to her feet, meeting the group outside the pit itself.

"Xomni'to, Momolk, a pleasure to meet you once again," she said in a cheerful tone. "I am afraid I find myself unaware of your personage, ma'am," she added, her tone growing stiff as she offered a hand to Kanna. "K'lyhia Yudah, at your service.

"Kanna Minamoto," Kanna replied, shaking her hand. "I worked at the Bismarck, though at the moment I am something of a… wandering adventurer of sorts, in the company of Xomni'to, Momolk and their sister Baatarsaikhan."

K'lyhia shook Kanna's hand for a little longer than Kanna was comfortable with before retracting her hand and examining the group for several seconds in silence.

"Everthin' a'right?" Momolk asked. "Somethin' on me face?"

"There is nothing on your face," K'lyhia replied, expression confused.

"Joke, K'lyhia."

"Ah." K'lyhia sighed, and shook her head. "I find that, not being in your regular company, my ability to discern when you are being serious and when you speak in jest has diminished somewhat. In any case - yes, I do require an armed escort."

"What's the job? Can't be a routine inspection," Xomni'to noted, "if you'll be wanting some swords at your side."

"No, not a routine inspection," K'lyhia confirmed, nodding as she flipped her grimoire open and began analyzing a page. "There is a goblin family of merchants who call themselves the Boilstox; they are suspected of dealing in contraband goods. By even the most basic of inferences I deduced that the chances of such being true are well above ninety percent - and the likelihood of there being a violent response to my goal of seizing any contraband being even more likely. Given that my arcanima is less than suited to defeating multiple attackers, I decided that it would be best to enlist the help of an armed escort, so that our collective combat capabilities might surpass theirs."

"Fair 'nuff. D'ye want t'be goin' now?" Momolk asked.

"Sooner, rather than later, yes. The Boilstox are currently being held up outside of the city, but the odds mount by the bell that they could easily slip past the posted guards at Zephyr Gate at any time, frankly," K'lyhia replied, clear distaste creeping into her voice. "Thanks to the damages wrought by the cataclysmic force of the Calamity, Limsa Lominsa's security net has more holes in it than Iyrntoum's Twenty-Six Treatises when faced with scrutiny."

"Really? I can see a handful of Goblins being able to sneak into the city, certainly, but with their cargo in tow?" Kanna asked, frowning. "Is that really the case?"

"Yes, they-!" K'lyhia started to speak, but she suddenly halted mid-sentence, her expression furrowing in thought before she continued at a far slower pace, prior emotion draining from her face and tone. "Assuming that the Boilstox already have buyers waiting for them in the city, it is a simple matter of having their contacts ready and waiting at their point of entry to disappear with the goods," she explained dryly. "Once contraband is actually within the city limits, finding it becomes nigh-impossible - thus the importance of moving swiftly to ensure said goods do not enter the city in the first place."

Kanna blinked in shock at the sudden change in the miqo'te's countenance, but the Molkohs ignored it utterly, with Momolk forging right on. "Alright, fair enough. Should we be fetching Baatarsaikhan, then? If there's skulls to be crackin', she'll be the best one for it, no?"

"An additional ally would contribute greatly to our combat readiness and overall efficacy," K'lyhia agreed. "If one of you wishes to fetch her, the rest of us will wait by the Zephyr Gate and prepare to intercept and inspect the Boilstox."

"I'll go," Momolk offered. "I's the best at wakin' the lazy shite up, anyhow."

"If it is alright, I would like to come as well," Kanna added hastily.

"Very well. Xomni'to and I will meet you at the Zephyr Gate in - in half a bell's time. I assume that will be sufficient time to wake Baatarsaikhan?"

"It'll be so," Momolk replied, smirking. "I'll make sure've't. Come on, Kanna - let's be goin'."

With a nod and a wave Kanna followed Momolk as the lalafellin woman bounded up the stairs, and once the two were outside they walked over to the aetheryte shard outside the guild and teleported over to the Fishermans' Guild. Once they re-materialized, the pair began to walk back towards Terbish's clinic in silence. They were about halfway there when Momolk heaved a weary sigh and started massaging the bridge of her nose.

"I know, I know. You'll be wantin' t'ask 'bout what's wrong with the lass, or summat, eh?" Momolk grumbled.

"Well - well I would not have put it that way, necessarily," Kanna hedged uncomfortably.

"Well I would, and I am. Fact is, there's something wrong with the lass, I just dunno what, specifically, anyhow." Momolk replied, sighing. "Just - she'll just be a queer person, I think. Not mean, or nothin' - she won't be meanin' harm t'ye. K'lhyia's just not, well..." the lalafell waved her hands helplessly for a second before pointing at Kanna's sword. "Look, y'ever find yerself needing t'simplify what yer sayin' whenever you're talking' 'bout yer bladework or somesuch?"

"I suppose?"

"Well from what Xomni'n'I have gathered, that's what K'lyhia has t'be doin' whenever she talks t'anyone who isn't an arcanist, or is even an ilm less intelligent than she'll be." Momolk shook her head sadly. "K'lyhia's brilliant, Navigator bless her, but her whole life is literally naught but arcanima. The only way she can be talkin' all normal-like with other folks is if she thinks real hard 'bout it, pickin' her words to guarantee that y'understand."

Kanna paused in the middle of the street, lost in thought for a moment, before shrugging. "I cannot say I really follow. Not precisely, anyhow. But - I get the gist of it, I think. I shall be sure to keep your words in mind." She sighed, and followed after Momolk as they arrived outside Terbish's clinic - empty, with a sign noting that he was out of the city for the day. "In any case - for some reason I cannot imagine that Baatar gets along well with K'ylhia."

"There's a fuckin' understatement," Momolk muttered as she pulled her keyring from her tunic and unlocked the door using the second set of handles and locks closer to the ground. "They're...let's just be sayin' Baatar puts up with K'ylhia, and that's after a long, long time between the two've 'em. We thinks she just don't understand that K'lyhia doesn't talk down to her to make fun've 'er, but 'cause it's the only way she can talk, ken?"

"I understand, yes. All this being said, I cannot help but feel like today might be… ah, messy. In both interpretations of the word."

Momolk shrugged, and pushed her way into the clinic. "Fun that way, y'ask me."

Upstairs in their apartment, Kanna followed Momolk into the bedroom she shared with Xomni'to and Baatar; Baatar was still fast asleep beneath a mountain of pillows and rolled up in her blankets, snoring loudly and her tail swishing from where it poked out.

"OI! HORNFACE! WAKE UP!" Momolk shouted at the top her lungs. "Sun's up, ye shite!"

Baatar' snore ceased for a split second and her tail stopped moving - but only for a moment, and soon enough she was snoring once again.

"I shall fetch a broom," Kanna sighed in resignation.

"No need," Momolk said, reaching beneath her low-slung bed and pulling a long broomstick out. With an audible grunt she hefted the broom up and prodded Baatar in the stomach, hard enough that Baatar shook herself awake.

"Fuckin' - enough! Enough with the brooms!" Baatar shouted, easing herself into a sitting position, the mountain of pillows piled atop her head falling around her. "Twelve! I'm awake!"

"Shame," Momolk groused, tossing the broom back under her bed. "Didn't even get t'do the brushin' on yer face t'show Kanna."

"Kanna?" Baatar mumbled, rubbing at her eyes. "Oh - OH! Uh, hehe, mornin' t'ya, Kanna," Baatar said, scratching her head sheepishly as Kanna smiled and nodded in return. "How're ye feelin'?"

"Quite well, as a matter of fact. Thank you for, ah, escorting me to my room last night," Kanna said, rubbing at her horns. "I appreciate it."

"No trouble. Anyhow - what's this 'bout showin' things t'Kanna, eh?" Baatar asked, stifling a yawn.

"Oh - I was tellin' her how the fastest way t'be gettin' y'up is t'be brushin' yer face with the broom," Momolk explained eagerly.

"Piss off," Baatar spat as she stretched and got out of bed. "Touch me face with that shite and I'll boot y'outta the window."

"Does it work, though?" Kanna asked, giggling. "I imagine it must, if it elicits that strong a reaction."

"Hey, you try havin' broom-bristles on yer face," Baatar muttered, shuddering as she eyed the pair in front of her.

"Could switch't up, eh? Next time," Momolk offered with a smirk, "I'll have me Carbuncle do a jig on yer face."

"Boot - in - your - arse," Baatar ground out. "What's with the garb, anyhow? We doin' work?"

"Yes, actually. Xomni'to and Momolk's guildmate K'ylhia requested our assistance with an inspection, as a matter of fact," Kanna explained.

"Fuckin' - alright, fine, fine. Gimme a second to kit meself up an' I"ll join yer lil' party," Baatar groaned.

"Ye sure?" Momolk asked. "Ye don't have t'be doin' it."

"Naw, naw, it'll be fine. Jus' - you know the two've us don't quite ken another." With another sigh, Baatar began digging through her drawers, retrieving a simple tunic and pants and laying them out on the bed. "Anyroads - what kind've inspectin' are we doin' that needs guns and swords, eh?"

"Boilstox? Name ring any bells?" Momolk offered.

"Aye, I know't," Baatar replied as she stripped out of her pajamas and into fresh clothes. "Wyrnzoen mentioned the name, I thinks. Buncha goblin-folk what sell black-market shite, no?"

"Summat like so," Momolk replied, nodding. "K'hylia said they're being held up outside the city, and that we'll be there as muscle 'case things the Boilstox don't take kindly t'us seizing their contraband."

"Which, according to K'lyhia, seems likely. She says the chances of an altercation happening are above ninety percent," Kanna added. "How she came to a numeric figure, I cannot say, but evidently she is trusted enough to be a Foreseer for the guild."

"Naw, if she has the numbers, she'll prolly have the right'a things," Baatar replied sourly as she tossed her pajamas onto her unkempt bed and began strapping on her armour. "Best we be there, really - I'll be happy t'be helpin'. But if there's paperwork or forms or summat, I's not helping ye fill that shite in, y'hear?"

"Prolly you'd fuck it up anyhows," Momolk scoffed.

"Aye. Paperwork," Baatar repeated distastefully. "What a load'a shite."

"A necessary evil," Kanna offered. "And I imagine with all the goods going in and out of Limsa Lominsa, the city finds itself in need of capable scribes, accountants and the like."

Baatar shrugged with casual indifference; soon enough she had finished putting on her gear, and after holstering her sawn-off shot-guns and slinging her axe around her shoulders she gave her chestplate and various pouches a pat-check before nodding; Momolk and Kanna were out of the bedroom when Baatar paused by the door, where Xomni'to's desk was. A small pile of parchments, as well as various inkpots, quills and drawing-graphite sat in orderly rows upon the desk; the parchments all bore various sketches of a miqo'te who Baatar thought looked very much like Y'shtola, though she wasn't certain.

"Oi, you comin' or not?" Momolk shouted from the kitchen.

"A'right, gimme a second! Where we meetin' Xomni'n K'ylhia?" Baatar asked as the group left the aparment.

"Zephyr Gate," Momolk replied; she checked one of the wall-mounted chronometers - which read half-past ten in the morning - as they descended the stairs and hummed contentedly to herself. "On time, too. I said we'd be takin' half a bell, thinkin' we'd be havin' t'do the works to get y'up, what with it not being noon anyhow."

"Do you really sleep in until noon when you have days off?" Kanna asked, expression and tone bewildered.

"I do me best," Baatar replied proudly. "Sleep's good for the body, so I hear."

Momolk, Kanna and Baatarsaikhan found K'lyhia and Xomni'to standing against a wall to the side of Zephyr Gate and the bridge beyond, chatting to each other; Xomni'to was the one who noticed the group coming, and waved them over. K'lyhia nodded at Momolk and Kanna, then paused before doing the same to Baatar.

"Baatarsaikhan," K'lyhia said slowly, tone neutral and expression flat.

"K'lyhia," Baatar replied, sighing. "Fine day t'ye."

"Yes, it is quite nice today. I assume Momolk filled you in on the details?" K'lyhia asked, eyes searching Baatar's face.

"Aye, she did. I assume you, Xomni 'n Momolk'll be doin' the talkin', while me 'n Kanna stand lookin' all tough-like?"

"That is correct," K'lyhia replied, nodding eagerly. "Ideally, the two of you will be positioned to ensure that none of the Boilstox family is capable of escaping, at least at first. Once we have encircled the group and hemmed them in, you and Kanna will shift your positions to draw enemy attention onto yourselves, while Momolk, Xomni'to and I alternate between carrying out healing duties and prioritizing the elimination of immediate threats via focused direct-action spells."

"Hem? Shite, how big's this family, eh? I know goblins pump out more've their own kin all quick-like, but still," Baatar groused.

"Well - the family itself, as far as I am aware, numbers roughly one dozen. Of course," K'lyhia continued, "this does not preclude the very real possibility - I would wager far above seventy-five percent - that the 'Boilstox' name extends to other goblins working in the family's employ, whether as escorts, smugglers, or the like. We should, thus, be prepared to deal with a rather large number of potential foes."

"Ahh, shite. Well, we can scope the goblins out, prep ambush positions or summat," Momolk offered. "Come on, then - ye can be takin' us to where they are, K'lyhia."

The group then set out, crossing the long bridge towards the mainland of Middle La Noscea, making way occasionally for the odd chocobo-wagon heading out of town. Soon enough, with the midday sun overhead, the group arrived at the far end of the bridge and walked over to one of the Yellowjacket guards manning a checkpoint on the incoming-traffic side of the bridge.

"Ho there, Foreseer," the guard - a well-built lalafellin man with a bushy beard - said, waving at the group. "This your escort?"

"Yes, guardsman," K'lyhia replied, pointing towards a nearby grassy hill. "I was informed that the Boilstox were told to remain within view of the bridge?"

"Aye," the guard answered, scowling. "Buggers fecked off behind the hill - guards on the other side' o the way 'round the Skylift, they say they're just hanging 'round the Cookpot, last they checked."

"So our goblin friends have simply...gone around the hill to remain out of sight, and away from the city's entrance?" Kanna asked. "In the absence of other knowledge, I find that worrying."

"You'n me both, lady. You lot be careful, ken?"

"We will, guardsman. Thank you." With a curt nod K'lyhia led the group a little further down the main road, and frowned, brow furrowing in thought.

"Well this'll be a load'a piss," Baatar grumbled. "Why'd they run 'round the hill, but not all the way t'the Skylift? Why run if they's not escapin'?"

"That, Baatarsaikhan, is an excellent question - and a source of worry indeed. Perhaps it would be best if one of us were to go far to the east and swing around the goblins, with the goal of laying sight upon them by a spyglass?" K'lyhia's eyes flitted back and forth between the others for several moments before she pulled a collapsing spyglass from her satchel and handed it to Kanna.

"Very well - I shall return forthwith," Kanna said as she took the spyglass and took off into the distance. She returned a few minutes later, frowning.

"So?" Xomni'to asked, expression inquisitive. "What are they up to?"

"Nothing," Kanna replied, perplexed. "There's - there's twenty of them, all just - just sitting around their crates. In fact, the group isn't doing anything, as far as I can tell." She handed the spyglass back to K'lyhia, and nodded. "Armaments-wise - daggers, mostly, though I am certain the group has no shortage of grenades in stock."

"Hmm. Well, I don't think this'll be changin' our strategy," Xomni'to pointed out. "I think our best bet's still to hem the group in and be ready for a fight."

"Fine by me," Baatar said, shrugging. "Let's not be keepin' our friends waitin' then, eh?"

Leading the way forward, Baatar and the others crossed the bridge over the Rogue River and crept up to the banks of the Agelyss; as they approached the water, Baatar hissed at the others and motioned for them to lay down in a large patch of tall grass.

"There," Baatar muttered, pointing across the river; there, hanging around the corner of a semi-circular rock formation that had picked up the nickname of the 'Cookpot,' were the Boilstox goblins. The small crowd of squat, masked creatures were sitting around their piles of goods, chattering amongst themselves excitedly - and unaware of the group spying on them. "How you wanna do this, eh?"

"We do not want the goblins to run at our approach," K'lyhia murmured. "Allow Xomni'to, Momolk and I to approach the group; we will do so with barriers drawn, but our Carbuncles unsummoned. If all goes well - all goes well. Otherwise, I am nearly a hundred percent certain that the goblins will attempt to flee - at which point, you and Kanna may present yourselves, while we finish summoning our Carbuncles."

"I assume that we should, if possible, avoid killing the Boilstox?" Kanna asked.

"If possible." K'lyhia shrugged slightly, the grass around her rustling. "Injuries - severe injuries, even, can always be healed. Of course, if you must deliver a lethal blow in self-defence, there will be no punishment - but you will have to fill out quite a bit more paperwork."

"A fate worse than death itself," Momolk added dryly. "Ready?"

"Aye. Kanna'n'I, we'll take our leave - give us a minute," Baatar said, nodding.

Baatar and Kanna both got to their feet and scurried off into the distance, each headed to one side of the area the goblins had set up their makeshift encampment. In short order both were in position - visible to K'lyhia, Xomni'to, and Momolk, but still out of view of the goblins. Baatar waved with one hand, a sawn-off blunderbuss in her other, and the three got to their feet, each drawing their tomes and flipping them open to earmarked pages at the front of each book.

"Barriers," K'lyhia said, filling in the mostly-completed array before her with her quill. Momolk and Xomni'to did the same, and three sets of blue-white hexagonal barriers popped into view around them for a moment before fading away.

"Done. You'll do the talking?" Xomni'to asked.

"Yes. Let us begin, then." K'lyhia led the trio forward; the goblins, oddly enough, failed to notice them until they were no more than fifty paces away. One of the squat creatures by the edge of the group scrambled to its feet and began shrieking in goblin-tongue; soon the entire camp was up and eying their new visitors with visible wariness.

"Ho there! Would you merchants happen to be the Boilstox family of traders?" K'ylhia shouted, waving at the group.

The goblins traded weary glances for a long, uneasy moment until the one who'd spotted them originally stepped forward, stopping just out of reach of K'lyhia. It looked up at her, arms crossed, silent save for the heavy, muffled noises of its breath from beneath its gas mask.

"Once again, I ask if you merchants represent the Boilstox," K'lyhia repeated, this time more forcefully.

"Pshhh - shkohhh - yes, Shiftox Boilstox hears uplander woman's loudtalks," the golin said, its voice raspy and nasally. "Pshhh - shkohhh - Boilstox, that is these gobbies. Why?"

"Wonderful. My companions and I," K'lyhia continued, gesturing at her party "are here on behalf of the Lominsan Port Authority. The Boilstox merchant group is suspected of dealing in contraband - and furthermore, upon receiving instructions to remain within view outside the Zephyr Gate, your group disobeyed and moved here."

Shiftox shifted uneasily, but made no comment.

"In any case, if you wish to continue trading within Lominsan territory, and remain in the good graces of the Admiralty, you will submit to a thorough search of your goods," K'lyhia said, pointing at the small pile of wooden crates in the middle of the goblin encampment.

"Why?" Shiftox sputtered.

"Because the Boilstox are suspected of dealing in illegal goods," K'lyhia replied, tone matter-of-fact.

"Boilstox saleitems are all goodlaw. No - pshhh - shkohhh - nothing, ill-e-gal," Shiftox stammered, stumbling over the last word. "Uplanders tongueflap falsespeak! Dirty good Boilstox name!"

"The word you're looking for is 'besmirch', and the Boilstox have no good name in our city," Xomni'to deadpanned. "If they did, we wouldn't be here in the first place, would we?"

Shiftox said nothing, sparing (what Xomni'to assumed) was a withering glance in his direction as the labored breathing from her mask accelerated.

"In any case, since, as you've noted, Shiftox, all of your goods are perfectly legal, our inspection will take no time at all, and you have no reason to worry about our inspection - we shall carry it out, and you will be on your way as though there was no problem to begin with." K'lyhia took a step forward, and nodded. "Shall we?"

Shiftox looked at K'lyhia, then back at her companions, then at her surroundings-

"-RUN!" Shiftox shouted, slipping and scrambling back towards the pile of crates; the goblins began grabbing the crates by their straps and attempted to escape from the area when, with a mighty crack-thoom, Baatar fired one of her guns in the air. At the same moment, Kanna emerged from her hiding spot around the corner of the Cookpot, completing the group's loose semi-circle which now hemmed the goblins in. Wasting no time, the three arcanists stepped backwards and completed their summoning arrays - and with three whirls of light and aether, three Carbuncles joined the group: the blue shine of Xomni'to and K'lyhia's emerald-borne familiars, and the yellow of Momolk's topaz-based construct.

"Throw yer knives and yer grenades down, and we won't have t'hurt any've ye," Momolk shouted, picatrix opened to a Miasma array. "Resist, and we'll fill yer masks with yer liquified innards before ye can even twitch towards yer weapons."

"Twenty gobbies - pshhh - five uplanders - shkohhh - and many boomsticks! No trouble!" Shiftox shouted back. "Attack!"

The camp remained still.

"Any've you shites so much as touch a grenade, I shoot," Baatar spat, training her blunderbuss on Shiftox. "Ye like lead? I've plenty of't."

Three of the goblins near the back of the camp threw their daggers down and undid their belts, letting them drop to the grass before raising their hands in the air.

"You three - turn yourselves in at Zephyr Gate, or there will be a great deal of pain in your futures," Kanna said, tone icy. She watched them scamper off into the distance towards Limsa Lominsa, then returned her gaze to the others, hand never leaving her sword.

"Nobody else wishes to surrender?" K'lyhia asked. "I assure you - you will be treated far more kindly by the Lominsan authorities if you simply surrender, as your fellows already have."

Another two goblins threw their weapons away and scurried off to join their fellows.

"Pshhh - fifteen gobbies, five uplanders, still - shkohhh - many boomsticks! Attack! Attack!" Shiftox shrieked, drawing a dagger and grabbing a grenade from her belt; before she could prime it with the lighting-strip on her hip, K'lyhia launched a Ruin spell at Shiftox's waist. The unaspected aether warped the lighting-strip, but Shiftox - and several other goblins, now - continued their charge towards the arcanists before Xomni'to's carbuncle let loose a mighty wave of wind that sent the goblins tumbling away. Momolk, standing at the rear of the group, began spreading underpowered Miasma and Bio spells across the entire goblin group; soon all fifteen goblins were screeching as toxins began eating away at them - not powerful enough to render them unconscious or kill them, but more than enough to cripple some and wound others. All the while, the siblings pelted the beastmen with low-level Ruin-spells: particularly painful, but non-lethal.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Baatar and Kanna moved in from the sides, methodically knocking out as many goblins as they could non-lethally. Kanna worked her way though the group, using a mix of well-aimed kicks and careful slashes with her katana to leave her foes with superficial, though painful wounds; Baatar, on the other hand, simply charged through the goblins on her side of the camp, using the flat side of her axe as well as its haft as a bludgeon, hitting hard enough to send the goblins in her path to the ground with broken bones and shattered gas masks - anathema to the goblins, who found the smell of the air unbearable.

"STOP! STOP!" Shiftox screeched, throwing her blade and belt to the ground. "NO MORE!"

The sounds of fighting stilled, and the camp filled with the sounds of laboured breathing and pained groans from the goblins; of the fifteen goblins in the camp, only three - including Shiftox - were still standing, and all had surrendered their daggers, willingly or otherwise.

"There," Baatar spat, gun still moving from goblin to goblin, "were that so hard?"

"Pssshhh - smelly, unfair, cheatsy, stupid uplander - shkohhh - scum," one of the goblins - whose gas mask had been smashed open by Baatar's axe - managed, in between laboured breaths.

"You brought this upon yourselves," Xomni'to replied, shaking his head. "Nobody forced you to deal in contraband. In any case, all of you will remain still while we bind you. Baatar, Kanna, Momolk, if you don't mind - keep an eye on these folks, eh?"

"My pleasure," Baatar said, nodding.

Xomni'to and K'lyhia got to work binding each of the goblins' hands and legs with thick cords of rope, and in short order - despite the loud protests - all but two of the goblins were bound. They were about to move onto the next when out of the corner of her eye, Baatar noticed the last unbound goblin of the group slide the lighting-strip on its belt out of its loop, inching it slowly towards one of the grenades tucked into a pouch on its back.

"OI! YOU!" Baatar shouted, gun snapping to the goblin's head. "Stop, now, or-!"

With a screech the goblin jerked its hands towards the grenade, trying to light it with the strip; the grenade's fuse-tip sparked, but failed to light. Without a moment's hesitation Baatar fired her shotgun at the goblin, hitting it with a nearly full load of shot; it crumpled to the ground unceremoniously, body riddled with bullet holes.

"Anyone else want t'try me patience?" Baatar shouted, holstering the gun and reloading her first blunderbuss. "Got enough shot fer all've you."

None of the goblins answered, and the only remaining goblin let himself be bound without trouble. Stepping back, K'lyhia nodded approvingly as she surveyed the group's handiwork.

"Well enough, then. I suppose we should be content with only a single casualty amongst your number. For the report, might I ask who was the unfortunate soul who was shot by my companion here?"

"Sixth son - psssshhhh - of mine," Shiftox said, shaking her head.

"My condolences," Kanna said slowly.

"Though I do not hesitate to point out that if your son had indeed lit that grenade, I doubt many of us would still be here," K'lyhia added, shrugging.

"No need - psssshh - for sorrysaying, hornhead uplander. Stupid boy," Shiftox replied without a hint of waver in her voice. "Leave - shkohhh - body here for animals."

"I... if you're certain," Kanna muttered.

"A moment, then, while I linkpearl for an escort cart," K'lyhia said, pressing her fingertips to her left ear. "Ah - yes, this is Foreseer Yudah, requesting a cart for fifteen goblins and - seven, no, eight small crates of goods. No, we are presently at the Cookpot. Yes. Of course. Thank you." She looked up, and smiled at the others. "A cart is en-route, and in short order we shall have these goblins in custody, and these goods locked up. Speaking of which - we have an inspection to do." The Seeker of the Sun glanced at her fellow arcanists, pushing her glasses up her nose. "I assume that you would care to test the efficacy of your current arrays against what paltry defenses and countermeasures our suspects have no doubt erected to safeguard their contraband?"

"I look forward to seeing what we find," Xomni'to said, nodding crisply. With silent commands, Xomni'to and Momolk sent their Carbuncles over to the pile of crates in the middle of the camp; the pair of blue and yellow familiars began circling the pile, sniffing at the air and glowing faintly as they sensed the aether around them, stopping at one crate near the middle of the pile.

"Oi, Shiftox - what'll be in that crate?" Momolk asked.

"Better to be truthful, I think," Xomni'to added.

"Pssssshhh - ores," the goblin muttered after a moment's hesitation.

"Ores - and, of course, you have the shipping permits and licenses associated with all of them? What sorts of ores?" K'lyhia pressed. "I put the chances of you and your companions here fighting us over some rocks to be well below ten percent."

"Manyrocks in movingbox, uplanders. Boilstox - shkohhh - not open movingbox after moneygiving to rockdiggers," Shiftox replied.

"An empty answer," K'lyhia said, frowning. "Well, we shall find out soon enough. Any traps, or the like? Or will we be finding that out for ourselves?"

"No, no traplocks in movingbox," Shiftox grumbled.

"All the same - given the odds, I would advise exercising caution," K'lyhia called out.

Xomni'to directed his carbuncle to climb up the top of the crate and examine it; it paced around the top of the crate for several moments, before hopping back down and pulsing faintly.

"Nothing untoward," he murmured. "Well enough, then." Stepping forward, he carefully undid the latches of the crate and lifted the top, revealing a stack of various unrefined ores; he frowned, humming as he began tapping the rocks. He paused, then pulled several of the ores out, setting them gently on the ground until, with most of the top layer cleared away, he found another latch halfway into the crate. He pulled on it, and a second, hidden compartment in the box popped out of the side - revealing the unmistakable sight and faint yellow glow of earth-aspected crystals.

"Crystals," Xomni'to hissed, his tail going straight.

"Psssshhh - crystals? Crystals?! Uplanders - shkohh - pssshhh - gobbies not know about moneygiving for crystals," Shiftox said, shaking her head frantically as the other goblins began shouting in goblin-tongue. "Boilstox moneygive for firesand, not crystals!"

"A likely story," Baatar spat. "Wot'll these be for, eh? These'll be earth-aspected, aye! Plannin' to pass these 'long to the kobolds? How daft are ye?"

"No - no! Gobbies not want to give crystals to kobolds," Shiftox continued, tone pleading. "Gobbies live here, too! Beastgods bad for business. Crystals bad, too. Shiftox moneygives much coin for firesand - not dirtcrystal!"

The camp descended into uneasy silence for a long moment, and was only broken by the sound of an incoming chocobo-cart. K'lyhia turned to see the cart and several Yellowjacket officers coming up past the bridge towards them, and she returned to Shiftox with a hard gaze.

"Well, I hope you have manifests of sale and the like, because the penalty for smuggling earth crystals is far, far worse than the sale of firesand," K'lyhia hissed. "I place your odds of making it out of this ordeal with your life, let alone your business intact, at well below one percent without bills of sale to back your story up."

"Boilstox - psssshhhhh - Boilstox has paperwritings of moneygiving, yes!" Shiftox said frantically, "and names of crystalsellers too! Boilstox will name names, point fingers, pull masks! All uplander must do is believe Boilstox, for her tongueflaps are good!"

"For your sake, I hope you are not lying." K'lyhia waved down the officers as some of them dismounted from the cart, and gestured at the goblins and the crates. "Guardsmen - we have several crates of goods, including some smuggled earth crystals. If you would assist us in loading these goods and our prisoners into the cart, that would be much appreciated."

"At once, ma'am," one of the roegadyn guardsmen said.

The guards got to work loading the crates in the cart first; Kanna stood with Shiftox as they worked, and knelt down besides the goblin.

"I - I just wanted to say that I wish we could have resolved this without the death of your son," Kanna said slowly.

Shiftox shrugged, a small gesture. "Hornhead uplander not understand. Gobbies have many family. Sons, daughters, all come and go like jinglyshines. And - all gobbies one of two things: smart, or loyal. Never two. Boilstox smart gobbie. Other gobbies loyal..."

One of the goblins, who the guards were now herding onto the cart, jerked towards one of the soldiers and made a sound that indicated he had horked a glob of spit, which failed to do anything besides clog his gas mask. It took the goblin a second to realize his mistake before he started pawing at his mask in a futile attempt to drain it.

"Hornhead sees what Boilstox means?" the goblin-ringleader said flatly.

"But... wait, your species always wears those masks, how-?"

"He uptakes from watchlearn uplanders. Like Boilstox say: quickminds, or longstays. Not two," Shiftox muttered as one of the guards gestured for her to step forward.

"Three kinds of goblins, y'ask me," Baatar said, scratching her butt with her tail. "Smart, loyal - and th'ones what think they're smart."

"A surprisingly astute observation, Baatarsaikhan," K'lyhia added. "I imagine, Kanna, that you can guess which ones have the most loyal following."

"Wait. The fuck you mean, 'surprisingly?' That'll be an insult, won't it," Baatar groused.

"It was not meant as an insult," K'lyhia said slowly, eyes searching Baatar's face. "In my admittedly limited time conversing with you, I have noted that most of your utterings are insults, threats of violence, or a combination of the two. I will, however, readily admit that my data set lacks enough information for me to say that I could apply my previous comment to you in general."

"I - were that an apology?" Baatar asked, sighing.

"I am unsure. Is an apology required if no offense was meant, or given?"

"Y'know what? Never mind. So," Baatar said happily as the Shiftox joined the last of the goblins in the cart, "what now?"

"Now, we return to the city," K'lyhia said, waving at the guards as the cart began to drive into the distance.

A quick teleport later, and the group rematerialized in the Aetheryte Plaza, which was full of tourists, travelers and citizens going about their business; the group moved off to one side, and sat down at a free bench.

"Well, that was...odd," Kanna said, rubbing at her horns. "Do most inspections go like that?"

"No," K'lyhia said with a shrug. "I would wager from memory alone that ninety percent - likely more - of inspections are simple checks without incident. To consort with a known smuggler - and encounter armed resistance - is statistically quite rare, I assure you. Now, we must return to the guild and fill out the requisite paperwork which follows an inspection which has contained as many...revelations as today's."

"Twelve's shite," Momolk groaned, "there's gonna be a ton'a the stuff, won't there."

"Yes, there will. At least thirty pages," K'lyhia explained cheerfully.

"In triplicate!" Xomni's tail swished eagerly as he wrung his hands together. "Some may view paperwork as being boring, but I can't possibly imagine why. I find the repetition and monotony to be blissfully soothing."

Baatar stared at her brother with a violently twitching eye before grabbing her raen-cousin's shoulders and swinging her around to face her. "Kanna," she stated solemnly. "If I ever say a good word 'bout filling out forms, ye take me shotgun and ye blow me brains out, y'hear?"

"Yes. Yes, you have my word, if you promise you will show me the same mercy," Kanna said distastefully.

"Don't worry, I won't hesitate to blow yer brains out yer skull."

"...you mean blow my brains out... if I start saying good things about paperwork, yes?"

"That too."

"I...eurgh." Kanna clamped her fingers down on the bridge of her nose. "Let's... let's just go home? Please?"

"Well that'll depend, wont't? K'lyhia, do these two have t'be stayin' to do paperwork?"

"No, they do not - if their input is required, they will receive a notification by mail. Otherwise," K'lyhia noted, "you two are free to leave. In any case, it was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Minamoto, and I am sure we shall see each other again soon. And a good day to you, Baatarsaikhan."

"Nhama be blessed," Baatar said, hands clasped in prayer. "Thanks be t'ye. Well, I'll be at home nappin' or summat. What'll you be doin', Kanna?"

"I would like to go home and change, I think," Kanna said. "If you'd like to do something later - well, perhaps I will drop by and see if you are awake."

"Don't count on it," Xomin'to scoffed, waving as they left Baatar and Kanna behind.

K'lyhia and the Molkohs returned to the guild in short order; once there, they weaved through the usual crowds of inspectors-arcanists and merchants who were in the lobby, and made their way up to the guild's reception desk. Catching sight of them, Murie gestured at them to wait a moment while she finished dealing with a pair of lalafellin merchants. A minute or so later, she waved them off, and grinned at the trio.

"Well, well, I heard the news - well done, you three," Murie said, nodding.

"Thank you, Murie," K'lyhia replied, frowning sightly. "Though I wish the inspection could have resolved itself without violence - or the discovery of earth crystals being smuggled beneath our noses."

"Well, we found 'em, no?" Momolk offered. "That'll be worth somethin', I wager."

"Aye, but we've known - or at least suspected - the Boilstox of bein' smugglers for many a year," Xomni'to replied. "Assuming the goblins weren't lying about their lack of knowledge regarding the crystals - who knows how long they could've been smuggling the things? Without even knowing't?"

"That's….that'll be a hard thing to swallow," Murie sighed. "Well - either way, this matter's been sent topside to the Admiralty. In the meantime, I've a gift for you three." The hyuran woman ducked beneath the counter for a moment, and popped back up carrying a thick envelope. "Here you go - paperwork, and plenty of it. Thubyrgeim wants these done before the evening - in triplicate. One for the guild, one for the Admiralty another for the archives."

"How fitting, then, that there are three of us present to complete these files. Shall we return them to you, Murie?" K'lyhia asked, as she took the thick packet of papers.

"Aye, just so," Murie replied.

Humming happily to herself, K'lyhia led the Molkohs into the rear of the guild's main floor and over to one of the countless workstations laid out by the library. The group managed to find a free table near the back of the library - close to where the administrative section of the guild began - and, once Momolk fetched a large cushion from a nearby box, sat down to begin the long, arduous process of filling out the small mountain of papers Murie had burdened them with. For their parts, K'lyhia and Xomni'to began working in quiet comfort, settling easily into a rhythm of scratching quills and thumping stamps. Momolk actually outpaced the two; while she'd filled out her share of paperwork -for the guild, for the Molkoh & Kha company and while helping Idertuuya, Oyuun and Terbish set up their own businesses, she'd never shared her brother's love of the thing.

"Oi. Can we be takin' a break, or summat?" Momolk grumbled, kicking her legs against the top of her riser-cushions and glaring at the still-gargantuan pile of papers in front of her.

"It has been less than a single bell," K'lyhia replied. "Though, I admit, you have gotten further ahead than either your brother or I. What section are you on? I have just finished the Incident Report."

"Already onto 'Recommended Course of Action.' Tellin' the Admiralty to keep an eye out fer others what might be shipin' earth-crystals, or the like," Momolk explained. "Like before - if the Boilstox weren't lyin' or nothin', who's to say there won't be other folk carryin' 'round crystals headed to the beast-tribes, eh?"

"The real problem," Xomni'to continued as he adjusted his monocle, "is figuring two things. One - how long's this been going on for? The Boilstox gave us some names, indeed, but who's to say their supplier's th'only one what's been doing this? Two - if there's folks smuggling crystals, or other such goods without even tellin' their clients - who's to say how many people'd be doing such a thing? It'd be easy for them t'just slip a few extras in with the usual contraband, or even the legal goods."

"A problem indeed, though not one that I think falls within the purview of the Arcanists," K'lyhia noted. "Responsibility there lies with the Yellowjackets, Maelstrom and the Admiralty as a whole, does it not? Our duty remains the same - inspect goods, protect Limsa Lominsa."

"True, aye," Momolk muttered. "Don't mean I like it anyhow. And you never did say if I'd be havin' a break or nothin'."

"Well, considering you are ahead of both of us, I don't think there will be an issue if you require some time to rest," K'lyhia said, shrugging.

"Not restin' - I'll just nip out to the markets - you two want anythin'?"

"I am feeling a little thirsty, but water will suffice," K'lyhia replied.

"Coffee, if you can find any nearby," Xomni'to added. "Straight, please."

"Right. I'll be back!" Momolk turned herself to the side and jumped off her chair, and made for the section of Hawkers' Alley that was closest to the guild. In short order she arrived at Rhenmoth's - a small stand which served little more than tea, coffee and whatever baked goods the wizened Roegadyn proprietor of the stand could get his hands on. As it was, the late afternoon was something of a dead-zone for the stall - too late to catch workers needing a snack mid-shift, and too early to snag folks wanting a light snack instead of a dinner - and so Momolk had only to wait for a few patrons to finish before it was her turn in line. Clambering up onto a stepstool, Momolk looked up at Rhenmoth with a smile.

"Afternoon t'ye, Rhen," Momolk said, nodding. "How's the day?"

"Ah, Momolk! I haven't had the pleasure'a yer coin in a while, eh?" Rhenmoth leaned forward slightly on the counter of his stall to be closer to Momolk, and adjusted his glasses. "Aye, months, maybe. I's seen ye go 'round these parts, I has, but never buyin' or nothin'. You been busy, what with yer mum's brewery?"

"No, nothin' like so - I'll be an adventurer now," Momolk explained proudly. "A real hero, mhmm."

"Oh - oho! That so, eh? Well I'll be. I remember when you'n yer brother were tiny folk, runnin' round the streets, and the like. Come a long way, I'd wager. Anyhow - you here for food, then?"

"Just so. Two coffees, light, one plain and one with enough milk that it'll be cream-coloured, and sugar, 'til the stuff'll be havin' trouble dissolvin'," Momolk noted. "Maybe more, if y'dont mind't."

"That's...that can't be good for the body," Rhenmoth said, scratching his chin. "I mean - your gil, your choice - but, y'know, I can't talk y'out of't?"

"No."

"At all?"

Momolk sighed. "Look, I can be goin' somewhere else-"

"-fine, fine, it'll be your gut you're rottin'. Anythin' else?"

"Pastries, if y'have them. Sweeter the better."

Rhenmoth knelt beneath his counter - which meant that Momolk was looking at the top of his head - and rumbled with laughter.

"There a number you want? Or should I just be throwin' all of'em at ye?"

"A dozen'll do me fine," Momolk replied, sniffing delicately. "I might even deign to share some of them with my colleagues."

"A hero indeed," Rhenmoth snorted. "Seven hundred gil, if you please, with two-hundred-fifty on return of my precious mugs, milady.

"Oh, good sir Rhenmoth," Momolk replied, feigning a swoon, "I cannot believe you would charge such prices for so paltry a selection of goods."

"Don't test me," Rhenmoth replied, rolling his eyes. "Coin, or nothin' - and I'll be tellin' yer mum."

"Ahh, Idree's old now, Won't do nothin'," Momolk replied as she slid a handful of coins across the counter.

"Will you be needin' a tray or summat to be carryin' this shite?" Rhenmoth asked, gesturing to two wooden mugs and a parchment bag he'd set upon the counter.

"Aye, that'd be nice."

"Just so, then. Y'bring back the goods when yer done, ken?" Rhenmoth piled the goods onto a wooden tray - tiny in his hands, but large enough that Momolk had to stretch to carry it. With caution, Momolk carefully made her way off the stepstool and carried the tray back to the Arcanists' Guild; she was almost ready to set the tray down and open the doors with the set of rungs placed lalafellin height, but a handful of merchants exited the building before she had to do so.

Soon enough she pushed through the doors leading into the library and returned to the group's workstation; K'lyhia and Xomni'to were both busy scribbling away, eyes firmly locked onto their paperwork even as they conversed.

"-so, you agree, then?" K'lyhia asked.

"Yes. I think it would be, at the very least, an interesting experiment," Xomni'to replied with a sage nod. "Any enjoyment to be found thereafter, we could consider a bonus."

"Oi, oi, what's this, then? Experiments?" Momolk asked eagerly. "Yer not leavin' me outta some fun, are ye?"

"Oh, you've returned." K'lyhia nodded and smiled as Xomni'to leaned down from his chair to grab Momolk's tray. "Well, I'm not sure that our experiment accounts for your presence. Xomni'to and I have decided to have dinner together, in the custom of two individuals acting as dining partners."

"Oh, well that's perfectly understanda - wait, you wot?" Momolk replied, snapping her head around in shock. "Mighta taken a hit to me noggin a while back. Say't again?"

"Dinner between K'lyhia and I, sister. I was under the impression that such things were common?" Xomni'to noted. "Is there an issue?"

"Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Is...K'lyhia, you won't be talkin' 'bout a date twixt you an' me brother, eh?" Momolk said, tone neutral.

"A date?" K'lyhia paused, her ears twitching in thought for a moment. "Ah, well, I suppose that that would be the common vernacular for this event, wouldn't it? In any case, two individuals participating in a date needn't be romantically involved, yes?"

"Uh, aye," Momolk replied, nodding slowly. "I s'pose that'll be true, technically."

"Just so, then," Xomni'to replied with a shrug.

Momolk stared at the two miqo'te sitting across from her, concern and amusement slowly stretching across her face.

"So, uh, this, ehe, 'date' of yours, uh, you'll be doin' this t'night?" Momolk asked, returning to her paperwork. "Just curious, I am."

"Yes. The two of us have not decided upon a venue," K'lyhia noted, "though I assume it will be in one of the finer establishments in town. I would also ask that, if you wish to observe the proceedings, you do so from a distance so as to avoid compromising the integrity of our findings."

"The goal, after all," Xomni'to continued, "is to examine how the two of us interact in a, if not private, at least more personal setting."

"Oh. Oh, right, right, that'll be, uh, no trouble," Momolk replied, doing her best not to betray her laughter. "No trouble at all."

"That is good. I would be concerned if this was a problem," K'lyhia said, smiling. "Thank you for being considerate about the matter."

By the chronometer hanging from a nearby post, Momolk managed to continue working on her papers for another ten minutes - until she could wait no more.

"Look, I'll just be finishin' up the third-last section of me work," Momolk said, breaking the silence. "Honestly, I'm right conked after all the work t'day - you two mind if I'll be leavin' to rest or summat?"

"No, it is no trouble. I'll be happy to finish those for you," K'lyhia replied. "Thank you once again for your prompt assistance with today's inspection. Perhaps I shall have the luxury of working with you soon?"

"Prolly," Momolk replied, before finishing the rest of her coffee. "Adventurin's a thing I like, but I don't really see me'n the others goin' far away anytime soon. Eh, Xomni?"

"Aye, just so. I'm sure we will be available in the future," Xomni'to noted. "Will you be returning home?"

"Mmm. Might check into th'brewery, then take a nap or summat. See you two, a'right?" With a wave, Momolk hopped off her chair, pulled the cushion from her seat and returned it to her box before walking briskly out of the guild. The second she'd made it beyond the doors of the library her walk became a run, then a full-on sprint to the aetheryte outside.

Minutes later, Momolk barged into Terbish's clinic with enough force to nearly knock the bells hanging inside clean off their hooks; the older Xaela, previously consumed in his books, yelped slightly and jerked upright out of his seat.

"Nhaama and the Twelve, what in the hells - Momolk?" Terbish asked, squinting. "What's happened?"

"Nothin', 'cept Xomni's got himself a date this evenin'," Momolk cackled, waving her hands excitedly. "Can ye believe't? Xomni! A date! With a real lady'n all! I mean sure, she's not entirely sound of mind, I don't think, but still!"

"I... suppose that's exciting," Terbish replied, frowning.

His tone was not missed. "Ye don't sound it," Momolk scoffed. "How's that? This'll be news the likes've which'd make the criers 'round town shout themselves hoarse!"

"I tend to make a point of not investigating the personal affairs of others," Terbish answered with a smile as he settled back onto his stool. "I find that as a healer, it pays to indulge in respecting the discretion and privacy of others once in a while."

"Well, I'm no healing-woman," Momolk said, folding her arms and scowling. "Now, where'll be the rest've the family?"

"Your mum and cousin'll still be workin' the brewery; that nice woman, Kanna, came by a few bells back. She'n Baatar are talking upstairs, so I suppose you'd find them there," Terbish noted, shrugging. "In any case-"

"-OI, LADIES," Momolk hollered as she made for the stairwell at full speed. "KANNA! BAATAR! NEWS! I BRING NEWS!"

"Would ye kindly keep't down? Some've us'll be trying t'relax," Baatar shouted in reply; Momolk thundered through the door to the apartment to find the two Auri women dressed casually, sitting on the living room's rug and each reading a book.

"Ah, good afternoon, Momolk," Kanna said, nodding at Momolk. "You bring news? Of what sort?"

"The hells is this, eh?" Momolk asked, folding her arms and frowning. "What's the twos of you lovebirds doin'?"

"Killin' a dragon," Baatar grumbled, looking up from her book. "The fuck's it look like we's doin? We're readin'. Ye blind or summat?"

"Was jus' a question. No need t'be tearin' m'head off," Momolk replied, grinning. "Whatcha' readin'?"

"I am going through an old book which purports to be an account of someone's travels through the continent of Othard," Kanna explained, holding up a thick tome. "The Journeys of Syhrhund, it is called."

"I've not heard've it," Momolk muttered, clambering up onto the couch closest to the pair. "Any good?"

"For a book written near the beginning of the sixth Astral Era, yes," Kanna answered. "It is interesting to note the similarities - and differences - between what I know of Raen history, and how this Syhrhund records it as being; I will also say that from what little of Xaela history I have managed to pull from Baatarsaikhan, little has changed for the steppe-folk since ancient times."

"Aye, 's'not like there'll be much t'do on th'steppe," Baatar pointed out. "Nobody'll have time t'be buildin' much've anythin' or the like. People'll be busy grazin' dzo 'n sheep? Maybe fightin'? "Bout it, t'be honest."

"Huh. Queer. Anyroads - news," Momolk said, snapping her fingers. "So, uh, Xomni's gone'n got hisself a date!"

Baatar blinked, mouth agape. "Fuckin' wot? How? With who? Not t'be insultin' him or nothin', but Xomni's got the graces o' a - well, he's not got any graces."

"Careful, Baatarsaikhan," Kanna snorted. "Some might say that description might more aptly be applied to more than just Xomni'to."

"Git yersel ta fuck," Baatar grumbled. "So? Who'll it be?"

"Well it's Xomni's who's got the date, not ye, Baatar," Momolk sang. "He'll be dinin' alone-like with K'lhyia this evenin'! A real date!"

"Fitting, I suppose," Kanna said, nodding slowly. "They seem to be similar in character and manner."

Baatar, on the other hand, simply groaned and rolled her eyes. "Ahh, piss. Good fit - aye, too good, if y'ask me. I'll not be wantin' K'lyhia as me good-sister, no offense."

"It's jus' a date," Momolk sighed. "Ease up, sister."

"Well ye can't be faultin' me fer not bein' screamin' with joy," Baatar said, sighing.

"D'ye know've any other ladies who'll be a good fit fer Xomni? Eh?"

Battar frowned and scratched at her horns. "Iunno. Weren't Xomni drawin' some woman or summat? He's been doin' so fer suns a-plenty now, no?"

"Aye, that'll be so," Momolk noted thoughtfully. "Didn't think it were nothin', though."

"Well, who'll this woman be, then?" Baatar nodded. "A'right. Let's be diggin' through 'is shite."

"Hold a moment," Kanna interjected. "Surely you don't mean to imply that we should search Xomni'to's chests and drawers? Without his permission?"

"Ah, sod it. He'll not care," Baatar grumbled as she got to her feet. "He's not got anythin' juicy anyhows. Jus' books, an' shite - and I's pretty sure it'll be sittin' on 'is desk, not tucked 'way or nothin'."

Kanna and Momolk watched as Baatar promptly disappeared into the bedroom she, Momok and Xomni'to shared, reappearing moments later with several pieces of parchment.

"See? Tolds you," Baatar said proudly. "Just sittin' right atop the desk. If he were wantin' to be hidin' it, 's'not like he'd be leavin' out where anyfolk could be seein' it."

"This still seems akin to a grave intrusion of his privacy," Kanna protested.

Baatar shrugged. "Ahh, he asks, it were me that thought've this an' such."

"It were you that did the thinkin' and doin'," Momolk pointed out with a snort.

"I - well - sure," Baatar mumbled. "Whatever. Behold!"

With a flourish, Baatar laid the papers out on the rug - and visibly flinched with the other women.

Sketched upon the papers was the visage of a miqo'te woman, white hair worn short with two plaits in the front.

"That's - that'll be - Y'Shtola?" Baatar sputtered. "That...that...snow-haired, slime-skinned, frostbitten bitch, that'll be his lady'a choice?"

"We do not know that for certain," Kanna pointed out. "Perhaps he just wished to record her face from his memory? Or he may have seen her before, and desired to refresh his memory? It is hard to say without his being here."

Momolk shrugged, nodding at Kanna as her brow furrowed in thought. "Aye, sister, I'll not think this Shtola woman'll be a friend t'Xomni in th'slightest. Don't feel like't, anyhows."

"I s'pose," Baatar hissed. "Well, I has questions, now. And me temper's gone and gotten hotter. Fuckin' - gods, do I hate this Shtola-"

"-we are aware," Kanna sighed. "Can you replace Xomni'to's effects, please?"

Baatar grumbled something incoherent as she put the drawings back on Xomni'to's desk, and she plopped herself down on the floor with an angry mutter.

"Come now, Baatarsaikhan. You must admit it is unlikely, at best, that this Y'Shtola is the object of your brother's affections," Kanna pointed out.

"I - yer not wrong, I s'pose? Don't mean I like it."" Baatar admitted after a moment. "Don't like't at all. So, forgettin' this Shtola lady -what's yer plan, eh, Momolk?"

"Plan?" Momolk replied, the smile on her face as innocent as could be.

"I figures you've's a plan or summat t'be watchin' this date or whatever," Baatar mused, "and don't be tellin' me y'dont, 'cause that'll be a load'a shite."

"Not much've a plan," Momolk replied, clapping her hands together. "We jus' watch the thing."

"Once again, I find this to be an odd amount of intrusion. Would it not be simpler - and kinder - to ask for details after the fact?" Kanna offered. "

Momolk hummed to herself for a moment before answering. "Kanna, were ye raised alone?"

"Yes, I was."

"Ah, well, ye won't get't, then. This'll be big news! Very important-like. It'll be a sister's duty to be makin' sure the thing goes well - right, Baatar?"

"Iunno. Sure," Baatarsaikhan replied with a sigh. "A'least with Shtola I knows I hate the bitch. K'lyhia - hrm - I won't be gettin' that woman, but neither can I be sayin' that I dislikes her overmuch. Rather I'd be not there - I'll be all awkward-like."

"Well we're not goin' t'be sittin' next t'them and takin' notes, or summat," Momolk pointed out. "Eh, wha's she say, uh, ' if you wish to observe the proceedings, you do so from a distance so as to avoid compromising the integrity of our findings,' or the like," Momolk repeated in a distressingly accurate reproduction of K'lyhia's voice.

"Integrity...wot? Findin's? The fuck's that about, eh?" Baatar said, tail thumping against the floor. "Thought this were a date, not a...research...thing."

"It's K'lyhia 'n Xomni," Momolk said slowly. "D'either of'em seem the type to do a date normal-like? O'course it'll be a 'research thing' for'em - a date'n all but name."

"Ech. Wot, will they be kissin', then writin' their findin's on the matter? Takin' notes on proper romance? I'll not be a romancin' poet sorta woman," Baatar said distastefully, "but there'll be courtship, and, well. This. Right fuckin' strange, it'll be."

"If they find happiness in it, who are we to tell them to stop?" Kanna asked, smiling. "Xomni'to is strange, perhaps, but most people are, in their own ways, a little odd."

"Aye. Some moreso'n others," Baatar grumbled. ""D'w'even knows where the two've'em'll be doin' their date?"

"Ah, no, actually. Haven't the faintest clue," Momolk admitted. "One've the 'finer establishments' in Limsa, by Xomni's own words."

"Well, it is unlikely to be the Bismarck, if they plan on enjoying a seated meal," Kanna said thoughtfully. "Eating there without a reservation tends to be quite difficult.

"'Cept it were K'lyhia who proposed this venture," Momolk posited thoughtfully, rubbing at her chin. "She'd be the sort who'd have planned this from top t'bottom."

"That does strike me as being in line with her character. I suppose I could ask H'lahono - or whoever happens to be working at the front of the house - if there is indeed a reservation under her name," Kanna mused.

"You too? C'mon, then - you'll be tellin' me that this has yer interest, Kanna?" Baatar groaned.

"I cannot deny it," Kanna replied with a faint smile. "Your brother did not ever strike me as someone who ever do anything so normal as enjoy the romantic company of another at a restaurant - I imagined him to be more of the, ah, academic type."

Baatar squinted at Kanna suspiciously. "I don't ken't."

"I do not know how to say it - perhaps - like a story of an alchemist, or sorcerer, or the like, who finds love in either an unlikely place, or in the arms of a peer? Do Eorzeans have tales like those? I admit that my knowledge of the folklore of this realm remains somewhat lacking, despite my efforts to rectify the situation," Kanna explained.

"Aye, we've the like," Momolk added. "An' I ken't - 's'not out've character for me brother dearest, I'll say. An' besides, Baatar - you'll be moanin' and grumblin' 'bout this, but I'll bet all me gil that come th'evenin' you'll be a-watchin' just the same as I."

"Sod off," Baatar grumbled.

"See? She won't be denyin' it," Momolk gleefully exclaimed, flashing a knowing grin at Kanna.

"I says to sod off," Baatar groaned, flopping backwards onto the floor and tossing her book aside. "Time?"

"Four-ish," Momolk replied.

"Check the chrono-meter, aye? Four-ish," Baatar muttered. "'S'not a real time."

"It is roughly twenty minutes to five," Kanna answered, getting to her feet and glancing at the chronometer mounted on the apartment's kitchen wall.

"Mmm. Well, Kanna, if you'll be obligin' me, could you be checkin' this thing for me?" Momolk asked.

"At this rate, you might as well accompany me now. If there is waiting to be done, we could simply pass the time in my own apartment, or at the Drowning Wench," Kanna offered.

"Don't wanna move," Baatar grumbled.

"Oh, come now. Do not be petty. You can bring a book with you, or the like, and I don't recall you eating much today besides a slice or three of bread since our return here," Kanna said, sighing.

Baatar's reply was an incoherent grumble, but she got to her feet regardless, scratching her head and yawning as she did. "A'right. Let's go, then."

The three women left the apartment, saying goodbye to a rather bemused-looking Terbish on their way out, and made their way up to the upper level of Limsa Lominsa by aetheryte; from there, Kanna led them over to the Bismarck, which was - as usual - packed with customers. Kanna motioned for Momolk and Baatar to stay put before running over to the reception desk; H'lahono noticed Kanna approaching and waved. The two spoke briefly for a moment before H'lahono quickly consulted the massive book sitting on her desk; satisfied, Kanna returned with an amused look on her face.

"Well, Momolk, I must say your intuition guides us true once again. There is, indeed, a reservation for two this evening under K'lyhia's name for six in the evening," Kanna explained. "Of course, how you - or we, for that matter - intend to watch the proceedings will be another manner entirely. There is little free space for someone - let alone three people - to simply sit at the Bismarck to people-watch."

"Aw, shite. Can ye not be, iunno, pullin' some strings fer'us?" Momolk pleaded. "It'll be a family matter! Very important-like."

"I was a Senior Chef - this is true. But if you would have me inform Chef Hyllbornsyn that we would be getting in the way of the smooth operation of the kitchens," Kanna pointed out, "I am all but certain his opinion of me would decline rather sharply."

"'Could just be waitin' 'round th'Aftcastle," Baatar pointed out, jerking her head in the direction of the walkway which sat opposite of the Bismarck's outdoor seating area. "Good view'a th'whole place from there, I'll wager."

"We'll not be hearin' shite from there, Baatar," Momolk grumbled. "If I wanted t'be watchin' Xomni and K'lyhia talk, I'd be doin't at the guild."

"Uhhh...Kanna, are all y'orders shouted at the restaurant?" Baatar asked.

"No, we have a small collection of linkpearls which are used to ease communication between the restaurant and the actual kitchens," Kanna replied, frowning. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, K'lyhia's got one've the things, aye? Jus' borrow one, link't t'her's, an' then you nuts can be listenin' in on whatever they'll be sayin', or summat." Baatar nodded - to who, Kanna and Momolk were unsure - and shrugged. "An' knowin' K'lyhia, she'll agree to't no trouble so long's you word it all complicated-like. Y'know. Uh. 'Ahem, yes, we must be listening in to yer date thing, for research purposes!' Somethin' like such. She'll bite."

There was a long pause; Momolk and Kanna looked at one another, a potent mixture of concern and surprise on their faces.

"Who're you, 'n what've you done wi' me sister?" Momolk said with abject disbelief.

"Wot? Is't not a fine plan, eh? I thinks it'll work," Baatar replied sheepishly, rubbing at her horns.

"No, that'll not be the problem. Fine plan - aye, it's brilliant, it is," Momolk said, patting Baatar's leg. "Downright genius."

Baatar blinked several times, her tail flicking about uneasily. "So...what'll be yer problem, then? The two've you look all queer-like."

"I think - and please do not take this the wrong way - that, in general, the stereotype associated with your character would have you be interested in hitting things with your axe, and drinking copious amounts of liquor," Kanna said slowly. "Such as it is, it is simply, ah, unusual to see you scheming, or at least coming up with a plan of that sort."

"Aye, I don't ken numbers well or shite," Baatar replied sourly, "but that don't mean I'm stupid."

Momolk opened her mouth, but closed it as Kanna nudged the lalafell with her foot.

"People thinks I'm slow," Baatar continued, her tone brightening slightly. "Aye, I'll not be the fastest mind or nothin' - 'specially not wi' you'n Xomni as siblin's - but I can be doin' some thinkin', sometimes. Not much, t'be sure, but, uh, well, y'get's th'idea, mhmm?"

"Sometimes, it is best to play the part of the brute," Kanna replied with a nod. "All the better, such that when the time comes, your enemies might underestimate you and your wits."

"Well when y'puts it that way y'make me sound all cunning-like," Baatar said, chuckling. "I haven't put that sorta thinkin' into't. Anyroads - how many've those pearls you got'n the kitchens, Kanna? Enough t'be borrowin' one?"

"We have, ah, several," Kanna replied.

"Wait. I was thinkin' that linkpearls were'n short supply. You couldn't be buyin' one - not after the Calamity - and they'll be sellin' for a fortune on the markets," Momolk interjected.

"The Bismarck has been open for more than fifty years," Kanna noted, "and since the very date of its opening has attracted wealthy clientele from across the realm. There is money - and favour - tied to the name of the restaurant itself, and so it was no trouble for the restaurant to acquire a great many linkpearls over time. There used to be more, I believe - Chef Hyllbornsyn told me that many were actually given away to the Maelstrom after the Calamity for free. In any case - allow me a moment to ask someone if I might borrow one."

Momolk and Baatar watched Kanna - once again - scurry off, and the two stood in silence at the railings for a moment.

"You - ye don't - I don't mean nothin' by't, sister, if I makes fun've you. You ken, aye?" Momolk said quietly.

"Aye, I do," Baatar replied, looking out at the city below and the sea beyond. "I ken."

"Oi, serious-like, though," Momolk muttered, joining Baatar. "If y'aren't fine with't, ye just says the word and I stop, aye? Jokes and jest, that'll be fine, but if yer feelin' pissed I'll not push the matter. Jokes'll be one thing, insults another."

"Aye."

More silence.

Baatar sighed. "Iunno. It don't bother me much. Sometimes, y'know, it'll be...how to say. I's not all smart-like, not like you'n Xomni, aye, but I don't think meself t'be a right moron or summat. But I tries to be readin' things, y'know, figures an' histories an' such. Been tryin' since we were young - ye knows what I mean. But I can't be doin' the thing - I don't ken the simple things. Gets me all pissed-like jus' thinkin' 'bout it."

"Aye, but yer a natural at fightin'. Books won't be everyone's callin', sister," Momolk said reassuringly. "Ye can't be good at everythin' - well, ye can, but those people'll be somethin' rare indeed. Been how many years? Me'n Xomni, take our spells away and make us brawl the likes've ye, we'd lose, no question. Kanna's a seer. Me'n Xomni, we see th'aether. You - you fight real fine-like. It'll be what it'll be. Yer a warrior. Idree's said so. Like yer mother, aye?"

"Like me birth-mum. Aye. Aye. Aye." Baatar tugged at her hair uneasily. "Y'know, I can hardly think what she looks like, some days. Chinjaal, I mean."

"Can't be upset 'bout it - you were a runt, las' you sees her. An' how much'll've happened since then, eh?" Momolk pointed out. "Anyroads, it'll not be like you's th'only one who'll not recall their mother. First I recall, I were here on the docks of Limsa, eh?"

"Aye, but you'll be born a dock-rat. Idree's said as much t'ye," Baatar replied glumly. "Kin's a big thing, fer Xaela. Looks bad if I can't be recallin' me mum's face, eh?"

"Looks'll not be important neither, sister - ye thinks of her, ye wants to be make her sprit proud, that'll be all y'need," Momolk argued. "An' given your fightin' spirit, I thinks Chinjaal, she don't mind."

Baatar nodded, smiling weakly as she looked down at Momolk. "I ken. Here, I ken," Baatar said, tapping her head. "But here," she continued, tapping her chest, "sometimes it don't feel as such."

Momolk pat Baatar on the shin. "Long as y'know. An' there's the family, 'n Xomni, an' me'n Kanna - y'understand. If ye needs t'be talkin' 'bout it, we'll talk."

Baatar knelt down and hugged Momolk. "'Preciate it, sister. I do."

Momolk patted the larger woman on the back, sighing. "No trouble, sister. What'll family be for, eh?"

"Aye, I 'spose." Baatar got back up, and together the two sat in silence for a moment, watching the city below, framed by the setting sun.

"D'you have anyone?" Momolk said suddenly.

"Whaadya mean, have?" Baatar replied sheepishly, scratching at her stomach with her tail. "Like...have, have? I doesn't try to hide my, ah, pro-cliv-ities, not much."

"Well, not so - I mean, y'know, even Xomni's got hisself a date now," Momolk noted with a smirk, "and before you says it, I know, K'lyhia's not yer idea of a real catch - but, even so!"

"Aye," Baatar muttered, looking away pointedly. "And?"

"Was jus' wonderin', sister," Momolk said reassuringly with a pat on the back of Baatar's leg. "Didn't mean nothin' by't - y'know, I hears plenty from you'n, well, folk, that you'll've bedded plenty, but now that I thinks it y'don't speak much've, y'know…" She trailed off into silence.

"Well what 'bout you, eh? Y'don't speak've neither," Baatar replied sourly.

"I'm a woman who likes herself gil, gil, and gil," Momolk pointed out matter-of-factly. "Y'know me, I don't cares much for sharin' a bed wi' folks."

"Aye, I ken't."

"Well you don't have t'be answerin' my questions," Momolk said, sighing. "Didn't think it'd be makin' y'uncomfortable or nothin'."

"I mean, I's met people what'll be my type. Not many, but a few," Baatar said, still looking off into the distance. "It'll be a difficult thing, though. Y'know. What with us bein' sailors, firs', then adventurin' now. I'm not a, a, settlin' sorta person." Baatar was quiet for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "Iunno. Who'll know, eh? I can be seein' it. Me. Someone else. Aye." She nodded to herself several times. "Settlin'. Family 'o m'own. Not soon, t'be sure, but one day. One day."

Momolk squinted, and for a moment swore-

"-uh, are ye blushin', Baatar?"

"Wot? No," Baatar replied, her expression souring into a deep scowl. "Jus' smilin' - blushin' - who you-"

"-oho," Momolk muttered, rubbing her hands together. "I thinks there'll be a mystery to be solved. You've someone you's been hidin' from me, or you'll be a soft ol' romancin' sorta woman deep down, or both. All three - scandalous! Baatarsaikhan of Kha, pinin' for a handsome, strappin' man to be pi-"

"-shut it," Baatar hissed as Kanna emerged once more from the entrance of the Bismarck, "or I'll be puntin' y'off this here ledge."

"Ah, ah, say no more. You've a reputation to be keepin' - I ken, I ken't, no trouble," Momolk said, cackling to herself. "Yer secret's safe wi'me."

"Secret - you - argh," Baatar grumbled. "Yer a real black-tongued fuck've a sister sometimes, y'know."

"And y'love me all the same, doesn't ya."

"I does," Baatar sighed. "Nhaama help me, I does."

Kanna returned, her expression bemused as she took in the sight of Baatar fuming silently and Momolk sniggering to herself. "Have, I, ah, missed something?" she asked, cocking her head.

"No," Baatar muttered.

"A little," Momolk added, earning a glare from Baatar. "But, seein' as I have no desire t'be attacked this fine evenin', my lips are sealed."

"Ah. I - well, I don't quite understand, but perhaps it'd be best not to pry," Kanna noted with a wry smile.

"Aye, a good idea if I's ever heard one," Baatar grumbled. "Now - pearls?"

Kanna withdrew a single unadorned linkpearl, undyed and well-worn, from the pockets of her trousers. "Pearl, singular. I was informed that my request would be denied, were anyone else asking. And, of course, I have been told that we are to return the pearl as soon as we no longer have need of it."

Momolk pumped a fist in the air and jumped as high as she could in triumph. "Perfect, Kanna, yer a dream come true. Oh, this'll be a real treat, it will."

"I should hope so. Sitting around and watching this, ah, date, fall apart in spectacular fashion would be rather upsetting, I think," Kanna noted with a smirk. "Now - by my last check, we've at least another bell or so before our lovers-to-be arrive. Baatar, are you hungry?"

"No," Baatar grumbled. "Yes."

"As I thought. Perhaps snacks would be in order?"

"D'you lot want anythin'? We're not gonna be sittin' at this ledge eatin' dinner while we do the lissenin', are we?" Baatar asked, folding her arms.

Kanna scratched at her chin. "You find that disagreeable?"

"Aye. Watchin' this thing - sure. But - well - this'll be, wot, family watchin' family, or the like. 'S'not a theatre. Or a gladiator show. It'll be Xomni, y'know." Baatar's tail beat a steady rhythm into her thighs. "He's me brother, not some...pet, or summat."

Kanna was about to reply when she noticed Momolk shaking her head from behind Baatar; instead, she nodded and smiled. "That is quite true. I've already eaten, though I would not mind something small to refresh myself - Momolk?"

"I'll jus' take some've yours, Baatar," the lalafell replied.

"Mkay. I'll be back."

Momolk and Kanna watched Baatar depart, walking off in the direction of the Drowning Wench with an expression Kanna could only think of as vaguely annoyed.

"Did I interrupt something?" Kanna asked once Baatar was almost certainly out of earshot. "Not that I am any stranger to seeing Baatarsaikhan in a foul mood, but she seemed unusually tempered."

"Think I might've hit a sore spot," Momolk answered, wincing.

"Not that I wish to pry into private affairs-"

"-aye-"

"-but I do like to think of myself as, at the very least, being a friend to Baatarsaikhan-"

"-aye-"

"-but I shall leave it be, nonetheless," Kanna finished quietly.

Momolk sighed as she looked up at Kanna. "Iunno. I thinks - maybe - Baatar'll be...worried. 'Bout Xomni, I 'spose, but maybe, ah, mostly herself. Y'know. 'Bout findin' a special somebody or other."

Kanna's face fell, and her eyes flitted about in thought for a second "Oh," was all she managed for a moment. "That, ah...I cannot say I was expecting that, of all things, to give her pause."

"Aye. Don't - don't be, y'know, pityin' her - that'll just get her goin', aye? Matter-o-fact' maybe don' even be mentionin' the thing," Momolk said with a shrug. "She's her own woman. I thinks this whole, y'know, thing with Xomni and K'lyhia, it got her thinkin' herself in circles. Iunno." She sighed again and rubbed at her forehead with both hands. "See how it goes, I s'pose, play the thing by ear. Piss. Y'know," Momolk added after a long, frustrated groan, "she don't talk much 'bout herself, Baatar. Not serious-like, I mean. Xomni, I know where he'll be standin' - smart, a tad queer, aye, but an easy man t'be readin' mostly."

"Your sister plays the fool, more often than not," Kanna replied with a small smile. "I imagine that, even if she might claim otherwise, it is a tiring face to present to the world. I have only known you three for...three years? Perhaps a little less? Even so, I will note that I have precious little idea what she did on a daily basis before we began adventuring - at least when she was not with you."

"Drink, watch fights in Ul'dah, an' drink more, mostly," Momolk replied with a sad shake of her head. "And that'll not be a joke or nothin' - once we weren't sailin' she weren't the sort t'be doing much productive 'less Xomni'n'I dragged her 'long wi' us, far's I ken't. Mind, she'd disappear t'Ul'dah for a day or five, comin' back lookin' more'n a lil' haggard, once'n'a while. Now that I thinks it, she weren't ever clear 'bout what she were up to - aye, she'd talk 'bout how she'd bedded some fine lad'r'lass, or that she'd seen some good fightin' or wot, but…" Momolk trailed off again, her expression pensieve. "Twelve, even after Aunty Idree tore 'er a new'n, 's'not like we started doin' this whole adventurin' thing for ano'er three moons."

"I think," Kanna said slowly as she smiled and waved at Baatar - who was once again in sight, returning with a trio of mugs in one hand and a small cloth sack in the other - "Baatarsaikhan is the sort who does best with a little...direction in life, much as she might protest the idea. A gentle push towards something kind in life, rather than being shouted orders at, perhaps." Her tone brightened somewhat as Kanna addressed Baatar. "I see you've returned with snacks?"

"Aye, I've done the thing," Baatar replied, her mood visibly better than before. "Three small-beers, and I've bread, soft-cheese and bacon."

"For all my love of the Bismarck's food," Kanna noted with an eager nod, "I will say that I just as much appreciate a bag of Baderon's finest - and cheapest."

"Well it weren't his cheapest," Baatar snorted as she set the sack and drinks down on the nearest ledge. "Gruel's fine, but 's'not fun t'eat."

"Everything has its place. Even gruel can be elevated to something quite nice, though I wager doing so with Baderon's take on the dish might be difficult," Kanna answered.

"Ehh, Momolk can say't - I've eaten 'nough gruel when I were young, an' on the Kweh," Baatar replied as she opened the sack and tore herself a large chunk of bread and a few strips of bacon. "I'll take solid foods oe'er not-solids anytime," she added before sitting down and eagerly wolfing down her food.

Momolk happily clambered up onto the ledge and sat down, drawing a small knife from her belt and cutting herself a small piece of cheese which she proceeded to nibble on. "Eh, I'm not picky 's you, Baatar. Food's food, even if I'll like sweets more'n most."

"Gruel can be sweet, you know," Kanna noted as she joined the two on the ledge. "Not just with sugar or the like - you know, I have never had the pleasure of cooking for us all. We really ought to do that, one evening."

"A Bismarck meal at family price? Aye, I'd take't - that'll be a deal only a fool'd be turnin' down," Momolk said eagerly.

"Aye, same, I'd be eatin' whatever y'offer - I can be cookin', but nothing fancy-like - hells, I could prolly be standin' t'learn from ye," Baatar added.

"In that case - I would be more than happy to teach you a few things, Baatar," Kanna replied proudly, "and I am sure that though you have not been trained formally you've no doubt picked up skills and tricks that have never caught my eye."

"Aha, a dinner, then, wi' the two've us cookin'? I like th'idea very much. It'll be a right feast, it will," Baatar shouted, grinning. "'Twixt the two've us, we'll prolly be makin' some mad, fine thing t'be eatin'."

Momolk watched, an eye raised at first, as Baatar and Kanna eagerly launched into the drafting of a hypothetical menu; though she was no stranger to cooking - and Baatar's culinary vocabulary was decidedly lacking - she eventually settled into a quiet smile, content to listen to a sister and a friend speak at length of things she didn't quite understand.

By the time K'lyhia and Xomni'to arrived at the Aftcastle aetheryte, Kanna and Baatar had - thanks to Momolk's donation of her quill and a sheet of paper torn from her picatrix - written down several ideas for things to cook and a preliminary shopping list, half in Kanna's tidy script and Baatar's almost-legible scrawls. So good was Baatar's mood - thank the Twelve, Momolk thought with an inward sigh of relief - that she even got up and shouted a greeting to her brother and his would-be date.

"Oi, lovers, over 'ere then," Baatar yelled, a smarmy grin on her face. "Come on! Hurry it up!"

"I can hear you jus' fine," Xomni'to replied with a shake of his head. "There's no need to yell," he noted as he and K'lyhia joined the trio. "So? You three will be, ah, observing us tonight?"

"Hehe, you've an audience, brother dearest," Baatar laughed. "Kanna?"

"Ah - yes, well met once again, K'lyhia," Kanna said in greeting as she once more retrieved the linkpearl from her pockets. "Now - none of us wish to impose, so we figured - well, Momolk figured - it would be best to perhaps just listen in on the two of you, rather than be nearby. Baatarsaikhan thought of using one of the Bismarck's linkpearls to do so."

"That is an uncharacteristically astute idea," K'lyhia said flatly. "But an excellent idea nonetheless, Baatarsaikhan."

"Can't be stupid ev'ry time, now," Baatar replied sheepishly. "Had to think real hard 'bout it, too."

"Its origins aside - please give me the linkpearl, Kanna," K'lyhia said, offering her hand. "I will need to synchronize it with my own, lest you be forced to listen to the goings-on of the Bismarck in addition to proceedings between Xomni'to and I." Kanna gave the small pearl to K'lyhia, who took it; the miqo'te woman's tail stilled as her hands glowed with a faint aetherial light. After a brief moment, she shook the pearl, then held it to her right ear - where a similarly-shaped and sized linkpearl, dyed blue, was clipped - and once again infused aether into her hands. Once more, she shook the pearl, then handed it back to Kanna. "Please step away from me - at least far enough that you will not be able to easily hear my voice, such that we may test the new link." Kanna nodded, moving several paces away; K'lyhia held her hand to her right ear and touched her linkpearl. "Miss Minamoto?" She paused, then nodded, beckoning for Kanna to come back.

"Well, everything appears to be in order. We should be going now," Xomni'to said with a small shrug. "I would not want to be late for our reservation."

"Neither would I. Baatarsaikhan, Kanna, Momolk, good evening." K'lyhia nodded slightly, and the trio watched them set off towards the Bismarck, sparing bemused glances a t one another.

"This'll be...interestin'," Momolk laughed as the three clustered around the linkpearl, mugs of small-beer in hand.

The linkpearl remained quiet for several minutes, chiming with a telltale three-chime ring once K'lyhia and Xomni'to were seated at a table outdoors, within view of the ledge the trio were sitting at; once the two miqo'te had ordered their meals and drinks, they both leaned forward, pausing only to briefly acknowledge their server dropping off two ornate cups of wine.

"A date, then - I have to admit, though I did not plan our dinner tonight to be one, I cannot say that I find the idea disagreeable," K'lyhia noted in a tone Baatar couldn't quite place. "Your thoughts?"

"I'll say," Xomni'to said after taking a sip of his drink, "that the more I ruminate on the matter the more it sits well with me. By all accounts, I would wager that we would make an excellent pair - similar interests, similar personalities, similar jobs?"

K'lyhia leaned back in her chair, ears twitching for a moment as she thought. "Yes, I would agree. Of course, we would have to discuss our professional relationship as well - your work as an adventurer would leave you away from Limsa Lominsa for extended periods of time, assuming that you continue down the same paths as most in your field of work. And while there is certainly no shortage of risk taken in the line of customs inspections - certainly a fair bit, in fact - I would posit that at no point in time will I be faced with, say, the prospect of slaying some manner of towering beast or hunting scores of bandits."

"That is true," Xomin'to noted, rubbing at his chin. "In truth, I myself am not sure as to whether we'll - my family and Kanna, that is - be taking on the full extent of the adventurer lifestyle. Indeed, all of us, even Kanna - to some extent - have roots in Limsa Lominsa. But neither can I commit to, or promise that we would ever make this city our base of operations going forward." He shrugged, and took another drink. "I would be sad to leave this city behind, though. I've much history here that I'd sooner remember than forget, bad times and all - I'm sure you can see my point."

"I can indeed, Xomni'to. We've both suffered at the hands of this place, and yet I would defend it with my life. A queer place, Limsa Lominsa - I have spent time thinking about it - mechanically, that is to say." K'lyhia paused, gathering her thoughts as she drank for a moment. "Would you not agree? Here we sit, partnered agents of a customs inspection agency, and yet for all intents and purposes we serve an Admiral who gained her posting through both merit and no shortage of violence, indirect or otherwise."

Xomni'to audibly rumbled with something Baatar thought might be unease. "You wouldn't imply that the Admiral is undeserving of her post, would you?"

"No, of course not," K'lyhia replied pointedly. "If anything - my respect for her only increases upon reflection of matters at hand. Having never left the boundaries of this city-state's influence, however, I must ask if this manner of governance - a thalassocracy, unique to the Eorzean landmass - is the most efficient. My ignorance gives me no answers, and of course I have been unable to source sufficient books and readings on the matter which I might find unbiased enough to suit my standards."

"Well - you are a fellow Lominsan who I, nominally, am supposed to be impressing or wooing at the moment, no? In my travels, I have seen both Ul'dah and Gridania - though not in detail, naturally," Xomni'to noted proudly, "but from my time abroad I can say that both places have their share of internal issues. Far more than we face here - Ul'dah may as well be a city-sized dueling arena where the weapons are coin and blackmail, and Gridania?" Xomni'to scoffed. "Speaking purely unprofessionally - they've many problems, the least of which are a government run by fickle elementals and a rather pressing atmosphere of racism. Yes, Limsa Lominsa has a...rather unclean past, and no shortage of cutthroat dealings, but we have plenty of measure in place to deal with our problems. And we do not ignore our issues, as the other city-states would."

"And professionally?" K'lyhia prompted, her tone oddly intense.

"Other city-states have their own governments, their own cultures and their own methods of dealing with their own problems," Xomni'to said with practiced smoothness. "It is not our place to judge."

K'lyhia laughed for a split-second, taking another drink from her cup. "Well-said, Xomni'to. I will have to record that for my own use, I think. Perhaps your travels have indeed served you well - I might, once methods of travel have both lowered in price and risen in safety, have to see Eorzea's cities for myself."

"She can laugh?" Baatar muttered, dumbfounded. "The fuck's-"

Momolk - whose expression had slowly been deepening into a scowl as the trio listened - cut Baatar off with a hiss and a wave of her hand.

"Would you do so under the auspices of the Arcanists' Guild?" Xomni'to asked.

"I am not sure. I think that in some ways all members of the guild represent it, whether they are acting in an official capacity or not." K'lyhia hummed to herself for a moment before clearing her throat. "Travels aside - any theoretical partnership between the two of us would have to take into consideration the appearance of us - colleagues, that is - fraternizing."

"That is true," Xomni'to agreed. "It would be, ah, untoward, I think, to imply to our fellow arcanists that either of us might exchange favours or assist one another professionally for any reason besides those based in merit."

"Appearances...yes. Yes, image is important for those in our station - ah, our food arrives." K'lyhia cut herself off as a waitress dropped off a pair of plate-bowls filled with stew, and the two dug into their meal, pausing briefly only to drink or speak vaguely of arcanima and work.

"This," Baatar grumbled, "might be the saddest fuckin' date I's seen in me life. And you can be trussin' me, I'll tell ye, I've seen an' done some real shite ones, I has."

"I mean - certainly this could be worse," Kanna noted with a grim shake of her head, "but if this counts as courtship then I shall eat both my swords. If anything, this is simply...boring."

"Aye. Leas' if this thing'd gone t'shite it'd be interestin' t'watch, y'know, like a ship wreckin' itself or summat," Baatar muttered. "This - I'll take paint dryin', than be sittin' here for longer. 'Course me fine plan goes t'shite." She sighed, and flopped onto her back, tail drumming her stomach. "Now that I thinks it - not sure what I were thinkin', Xomni' an' K'lyhia, doin' a date. Two've 'em could be makin' ready t'be mountin' ones another an' not figures out they likes each other, I wager - they'd be keepin' a notepaper t'be recordin' their thoughts, or somesuch queerness. Right Momolk?...Momolk?" She looked up, taking note of her sister's almost horrified expression, and snapped upright. "Oi. Momolk. Whassamatter?"

"Uh...nothin', nothin' yet," Momolk said absently, staring off into the distance. "I - aye, this'll be queer as - I mean - hold a minute, I need t'be talkin' t'Xomni firs', 'fore I do any judging."

"Aye, but there'll be somethin' botherin' ye," Baatar pressed, looking at Kanna with a frown. "Y'can be tellin' me - weren't it you who were jus' speakin' 'bout how I can be tellin' you whatever?"

"I says to be quiet a moment," Momolk snapped, turning off the linkpearl. "I'm thinkin'."

"Uh...sure, I'll keep me mouth shut, then," Baatar muttered, looking at Kanna; the Raen woman shrugged and shook her head.

"Ah - if there's...I think I might take my leave, then. This seems a family matter, to be sorted amongst siblings," Kanna said quietly.

"I don't mean no insults by't," Momolk said, still staring off towards the sea, "but that'll be a fine idea, I thinks. Actually - never you be mindin' - I'm leavin'."

"Now - hold it, ye fuckin' - oi," Baatar trailed off; before she could do anything, Momolk abruptly got to her feet and vanished in a woosh of teleportation magic; too stunned to speak, Baatar grumbled incoherently before sitting down with a huff. "The fuck's this all 'bout, eh? I don't - I don't ken. What'll Momo be all pissed about?"

"I really cannot say," Kanna replied after a moment's pondering. "I mean to say - I do not know you or your family intimately, but neither would I call myself entirely ignorant of your sister's personality. Obviously something about Xomni'to behaviour has fouled her mood-"

"-understatement if I's ever heard one-"

"-but to be frank, he seems to be acting entirely in-character," Kanna continued, frowning. "I mean to say - as much as I would enjoy seeing Xomni'to have a partner in life, surely this outcome had to have been sitting in the back of everyone's mind, no?"

"I mean, that's what I were thinkin'...an' I'm no genius or nothin' neither," Baatar agreed, nodding vigorously. "How'd Momolk not ken this thing happenin'? I mean...really?"

The two auri stared at one another for a long while, saying nothing as they beat a steady rhythm into the stone ledge with their tails.

"Iunno. Xomni's queer. Sure. I ken't. Momolk - I - hrm." Baatar stopped mid-sentence as she noticed that K'lyhia and Xomni'to were settling their bills at the front desk of the Bismarck, and she waited in silence as her brother and his would-be-date slowly crossed the bridge to the Aftcastle; Xomni'to looked at the two auri with a quizzical expression.

"Did something happen? And where is Momolk, anyroads?" Xomni'to asked.

"Uh...something made her real cross-like, an' she just 'ported away. T'where, I've not a fuckin' clue," Baatar admitted with a bewildered look on her face. "So? Yer date?"

"I think," K'lyhia explained, "that the two of us have jointly decided that while we might - in the future - make for agreeable partners, at the moment neither of us are committed to, or particularly interested in relations, serious or otherwise. As such, I believe both of us would prefer to put our careers and personal development first, for the foreseeable future."

"I agree," Xomni'to said simply with a satisfied nod.

"I mean...I'd be sayin', y'know, why can't you be doin' both, or whatnot, but if that'll be yer choice then, uh, sure," Baatar replied, scratching her butt with her tail. "Not t'be insultin' the two've ye, but...yer a wierd pair, y'know."

"I prefer to think of myself as logical, collected and career-driven," K'lyhia noted with obvious pride, "but if you were to assume that such people are rare then I would suppose that, yes, Xomni'to and I would be the odd ones out."

"Now hold't, I weren't tryin' t'give offense or nothin'. Weird can be good too," Baatar noted, raising her hands in defence. "Anyroads...what's yer plan, you two? Continuin' yer merrymakin'?"

"Well, I think I have had enough excitement for the day, personally," K'lyhia stated matter-of-factly as she unclipped her picatrix and flipped to a bookmarked page. "My schedule tomorrow morning is rather busy - I can ill afford to be recovering from a night of drinking, light or otherwise."

"Fair enough," Xomni'to said with a smile and a shrug. "I think the evening was instructive for both of us, in any case. I shall see you soon, then."

Kanna, Baatar and Xomni'to watched as K'lyhia vanished in a whirl of aether, then stared at one another for several seconds in silence.

"So. Ah...I think I shall be leaving?" Kanna said at last with a hefty shake of her head. "This was certainly less eventful than I'd hoped it'd be."

"K'lyhia and I did not advertise a theatre show," Xomni'to pointed out with a small smirk.

"Aye, true," Baatar grumbled. "Weren't no lyin' on yer part. I s'pose you lot says somethin', and we'd gone'n blown it up all big-like. Ahh, shite. Well - 's'not like we're workin' tomorrow - sure, yer not with yer, ahem, 'esteem-ed colleague' or whatever, but you's up for a drink or two?"

"I'm not opposed to the idea," Xomni'to replied. "My opinion rather depends on the establishment we decide upon. The Drowning Wench, or our own family tavern?"

"Ahh, c'mon - when it's you'n Momolk it'll always be one've the two - when's the las' time we'll've gone someplace else, eh?" Baatar pointed out. "Me, I'll be wantin' t'try somethin' new this eve, I thinks."

"The Drowning Wench is the tavern of choice for the Bismarck's staff," Kanna noted. "I have set foot in - and even frequented - several other establishments, and none have really competed with the prices and quality offered by Baderon's very own." She paused, her look taking on a rather concerned look. "I might add that the cleanliness and safety on offer at the Drowning Wench - which, on many an evening, are rather below standard - still far exceeds most other Lominsan bars and taverns."

"Ahh, not you too - alls borin', you lot. Sometimes it'll not be 'bout who's got the nicest floors, Kanna," Baatar groused. "Hells - I'll wager, sometimes the more grime, the better! Y'know the Cryin' Priest? Small place, few minutes walk 'way from that nunnery by the Fishermans' Guild- whatsits name-"

"-the Convent of Dutiful Sisters of the Edelweiss?" Xomni'to finished.

"Aye, that'll be th'one."

Xomni'to sighed as Kanna audibly winced and rubbed at her forehead.

"Baatarsaikhan," Kanna chided, "from my very, very cursory look within the Crying Priest might actually be the most disgusting bar legally operating in Limsa Lominsa. Have you ever actually stopped to look at the state of - well - everything in there?"

"Aye, I has," Baatar replied, an eyebrow raised.

"I do not just mean the furniture or the flooring. I mean everything, and I have yet to even get to the clientele," Kanna continued. "I am almost entirely certain that the only reason they continue to possess a license to operate is because they are, ah...well connected, so to speak."

"Oi. Yer insultin' a fine establishment, y'are, an' the fine folk what call't home, too," Baatar replied, folding her arms crossly. "Clean? No. Safe? Mostly, s'long's ye keep outta trouble."

"Might I add that Momolk and I have - more than once - found Baatar coming home from that establishment with lost coin, missing clothes and no shortage of bruises?" Xomni'to interjected.

"Ahh, piss off - weren't nothin' more than scrapes 'n change I'd lost. Only a few times anythin' real serious happened thereabouts," Baatar mused, "and know that I thinks it anyfolk who'd be makin' big trouble more'n once never did come back."

Xomni'to exchanged a troubled glance with Kanna, before snorting. "Well - you really are not selling this place very well to Kanna, and I know myself that its reputation straddles the line 'twixt 'last resort when all else is closed,' and 'avoid at all costs.' So - no, we will not be going there."

"Bollocks. Momolk would've gone," Baatar grumbled, throwing her hands up. "Well - if we'll not be agreein' on anythin' here - how 'bout we 'port t'Ul'dah, an' has ourselves a samplin' o' Miss Momodi's finest? I'll be a Lominsan woman 'till me las' breath, aye, but even I'll be sayin' that the Quicksand's got the Drowning Wench beat if yer comparin' menus."

"That's - that is a good idea, actually," Xomni'to admitted, nodding. "Kanna?"

"I see no issue with that," Kanna agreed. "Let's be away, then?"

Within moments the three were standing in Ul'dah's own aetheryte plaza, and once they paid the gatekeeper made a brisk pace towards the Quicksand; the large wall-mounted chronometer which sat above the main bar listed the time at just around eight, and the spacious tavern was bustling with a cross-section of Ul'dah'n society - adventurer and civilian, labourer and merchant, poor and rich all filled countless tables and barstools. Still, the trio managed to grab a spot at the corner of the main bar, and after spending several minutes going over the tavern's menu Momodi managed to find a spare moment to swing by their corner.

"Oho, if it isn't Xomni'to, Baatarsaikhan and Kanna! What brings you three to this dusty corner of Eorzea this fine evening?" Momodi asked.

"Well, Xomni' here had hisself a real shite date-"

"-I would not go so far as to say it was bad-"

"-and now we's here to drink his sorrows away," Baatar finished, laughing at Momodi's bemused expression.

"Jesting aside, Momolk ran off on us," Kanna explained, "and rather than be dragged along to Baatar's drinking establishment of choice, the Quicksand seemed a compromise that all of us could appreciate."

"Oh," Momodi said, nodding slowly. " I understand, yes. She did stop by here briefly, as a matter of fact, though she did also say that in the unlikely chance you three ended up here I would best be served keeping quiet about her further destinations this evening."

"That's - huh," Baatar said, bewildered. "Something's done and crawled isself up her arse, y'know. Y'sure y'can't's be sayin' more?"

"You know my thoughts on revealing secrets," Momodi chided, wagging a finger at Baatar. "And besides - she won't be engaging in anything remotely dangerous - you've no cause to worry about your sister dearest."

"Ahhh, piss, if you says so I s'pose I'll take yer word for't," Baatar sighed.

"Now then - I can't just allow you to sit here and pay with conversation," Momodi continued, tapping at the menus on the table. "So what'll you three be having?"