leih aliapoh deserved better

I neglected to get any shots of everyone gathering before setting out (oops!) because I was too busy saying hello, and sending out friend requests (Did you know that you are capped at sending 7 friend requests per day? I didn't until last night!).

Like we did on the rite of succession two years ago, we set forth from Tuliyollal. Though this time with a MUCH larger party of adventurers.

The first leg of the trip was plagued by rain, so not the best travel photo weather. Though I have to share this shot of @sisitosito's little straw hat poking out of her tank.

Sun! Flowers! Punutiy! The true Kozama'uka experience (minus all the stuff with reeds).

Onwards to the soaring vistas and towering stonework of Urqopacha

And what would a visit to Urqopacha be without partaking of the hospitality (and mezcal) of the Pelu Pelu. We also picked up a late addition to our party here! It seems The Tyrant was also out traveling Tural, and decided to join our merry band. Bunzo learned a lot about the culture of The Arcadion, Solution 9 training techniques, and which fighters are and are not (allegedly) being mind controlled by cats.

I unfortunately neglected to get any shots of Yak Tel (those dark roads are tricky to drive on, so I left photography up to @laliluluho.

Shaaloani was also distracting. Though mainly because Bunzo was reminiscing about his previous trip through the area where he and Erenville became a couple ❤.

A brief rest stop at camp kitty cat.

We picked up a hitchhiker. @not-eorzeas-finest's Giddion hopped in the Bunzomobile for the northern leg of the journey.

We also crossed paths with another pair of wanderers! Good old Alpha and Omega were also making their way through Shaaloani.

I think they're complaining about my driving. I don't know why. I barely hit anyone.

Howdy.

A smaller, bluer howdy.

I got some shots of Heritage Found, but they are so so dark. You will have to picture it for yourself. It was very gray and black with some purple. You understand. You've seen it.

Speaking of purple! It's everyone's favorite purple city.

A quick stop to cool off after a lot of walking.

And then off to soar through the skies of the saddest place on the Ninth. At least the lights are back on now.

And then we arrive back where this post began. Surrounded by wonderful friends. Tired, grinning from ear to ear, and slightly misty eyed knowing that I will have to wait until next year to do this all again.

Some closer shots of the big group before my sappy final thoughts.

The Stormblood walk 3 months ago was my first time really participating in the social aspects of FFXIV in a meaningful way.I cannot thank everyone who joined in on that walk, and all of the others since then, for making the experience so wonderful. XIV already meant a lot to me as a game and a story, but you all have made it so much more than that. It really is a community full of warm, welcoming, funny, creative people.