So the chains were broken...

...finally, after much delay, CoP was beaten for the time being with the defeat of Promathia, the Twilight God (Daddy!) with the aid of great friends from GYS, including Eckardt, who I'm proud to say, despite me poking him into CoP originally, finished the series ahead of me while I took a vacation, got his Tamas Ring! Being the friend that he is, he was one of a few who prodded me into getting mine complete, and came along to revisit CoP 8-3 and 8-4. However, just as the Red Mage is a Warrior Mystic, I do work on all jobs...as such, my choice differed when offered the choice of relics by the Cardinal: I chose the Rajas Ring:


But that is getting to the end before the details of the beginning, isn't it? Forgive the poor quality of my pictures, sometimes it's hard to take good shots while not actually holding the camera, you know? But I went back down memory lane to start pulling up pictures of a few of the members that mean so much to me, in particular the ones who kept reminding me to complete CoP and gave me the inspiration to continue on when our original static had split.

Eckardt: I remember dragging you to the earlier promies, and then CoP times diverged for us, but we met back up at mammets, I think, and from then on, you were the power within our static, and wanted to make sure that we both made it to the end, even when vacations and static splits tried to keep that from happening. I appreciate you for all that, and for always being true to your way of honor. Also, the duties of group photographer is something we all appreciate, even as I swipe that picture from your collection, as all mine of you came out rather blah >.>



Valynne: I can't think of words in the English language to describe the kindness and selflessness of this wonderful woman. Very atypical Elvaan from those you meet in general, always has the best interests of her friends before herself. Sadly my pictures were my no means optimal of Val, but updated today on 05/21/07, she donated me a picture from our run through 8-2 so I could have a much more modern version. You can still lend your grace to my song anyday, hon. Mamboleo? xD



The CoP static: Vitehite, Bryer, Anubahnnu (I repeatedly misspelled that :P), Azean, Toree, Mirrodin, Cerene, and all those who helped our core along the way. CoP is a daunting task as it is, but with a reliable core group, it makes it that much less daunting. Thank you all for being willing to endure through to the depths of the sea. A special thanks to Vite - your leadership and prior experience was invaluable, thanks for sharing your experience with us!



GraveyardShift LS: For helping the adopted one out with the final battles of CoP though you'd all completed it already. I appreciate it more than can be said through these simple words. Though my times have caused me to drift from your presence a lot, I'm still supporting you in spirit. Sumiko, Dahoman, Kaname, Keana, thanks for helping to shatter some pottery and save our realm yet again from the God of Twilight's rebirth.

Time has shifted around me now...and a large part of me feels lost in this land with which I am so familiar. Not the path around, but merely trying to find my place in this world again. Would seem like I would be more active, but right now, I think I'm still adjusting to the shift, been very tiring working out in the heat instead of the cool nights that I was used to having, haha!

Walk on the ocean...step on the shore...

Sing with me! Gotta love Extreme! Well, as to CoP progress, all I can say is already explained here...And boy, did killing Omega and Ultima feel good!!! Go go RDM nuking, haha! And thanks to all who came: Eckardt, Vitehite, Azean, Mirrodin, Hediger, and our guest tanks, Giorgioarmani and of course, Victoriasecret! But that being said, of course that now leaves me to say even more, haha! Thank you Eck, for the wonderful pictures, truly you're the historian and photographer of our group! ((And the source of the screenshots that I'll abuse here without draining your server, heh!))

Well, the first run was...weird. Some kinda way, when the NIN had aggroed and was being healed, the WHM had drawn hate from them, and it rapidly spiraled downhill from there. Soon, the entire party was looking at a less-than-eventful view of the airship, and we chose to just be booted out of the BC at this point. ((Editing: Found out the aggro was due to healing MP by resting somewhat near the kiting.))

After raising up outside, we went in for a second bout, which went much better, but a beatdown by Omega halted that. We reraised and went into operation Burst, just for our amusement to realize that it had the Magic Shield up! I, for one, had a huge laugh at that, and we got up and Eck nuked it for spite and the CS begins, showing us with... 1 second remaining! ((And the apparant difference of lag from my machine to Eck's, he had 2... <.<)) No chance of beating Ultima there, I assure you! I popped a few hi-ethers out my tank, and passed the rest of my Yagudo drinks around, since we were low, and I just figured I would refresh only myself in case we got to that supposed point where MP would be scarce, and the RDM wouldn't have time to refresh the mages. Alrighty, now that we had a general idea of how things should flow, it went much better! Third time truly was the charm (Well, first non-dry run, haha!). Mammets went down quickly this time, as we had less MP and such remaining due to more nuking, and I was trying my damndest to avoid using Convert unless it was neccessitated. I was quite pleased that I didn't have to use it this section. On to Omega, who everyone did a great job on; we had, I think, something like 33 minutes remaining at this point? Oh yeah, much better than the dry runs. My job basically amounted to keeping the NIN and WAR hasted, which was ugh a bit at first, as I thought WHM was keeping the NIN hasted and I did the rest, oopsy! Oh well, once I realized that, we were fine the rest of the way, nearest I could tell. A bit awkward with my Haste cycle starting with the nin, but just did it every time I threw my refresh to make sure it stayed on, and pretty much was constantly casting some sort of Debuff on Omega! I converted about 1/2 way through, hoping it would be up again for Ultima, and I was appeased. :) Towards the end, I joined in on the nuking, and managed to pull off the murder of Omega!
Riding a high at the 22-ish minutes left for Ultima, we reupped our buffs, and charged forward through the CS into battle yet again! Ultima was pretty much the same strategy as Omega, and I should mention that Aspir is joyous for these, it's like a way that Eck and I would replenish our MP pools at his expense! Everyone did such a great job on these beasts that I actually kept a haste and refresh cycle for a majority of both battles, and only healed in fix-it spots when WHM needed a brief rest. Then of all the cheese --- I swiped the kill on Ultima too!


Enjoy the view, and we'll see you in sea! Which, ironically enough, I find myself to be in a small select few adventurers who have attained sea before attaining access to Sky. Well, ain't that something? Looks like I need to hurry up and fly! Zilart - Do you need it? Can I have it? lawl!

Maze of Madness!

So our group gathered at the gates to the dread Sacrarium, where earlier there was a painful memory that needed to be erased along the pathway to our Promathian dreaming. So the usual crew of Bryer, Anu, Eckardt, and myself were joined by some others in need of the mission. Ramathorne (MNK), Cerene (NIN), Mirrodin (BST) (with her pet Blubber Eye that she made into a familiar), Hediger (SMN), and Akiraku (SAM). Verrick was nice enough to come along as WHM to help us out on this one, and we handled the ghosts fairly simply enough. I kept somehow drawing hate with just paralyze and slow at first, which rather annoyed me, but that's what I have Stoneskin and Blink for, isn't it? Haha! We finally corralled the teleporting old ghost, and it was destroyed to allow us access to the keys.



Eck and I went around and talked to quite a few people afterwards, but people kept distracting me during it, so I'll let him tell you about it instead. Look over there on the right side and you'll find a path to his pad (Where I stole this picture). Have fun, I'm kinda busy tonight!! ^_~

For Honor and Country

Well, during this gap of things happening, a mad dash was made against some Anticans in support of the Galka in the Bastok Mines district, which the President actually supported us in. It was rather refreshing to be able to at least think that he might truly care about the good of all our people. We journeyed through the Quicksand Caves and to Kuftal Tunnel, seeking out the clues left by the wandering Werei in the name of the Talekeeper's Quest. Thanks to Anjana, Lexi, Hatchetwarrior, Pupp, Enedin, and anyone else whose name now slips my mind. That's what I get for waiting this long to tell the tale, eh?

I know, I know! Guan, didn't you say you were going to add more pictures? Yes, I did. But that would require me not doing things in my limited time and instead just going through the navigator to clear loads of S/s. (Would help if they let me do that during UPDATES!!! ><)

Ahhh, and Diabolos. It was a fun battle, but one that he stood no chance in! Aurridaur (BLU/???), Vitehite(WHM/BLM), Anu (BLM/WHM), Ssjgogeta (NIN/WAR), myself (RDM/NIN) and Werewolf (THF/NIN) went into the depths of the shadows and sought out the Terrestrial Avatar of Dreams, Diabolos. And ... we promptly handed him his arse. There wasn't even a danger of death. Major props to Aurridaur who Head Butted his WSs into oblivion, as Nightmares never were able to come out. I really could've slept through this one, HAHAHA! Onward we go to Riverne Site B01.

Towards the demons...

So they tell me of a place called the Shrouded Maw...it is where our little party shall be venturing next. Bryer, Anubahnu (aka, the one I massacre in spelling ><), Luneve, Jaymu, and myself will pull another, likely Verrick again (if he's around and available!) will be venturing into the depths of the area to seek out the dark one, Diabolos. Being well prepared with medicines in CoP is a necessity, but I should revert to our Promies as evidence of that.

Jumping topics like a game of Q-Bert, the Mammets....were astoundingly easy. Of course, I got to show the joys of RDM/NIN there, and run around kiting the peons with Bryer while the core party battered the other down one at a time. Then Bryer took hers back to the party, and soon it was just me and a little Mammet. It was iceday, though, and bind was working well until it changed into mageform...."Eh? Firaga? You mutha...SILENCE!" That being done, it was just a leisurely jog across the room, and healing a bit while the Mammett waited on the spell to wear, and then found it upon him again as it switched to Warrior, only to whiff at my images as I trotted across the field again. Then the rest of the crew stormed into the circle, and we proceeded to light up the Mammet's world. Even our gimpy RNG *nudge nudge* Jaymu landed a few shots here and there. So with that, we ran about talking to lots of people and tracking the lost tarus, and well...it was a damn lot of detective work that eventually led us to the coming showdown with Diabolos.

Oh, the places you'll go!

Yes, that was a wonderful book by the legendary Dr. Seuss. However, it also explains my joy at having access to Lufaise Meadows, as through a great team, including Bryer (WAR/NIN), Luneve (SAM/WAR), Vitehite (SMN/WHM), Eckardt (WHM/BLM), and Echriedz (I think I spelled that right, WAR/NIN), with myself going as WAR/NIN as well, we managed to complete the final part of the puzzle, Promyvion-Mea. It was a great battle, and the Delver truly is an annoying creature with its painful Carousel move...quite annoying. But the anima trips paid off, as it was paralyzed a majority of the battle, even though I get the short end and reraise when it got pulled and anima'd again, only to find the joy of another spinning horsey move, which let me die-through to Lufaise though. >< Great place to wakeup, and then Vitehite escorted me to Tavzanian Safehold. Next step is to go through and get all those maps, yessir.

I feel very blessed to have gone with the great groups we've gone with. Through the excellent leadership of Vitehite, we ran into very little trouble the entire way up all of the promys. Looking forward to getting an Alliance together for the Minotaur fights, perhaps in conjunction with the Lords of Hydra LS. Awesome group they are. I run about with them a bit, but they're on GMT generally, which is a horrid fit with my schedule. Great group of cats, though.