Well, yesterday Ul'dah was all abuzz with talk of a wandering minstrel and goobbues.. After delving a little further into the gossip I discovered there were tamed goobbues, and this wandering minstrel in La Noscea knew the secret to controlling them!

Airashii, Furia and me gathered up and traveled to Bloodshore, before traveling south to Red Rooster Stead, the trail of goobbues and riders leading us to this goobbue tamer.

We had to push past a few of the great, hulking beasts to make it to him, but eventually we were able to converse with this foreign minstrel in strange garb and listen to the story of how he came to tame the goobbue. In awe we listened to him, and at the end of his tale he granted each of us a horn. This horn held the power to summon our very own goobbue steed.

I ran off and found myself a quiet spot, before pressing the horn to my lips and blowing hard. Immediately I heard thundering footsteps coming from behind me. I turned and my hair stood on end at the sight of this monstrous creature charging at me full speed, arms flailing wildly behind it. Before I could turn and run it had scooped me up in it's arms and threw me up on top of its head, onto a blanket that matched the rest of its tamed kin.

Calming myself, I peered down at it's face as it stared blankly into space.. "Strange creature.." I remember thinking. With no way of of knowing what gender this thing was.. And no real want to check.. I decided to name 'her' Boyahda. It just seemed to feel right, and made me think of some half-remembered tales my sister, Kalika, told me of the goobbue back home.

Back home in Thanalan, Boyahda certainly proved a trusty steed equal to Alfie.. Though perhaps not as intelligent as my lovable bird. I tested her to see if she could help with harvesting.. I doubt those conjurers and elementals would have approved when she began ripping flowers, leaves and roots into the air in a cloud of greenery. Unfortunately none of it was salvageable, so I quickly had her carry us off before we were spotted with the evidence..

I've also found I have to be very very direct with her. If I'm not careful she will plow her way through any critter or person unlucky enough to be in her path.. She's widened those passages through the cliff face with her swinging arms, making me fear of cave ins.. Charged through trees leaving me scratched to pieces upon her back.. And run straight through the awnings at Camp Horizon, knocking me off in the process. I had to pay good gil to that camp officer there for the repairs too..

But she keeps the creatures of the desert at bay with her hulking mass at least. And that always comes in handy. Boyahda, my latest steed, is a great addition to the team in my opinion.

~Rakshi Zahrann