Exalted, the linkshell I had joined, fell apart a few weeks ago. It's a shame, the leader bailed on us to go do his own thing and it just couldn't survive without some sort of leadership. Fortunately I had made friends with one of the shell's officers, Mr Gun Anam and a friendly miqo'te named Green Lizard and we began our search for new friends together! At first there were a few suggestions, and we joined a couple different groups but none seemed to be a good fit for us.
One day I did hear from Gun that he had joined a new linkshell called Luna Veneris. The name alone was enough to perk my ears up, I'd heard of its good reputation a few times. So I got a copy of their recruitment questions from Gun and sat down on a comfy seat next to the fountain in Ul'dah. It took me a while but eventually I got it done before nightfall and gave it to him to pass on to an officer.
To keep things short I was accepted into their group with open arms, and I haven't looked back! Since then even Green has joined and keeps on poking fun at me for my height, only in good fun obviously. With the help of Luna Veneris and it's members I've improved my skill in tanning by quite a bit, and have even joined the guild in Gridania.
Enough of that though, today I was lucky enough to join my friends for a special event.. A scavenger hunt! Not since I was a kitten have I been part of one. Owen Lightforge was kind enough to organise it and the linkshell was buzzing, wondering what we would have to search for.
Finally, the list was made available to us and the hunt began! We had to take pictures of ourselves to prove we had completed each objective. They were~ Find a white-haired miqo'te not in Luna Veneris,
Find L'dhakya and her chocobo,
Find a particular waterfall in Gridania,
Dance on the stage in the Miner's guild,
Find a cliff where you can see all of the city of Limsa Lominsa,
Find a prickly cactuar,
Take a bow on stage in Gridania,
Find the monument in Limsa Lominsa,
And finally, find one of our officers and cheer them on.
I stopped my crafting as soon as I got a copy of the list and began the hunt. I was in Limsa Lominsa, and I had only walked a few yalms when I saw Kamome Don, a white-haired Sun Seeker. What a great start! I ran out of Limsa Lominsa and up a great cliff, determined to reach the top where I then had an awe-inspiring view of the city. It truly was the prettiest I've seen this place. Running back into the center of town and made my way to the docks, looking for this statue.. Eventually I found it overlooking the bay.
At this point I was in the lead and I quickly teleported home to Ul'dah, and straight to the local bar. I climbed up on stage, out of breath, and done a quick jig before jumping down, embarrassed at the stares of the patrons and teleporting to Camp Horizon. I looked for Cactuars as I made my way to the ferry, sure I had seen L'dhakya there before. Sure enough I found her, but still no sign of a Cactuar. I set off running back the way I came.. I say running, but by that point it was more of a fast walk.
Between Camp Drybone and the outskirts of Twelveswood I finally found one of the buggers and ran up to it, careful not to brush against it and it's needles. Wish that objective cleared off my list I was far in the lead! Only three more objectives were left so I teleported to the woodland city of Gridania. I began looking for this stage, but I was hopelessly lost. Looking at my map I noticed a clearing that could be just what I was looking for, so I headed in that direction. Turning into the winding pathway, I bumped into something.. Or someone. Looking up I seen Jiovan Dmontreve, an officer of the linkshell!
In a flash he was off running in the other direction, avoiding looking at me. "Grr, come back here, Jio!" I growled as I ran hot on his trail. I pushed past a few bewildered people as I raced after him, but I was running at such a speed that when he stopped and the strange teleporting lights surrounded him I couldn't stop in time and went flying past him. I turned round just in time for him to vanish from sight. I was not an amused woman at all.
Sighing I walked back to where I'd bumped into him and up the path. There was the stage and I stood upon it and bowed to the empty clearing, glad there was nobody around to wonder what I was doing. Crossing it off my list I admit I was a bit smug that I still had a fair lead and began looking for a waterfall. It took me a couple hours but finally I found it and took a quick drink while I was there. Exhausted I looked at the last thing on my list.. Cheering at an officer.
I was still in the lead but it wasn't long until another caught up with me. My friend, Green Lizard, only needed to find an officer too. I hunted high and low in Gridania but there was no sign of any. I heard someone mention Sariae was in Blackbrush so I teleported there but must have just missed her. I ported to Ul'dah, and Limsa Lominsa and found nobody. By that point Green had found an officer by the name of Tsuki and had won first prize, and Naurha had caught up and came in second.
Hearing that Tiili was in Gridania I teleported there, but as soon as I left the aetheryte clearing an elezen turning the corner caught my eye. I followed him, curious, and there was Jiovan! With his back to me I ran up behind him and cheered, loud enough I knew he couldn't deny I'd found him and completed the hunt!
I was a bit upset I'd only managed to get third place and win 15,000 gil, until a kind man named Lark announced he'd been planning on giving third place the middle man award! Out of his own pocket he awarded me an extra 45,000 gil! Which added up to more than even Green in first place had won. That sure made my day. Oh, and it had taken me just over a whole day to complete the search!
Even now, we're still waiting for a fourth and fifth place winner, it just keeps on going until then. I'll write who they are in my next writing.
~Rakshi Zahrann