I don't own any rights to Final Fantasy XI, Square-Enix, or anything affiliated to them. I'm just a fan of their games, and obviously Final Fantasy XI included.
Arc 1: Legends Lost and Worlds Forgotten: Chapter 2
He slept for hours, but was woken up by some shouting overhead. Clutching his Espadon, he ran up the stairs and barged through the door. But as he stepped outside, his grip loosened. A bunch of men in clocks were casting some odd magic. Looking to his right, he saw a few riffraff adventurers were attempting to fight off the animated skeletons the pirates had conjured up. Quickly enough, one of the skeletons had grasped some small amount of cargo and bounded over to the edge of the pirate ship. One of the crewmen pried the chest from the skeletal hands as the pirate stopped using his skill and the magicked bones vaporized. The paladin didn't know whether to detest these people for attacking bystanders on a fishing trip, or to be amused by the apparitions being brought seemingly to life.
"What're you doing?" he asked the necromancers. "These are innocent people."
"Oh, come on ya idiot paladin. Yarr…What do we look like? Pirates? As long as these people keep up a market, we'll exploit it. Garr…Facts of life. Get over it ya damned peace-monger. If we gotta, we'll take yer license." Even as he said it, his eyes stayed on his work. In spite of the rough appearance, he seemed calm, cold, and calculated.
"No, no. I apologize." He looked over to a pirate with some bitterness. He was about to head underdeck when he saw someone on the attacked boat. Damn, better get below before he notices me. But it was too late.
"What the hell are you doing over there, Altimo," An elvann thief clad in green and brown leather armor shouted.
Oh, damnit. Not Dart Boichi! Hopefully he won't notice me. But the elvann shouted again.
"You know my daggers are crap against these. C'mon Altimo!"
Damn, damn. Whatever, our ships will go our separate ways soon enough. He'll be the death of me. The ships did separate and he was glad the elvann was gone, not being in the mood for an annoyance that day. He walked down the stairs and sat himself with his back against some under-deck cargo. Staring at his superannuated sword as he placed it on his lap, he heard someone come down the stairs.
The doors opened widely. An unfamiliar figure from the deck of the ship came through the doors, a vermilion-colored cloak hiding much of his face. He was the one standing next to the man who had the argument over pirate ethics from above. "Heh, it amazes me that old Gilgamesh would even hand a license to some do-gooder like you. Bah, I don't even care how many people you've done in. You're but a lowlife once you get on this boat."
Altimo rubbed his eyes. Annoyances, annoyances. Why always me? "Ok, great. I apologize for getting in your way up there. I didn't mean it. I mean...I meant it, but this is a different place and I understand if your policies are different. Sorry."
"Listen, no problem. My name's Adolphus, heh." He backed into the wall. "I guess my day's just been stressful. I guess I was just doing my job, when you barge in and tell me that it's wrong. I got a bit annoyed is all. The fact is, I have been working on this ship for awhile. Then I get told some person from the mainland—who I've heard little of—is a priority… I guess it just makes me rethink my life. But I'm over it, heh. The ship should be embarking soon."
The paladin had to feel some sympathy for the guy, but not much considering the nature of his business.
The ship docked a few minutes later. When he disembarked he noticed the crowds of people greeting the ship. Most of them were saluting the ship with their right hands over their hearts and left hands behind their backs. Adolphus led the passengers—crewmen—off the ship with the mainlander picking up the rear. Not much to cover when there isn't anyone behind me.
The crew went down two long streets, both as long as a district of Jeuno. When they came upon the building "Hikari", they all stopped. Altimo bumped into the person in front of him accidentally, and jumped back. Adolphus was the only one who could approach the door. The necromancer whispered a code into the entrance of the door, waiting 5 seconds, and whispered something else. It couldn't be distinguished whether the first or second calls were the same, but after the second the door opened.
"Altimo!" Adolphus shouted, "Come. We shouldn't delay." The crewmembers between the guest and the captain all stepped to the side to allow the paladin a clear path. Any normal person on the street would probably be feeling uncomfortable.
Altana, I feel uncomfortable. But he quickly shook off the notion. He had been in strange lands with strange people before, just not any time recently. He reminisced the first days outside of Bastok and tried to remember what kept him focused—what kept him clear headed. Glory. Valor. Pride. Fame. Strength. Benevolence. Honor. No matter what he did, he did it in the name of his personal virtues. How I've forgotten.
He stepped inside the building and noticed the poor architecture. The walls were wooden, but full of holes and crevices and the paint was chipping. Pictures were hung up in places, though clearly various sharp objects have gotten hold of them. The drapes over some windows were either tattered or completely absent. A few generations ago and possibly this building was home to the wealthy. But now it was the next closest thing to a poorhouse. This place hasn't fallen over yet? After advancing to the end of the hallway and down a flight of stairs he finally saw why the shack was of any value.
At the bottom of the stairs they came to a second door. Adolphus took a key from his belt and inserted it into a lock above the knob. He twisted it and turned the doorknob at the same time. "Welcome Altimo to the den of the Nematoru Clan." He noticed his guest staring at the marble walls and floor, along with the ornately decorated furniture in the room. "Never seen any nice places in your life, have you? Heh, I guess it is a sight for sore eyes."
"Well, I guess I haven't seen a place like this for awhile. I'm finding myself staring at cermet and stone all day long. It's a nice place, it's just awfully surprising. Caught off guard possibly?"
"Listen, I have to go. Nobody is here at the moment, but Kittekure should be here in a moment. Take care!" Adolphus exited the room and shut the door.
A good time to skill up enhancing. Altimo looked around the room and laughed. "Closed doors. If Gilgamesh hadn't given this assignment to me, I'd assume it was a trap."
A/N: Yeah, my internet's been horrible, but I doubt I'm keeping many waiting. I'll try to get my chapters up faster especially because they're short. Take care. See you again!