#rjhet

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

E’er since we took down Grimm Lynn, work has been kinda slow. Sure, the Grand Companies seemed ta really appreciate us an’ gave us some much needed fundin’, buh that wasn’t gonna last forever. Ah finally got a hook fer some work, but it seemed really fishy. Usually Ah’d pass on work Ah din’t trust but...it’d been a bit an’ we needed the work. We rented out an airship from the Flames and bore our colors into Ishgardian territory.

Ah brought along two veterans...an’ Ah use tha’ term loosely mind ya, an’ two of our new folk. Didi an’ Mirara were as eager fer the work as Ah was. We recently hired a new engineer named Zwight, and as soon as Ah mentioned this job involved experimental mammets he was ready ta go! A fella bah the name of Nevi also joined us fer his first mission.

Once there we met up with a machinist named Doctor Lumenaux, our client. He explained tha’ he hired us as a third party cause his work wasn’t illegal, but would be frowned upon bah his countrymen. He was tryin’ to artificially recreate the echo in mammets, an’ claimed he had succeeded not once but -five- times! He introduced us to one of ‘em, a lil’ warrior named Wibble. Wibble told us the other four had been stolen by a rival; Doctor Surly. With no sign of funny business, we set out to find the missin’ mammets.

We found the tower easily ‘nuff thanks to a small drone that was able to track one’a the mammets. We still had to get past the tower’s automatic defenses though. Luckily Zwight was -easily- able ta sneak up an’ disable them all. Ah don’t regret hirin’ him at all! He even managed ta do somethin’ to the mechanical door leadin’ inside an’ got us inside safely.

Not far from the entrance we got stuck in a trapped hallway. Again Zwight’s quick thinkin’ saved the day. He pried off a panel of wall and fiddled with the wires n’ doodads, somehow deactivatin’ the trap. While he did that, Mirara managed ta use some peanut oil to unlock the cage walls keepin’ us from progressin’. The team is really comin’ together.

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

Ah gathered the Talons as soon as Ah got the message. E-Sumi-Yan of the Conjurer’s guild had replied to the letter Ah sent him. He said he had more information fer us as well as questions. He wanted us ta get to Gridania as quickly as we could, and even paid fer our airship tickets. Mirara was thrilled, seein’ as how she used to study there. Hell walkin’ those halls again would be a trip down memory lane fer me as well, though that was a lifetime ago feels like.

Bein’ in the heart of the guild again really took me back. Ah felt like mah life was comin’ full circle. It had been a bit past a decade since Ah was here last. Ah was a much different person back then Ah think. Ah hadn’t left much of an impression, though Mirara apparently had. She was quick ta offer to refill the lanterns an’ such and even promised to be extra careful and avoid making fires this time. The looks on the other conjurers’ faces spoke volumes about her track record here, and Ah couldn’t help but chuckle. Calm and patient as always, E-Sumi-Yan thanked Mirara fer comin’, and told her no chores were needed. Ah always did like that feller.

He told us he thought he knew who Grimm Lynn was, and asked us a few questions ‘bout her appearance first. Didi was able to confirm his suspicions, and he told us ‘bout a padjal he thought died in the Calamity. Her name was Lynn-U-Kemnu, and he said they were close once. He din’t go into details ‘bout her history much, as most of mah fellow Talons were more concerned with how ta stop her. Can’t say Ah blame ‘em none. He said with the help of other padjal, he could temporarily weaken her connection to the life stream an’ thus limit her power. He warned that doin’ so would probably cut off her connection to her immortals and thus doom a lotta innocents. He wanted ta focus on recoverin’ the hearts first, and that was somethin’ Ah agreed with fully. As we spoke Mirara mentioned the golem we slew awhile back, and E-Sumi-Yan had an idea. He said he could trace the magic’s source and hopefully track Lynn down. Such magics are complex though, and he’d need folks to watch his back while he performed them. Naturally, we agreed.

We gathered at an alter way out in the Shroud. E-Sumi-Yan sat with the golem’s heart in the middle of it and warned that this magic would attract aggressive elementals. We agreed to defend him as he did what he needed to do. Since there were four of us, we divided up the area around into quadrants and kept our eyes peeled.

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

With some of the riskier jobs we’ve taken lately, a couple of us have been pausin’ ta consider if this is really the line of work we want. Ah, of course, will see this through buh several Talons have opted ta leave. Breaks mah heart, buh their lives are their own. Ah decided tha’ if Ah’m gonna continue on this path, Ah -need- ta get mah aether back in line. Ah contacted an ol’ friend named Iria ( @divine-ruin ) who we’ve helped before.

Ah told her ‘bout how back in mah younger days mah ol’ friend Pieraux Cobolt an’ Ah took a job in Ishgard trackin’ down a rogue magi. When we got him, we discovered a small library filled with heretical tomes. After a brief review, we opted ta keep one each. The books spoke of rituals to unlock hidden powers. We were young n’ stupid, an’ went though with it. He gained access to Black Magic, an’ Ah got powers similar to the Dark Knights of eld. We’ve both suffered fer it...badly.

She listened to mah story, an’ decided ta first observe mah powers in action. Ah spared with her husband Cavero first without channelin’ mah powers, then again with them. She took notes all the while, payin’ close attention. Cavero was an -excellent- duelist, and bested me both times. Ah’m gonna hafta train with him more often ta improve mah technique.

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

Just in time fer us ta finish reconstruction on the Ruby Wing (more on that later), we got word from Edward again. Grimm Lynn had sent out Elder Stone ta pose as some kinda new age religious group an’ try ta recruit some folks from Lil’ Ala Mhigo. As soon as we got the word, Ah gathered the Talons on hand an’ headed out.

Bah the time we got there the speech bein’ given was almost done. We had a plan ta capture Elder Stone an’ try to interrogate him afterwards, but things took a turn -real- quick. Cavero opted ta stay away, bein’ a well groomed Ishgardian he figured he’d stick out like a sore thumb. While he was scoutin’ around, he spotted an airship hidin’ in a nearby canyon. Among the passengers was a short woman wearing a horned skull mask. It was Grimm Lynn herself!

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

The man who’s been deliverin’ messages from Edward came in person today. Fearin’ the power of Lynn he insists on usin’ an alias. Goin’ by “Ace”, he told us how he’s been able to get information faster from Edward bah playin’ Triple Triad with him an’ usin’ some kinda code. Men after mah own heart, lemme tell ya!

Edward reported tha’ in order fer Lynn to heal herself she had ta let a few folks go fer a few minutes, includin’ him! Ah can’t imagine the fear of knowin’ yer gonna die fer a few minutes, buh luckily accordin’ to Ace he’s fine now. Let’s us know a bit more ‘bout Lynn’s power anyway. This had a strange effect of allowin’ Edward to see a bit more inta Lynn’s eyes an’ those of her followers. He kept seein’ this one warehouse, an’ figured it was important. This time we opted ta take the initiative an’ act first.

Ah helped Mirara set up a distraction not far away; a Heavensturn celebration complete with bright an’ loud fireworks. Her bubbly personality pulled through and she got a lot of very bored guards to come and celebrate with her. Ah could only do mah part with her as the remainin’ Talons snuck into the warehouse.

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

We got a refreshingly straight forward case today. A priest bah the name of Elder Stone was investigatin’ the Sunken Temple of Qarn when they awoke an’ old defense mechanism; a colossal golem! The Limsan priest was offerin’ a nice reward fer the group tha’ could take it down. Naturally, we volunteered.

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

Didi, Akari, and Ah went out on an information gatherin’ mission a bit ago. We had asked Edward ‘bout his mistress an’ why she needed the crystals. He said as a retainer he din’t have the details, but he arranged a meetin’ with one’a Grimm Lynn’s associates. The fella was one’a those types that had an answer fer everything. Akari called him out, since we -knew- they were up ta no good but we din’t have proof. The fella had back up come ‘round in case a fight broke out, buh Didi’s cool head talked Akari down. We ‘ventually found Edward at the Drownin’ Wench, and convinced him ta tell us wha’ he knew. He told us tha’ Grimm Lynn is always watchin’ and that it might kill him ta talk. Ah admire his courage, cause he decided ta talk anyway. He told us Lynn has a small army of “immortals” like himself, kept alive bah her magicks. He doesn’t know what their goals are, buh apparently she has folks all over Eorzea! Edward din’t wind up keelin’ over, which leads me ta believe Grimm Lynn may not be as omniscient as she claims. We let him go jus’ in case, and he agreed ta do what he could fer us.

We ‘ventually heard back from him. Turns out he uses Lynn’s busier times as a smoke screen ta write a letter an’ sneak it to us. He told us ‘bout a crystal scepter capable of drawin’ a lotta aether from nearby was bein’ transported into Ul’dah, an’ Grimm Lynn was fixin’ ta rob it. We were gonna hafta board a movin’ train ta rescue folks an’ keep that from gettin’ stolen. The chase was on!

((Character: R’jhet Nunh))

We got a client bah the name of Edward the other day. He was a retainer bah trade, and had gotten involved in an accident transportin’ crystals fer his mistress. While on an airship, the engine blew and crashed out in the desert. He needed help recoverin’ the crystals before the Amal’ja got ‘em. The race against the clock had begun!

We arrived with enough time ta explore the crashed ship a touch. Ah ventured out ta keep an eye out fer Amal’ja while mah crew tried ta gather what they could. Couple of things we found odd though. Fer one, there were no crystals. There were boxes labeled as havin’ crystals, buh it was jus’ bags of sand fer the weight. Also the captain was missin’ from the bodies.

Before long the Amal’ja forces came racin’ in. Ah lured the cavalry away, buh the foot soldiers still swarmed the ship. Ah’m proud ta say mah crew held their own very well, even the newer folks. Ah myself got in a bit o’er mah head buh mah chocobo R’kweh n’ Ah were both able ta recover. We eventually found a few boxes that were -actually- filled with crystals and went home ta return them to Edward.