The Chronicles Of Spence

Chapter 1

Day 5: It's only been 5 days since the accident, but it feels as though it has been a year. The plague has spread quickly through the world. I don't know how many of us normals are left. Lilbusta found us a safe house for the time being. There is a supply of ammo down the road, but it's too dangerous to go outside right now. We have enough food to last us about 2 weeks, barring us finding any more refugees. I <blood stain renders the rest of the entry unreadable>.

Day 8: The safe house spoken of in the last entry is no longer safe. We've spent the last 3 days on the run. Marz tried to lighten the mood by fashioning a helmet out of a mutated skull. We all laughed joylessly. Can't be cheery in these conditions. We've begun keeping a record of kills notched in our weapons. I have 28 kills. Marz has 27. Lilbusta has 21. Dameshi has 20. Funny, I don't feel like a winner.

Day 16: We're reduced to 3. The zombies seem to be gaining intelligence, as they devised a trap for us. Only Lilbusta, Marz, and I escaped. Damn those zombies. We're trying to make our way to Whitegate. We hear there is salvation there. It's going to be a long journey, I hope we can hold out. Hope is all we can do at this point.

Day 20: I saw another survivor get torn apart before my very eyes. It was horrifying. The zombies descended upon him like Kungfuhustle used to descend upon defenseless children. Infact, I think KFH was one of the zombies. I can't be sure. There were too many for us to engage them. We were forced to watch in horror.

Day 22: We've made our way to Buburimu. We're hoping the boats are still running to Nashmau. If not, we could be in trouble.. <rest of the page is torn off>

Taken from the Journal of Spence.

Chapter 2

Day 24: The boats are operational, however, the town is on lock down. Nothing can enter. The plague has begun effecting the wildlife. I never thought I'd be so afraid of a elvaan dhalmel. Our hope is beginning to fade. If Whitegate is truly our only chance of survival, we MUST get there. We decide to head to Selbina, perhaps we will have better luck there.

Day 25: Food is scarce. Can't eat the plagued animals, and plants have started to turn as well. We came across a dead galka. He didn't seem infected, so we dug in. I hate myself for it, but he wasn't using his flesh for anything anymore. It's a taste I'll never forget, with a smell that was even worse. I vomited twice during the meal.

Day 26: We've made it to Tahrongi Canyon. It seems the Yagudo here are dealing with the plague as well. Some have turned, some haven't. The look in their eyes as they slay their former friends and family is unnerving. Sure they're beastmen, but it's still a disheartening sight. At least it's comforting knowing we're not the only ones suffering.

Day 29: Too weak to write everyday... Need food... Lilbusta looks tasty...

Day 31: Meriphataud Mountains. We were able to make it to the Outpost. We found some food there. Marz was quite cheery at the thought of a good meal. It's refreshing seeing her in a good mood. Maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight.

Day 33: We had a fierce battle today. There must have been 30 of 'em at least. I need to get to a wh<blood is smeared across the entry> changing.

Day 36: The pace is grueling. I can hardly keep up with the injured leg. I know there has to be other survivors along the way. There just has to be. We can't be the only three left.

Day 37: We fought a plagued colibri today. Funny, it didn't feel much different than a normal colibri. It's almost as if the plague has a different effect on beasts. I'm losing hope that anywhere in the world is free from the plague.

Day 39: We had to stop for the day. I just couldn't go on any longer with no food and an injured leg. Marz and Lil are taking turns scavenging for food. <corner of the page is ripped off>

Day 41: The journey is <rest of the entry is missing>

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence.

Chapter 3

Day 42: My leg is getting worse each day. The wound is infected... What it's infected with is what I'm afraid of. Marz and Lil try to comfort me, but we all know the possibilities. I may end up as a notch in a weapon.

Day 43: We were able to fashion a rather sturdy crutch, so the journey continues. It's tough fighting with only one good leg, and barely any rest. I haven't had a peaceful sleep since this whole thing went down. I can't say the same for Lilbusta. Perhaps it's his snoring keeping me awake.

Day 45: I haven't been able to keep anything down as of late. I feel so weak all the time. I'm not even sure where we are. I've been told we made it to Sauromugue Champaign. Everything looks the same to me. Bleak. Desolate. Dead.

Day 47: Zombie Mandragoras. Lots of them. So tired. Can't lift arm.

Day 48: Found a scholar named Rowland today. He tried to heal up my leg. Says he's never seen any infection like it and we need to find a white mage. Great, just the news I wanted to hear.

Day 50: We're nearly out of food. We've been rationing, but there just isn't enough to go around, especially between 4 people now. I hear the constant howls of wolves. We've made camp along the road. Rowland said he came from what was left of Jeuno. I keep hearing this shuffling noise in between wolf howls.

Day 51: Fuck Marlboros. They caught Marz with their bad breath. We're hoping she recovers soon. In the meantime, Row and Lil are taking shifts carrying her. We must continue, we cannot stop. I can't even feel my leg anymore. I'm not sure if it's numb, or I just got used to the pain.

Day 52: My leg has begun turning green. We made a fire and burnt the wound. Still hurts like hell. We're nearing Rolanberry Fields. I see something ahead on the road. Perhaps some more survivors.

Day 53: The object in the road was a destroyed, empty wagon. An ambush. I still don't now how we survived. Hordes of zombies poured onto us like Galkas pour into a mine. Rowland definitely came in handy. He cast a spell, taking down over 10 at once in a great show of thunder and lightning. He'll be winning the kill total soon enough.

Day 54: The green has spread. Nearly half of my leg is green now. I fear I will lose it before too long. Marz is still unconscious. We're out of food again. I don't ever want to eat Galka again.

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence.

Chapter 4

Day 55: Today has been one of the better days we've had in awhile. Marz finally woke up. I'm not sure if Rowland is happy she's awake, or happy because he won't have to carry her anymore. During our travels, we happened upon an uninfected garden. While most of the plants have died, some still remained. We enjoyed a meal of potatoes and carrots, and shoved the rest into our bags. Lil was also successful on his hunt today. He bagged us 5 rabbits and a zu. We used the feathers from the zu and the skin from the rabbits to make some pillows. I'm not sure that's the reason none of us can sleep, I still think it's Lil's snoring.

Day 56: Something doesn't seem right. We've made it to Rolanberry Fields, but everything just seems so... normal. The sun was shining, a nice breeze was blowing, the birds were singing, and the Crawlers were playing. Seeing everything so peaceful put me at unease. It's almost as if I prefer the desolation.

Day 57: We decided it would be safest to travel along the mountain line, which means we went past Crawler's Nest today. Zombie crawlers and elvaan poured from the cave. We had no choice but to fight, as I could not run with this blasted leg. Lil sustained an arm injury. I think my foot is beginning to shrivel.

Day 58: Another survivor! We ran into someone named Krizz today. He was out on a zombie killing rampage. He has a big ass bag with him filled with food and other supplies. Better yet, he's a white mage. He took a look at my leg and cast a few healing spells. He said everything will be fine, but I could sense the insincerity in his voice.

Day 59: Krizz must know what he's doing, as Lil's arm is healing up nicely. I think my leg has stopped turning a darker shade of green, but it's not looking any better today. I guess it takes time. We head f<blood covers the rest of the entry>

Day 60: <More blood> bad idea.

Day 61: We sent Krizz and Marz to scout ahead into Pashow. They have yet to return. I can hear things moving around us. Zombies no doubt. Lil is on edge. My leg is still green. I can see Krizz eyeing my leg from time to time, much like a vulture eyes a dying animal. He knows more than he tells me. I only vomited once today, maybe I am getting better.

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence.

Chapter 5

Day 62: Row and I awoke this morning to find Lil missing. It was his turn to watch. Coincidently I was able to sleep, so I believe the snoring theory holds some merit, but I digress. We checked around camp and noticed what appeared to be the markings of two creatures with about 6-8 legs, dragging something. Crawlers. Most likely taking Lil back to their nest. I never thought they were carnivores. Then again, I doubt we're dealing with normal crawlers. Row thinks it's best to wait for Krizz and Marz to return before searching for Lil. I hope we're not too late.

Day 63: Marz and Krizz have returned from their scouting mission. Seems as though the Marshlands are some kind of stronghold for the zombies. Krizz used his tracking skills to find where they've taken Lil. Just as I thought, Crawler's Nest.

Day 64: Today we assaulted Crawler's Nest. For the first time, my leg has felt strong enough for me to walk without the aid of my crutch. It had to, the fight was fierce. I never would have made it out alive relying on a stick. It's been so tough on me, since monks rely on their body as their weapon, but I feel as though I've done pretty well thus far. As we descended into the cave, a gust of cold air chilled my spine. The cave was musty, and smelled much like a galka after a hard day in the mines. The path was treacherous. Many small cliffs and holes barred us from setting a quick pace. It felt like an eternity just making our way to the center of the cave. What awaited us there was a site so horrible, I don't even want to write it down. But I must.

As we entered the clearing, we saw no less than 60 crawlers. Each one's flesh a green rotting color. A familiar, green rotting color. But that's not what was horrifying. No less than 30 cocoons lined the walls. Some were moving, most were not. Cocoons filled with their victims. They were preparing them for dinner.

We set upon the crawlers. Row opened up with a surprise Graviga* on the beasts. Marz used her superior ninja skills to distract a few of them and kite them around while Row obliterated them with magic. Seeing their flesh melt under the fire was sickening. Krizz stayed behind and kept us all alive. I dove right into the middle of the group, swinging my fists with an unparalleled fury. With each punch came the sound of bones crunching and blood squirting. I don't remember much more than that, the bloodlust must have taken a hold on me. I just remember being surrounded by a myriad of crawler corpses. We proceeded to open up all the cocoons. Most contained corpses. The stench was unbearable, the sight was worse. The victims rotted from the inside out. Just a slight touch, and their skin would burst open, revealing what looked like chopped liver. We found a total of 5 survivors, including Lilbusta. Only Lil and a Blue Mage by the name of Sectumsempra were in good enough shape the travel. The other 3 had to be left behind. Not our best moment by far. Sectum should make a great addition to the team, he has a great sense of humor. As we released him from his prison, we were greeted with "Thanks for helping me learn cocoon!"

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence.

*He's SCH/RDM, so Manifestation + Gravity for those wondering.

Chapter 6

Day 65: Krizz cast a few more healing spells on my leg. The vomiting has dwindled down to about once per day. Well except yesterday, but that wasn't from the injury. Every time I change the bandage, the smell makes me cringe. It smells worse than an elvaan brothel. We decided just to rest up today after the fight we had in the nest. Besides, Lil is a bit shaken up by the experience. He hasn't said a word since his release. Tomorrow we head for Pashow Marshlands.

Day 66: Morale is low today. We made it Pashow. It's as infested as Marz and Krizz said it is. Zombies everywhere. We decided it would be best to attempt to sneak past as many as we could. As we devised a plan, Lil finally snapped and yelled "Lil Bustaaa!" while charging into the zombies. It was a terrifying sight, seeing Lil getting ripped apart inch by inch, until a zombie galka punted what was left of his little taru body into the mouth of a goobbue. He certainly fought to the end though, slaying over a dozen zombies. We fled back to Rolanberry before they decided to turn their attention to us. Great, now they know we're coming.

Day 67: Today we attempted to enter Pashow again. As we approached the Marshlands, we noticed that very few zombies were around. Something must have drawn them away. Whatever it is, we're grateful for it, as it allows us to move through unnoticed. Our pace is brisk, we want to get out of here as quickly as possible.

Day 68: It seems the zombies have all gathered together in some sort of a meeting. They're organized, this cannot bode well. They speak some sort of language consisting of grunts, groans, and moans. We can't get close enough to see what's happening. I'm still not sure if I even want to know.

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence

Chapter 7

Day 69: The zombies broke up the meeting today and began heading for Konschtat Highlands. We looked around their camp before setting off to follow them. It looks like this was some sort of training grounds for the abominations. There were armor, weapons, and training dummies littered around the camp. A crudely drawn map lay across a makeshift table crafted from bones of their victims. There is a large X on the map. Bastok. We faced a moral dilemma. Do we continue our journey of self-preservation, or do we follow the zombie horde in hopes of trying to stop whatever sick plans they have devised. Perhaps survivors have fled to Bastok and fought back the zombies. I prefer to continue on our journey. It may sound selfish, but it's every man for himself in this world. Why should our small band look after others, when there is nobody to look after us? We shall sleep on it, and discuss in the morning.

Day 70: We took an anonymous vote this morning. 3 votes for going to Bastok, 2 against. Looks like we're in for a lot of killing in the next few days. On a better note, my leg is healing up nicely. I can see the surprise in Krizz's eyes each morning as he looks at it. I almost feel like a science project.

Day 71: We followed the horde into Konschtat. They move faster than other zombies we've seen. We have a hard time keeping up due to the zombies never needing to rest. I've noticed the ground almost seems to erode right under their feet. It seems that anything that even so much as comes into contact with these monstrosities becomes one of them. Knowing this makes me feel so much more fortunate for still being alive.

Day 72: I caught a glimpse of their leader today. A hume. But what makes it so unnerving, is that the leader isn't one of them. It's just a regular, living hume. He was sporting a jet black, hooded cloak. Underneath I could see the gleam of freshly polished, black armor. A scythe was strapped to his back. He was tall for a hume, I'd guess almost 7' tall. A grizzled, dark brown beard masked his face. I couldn't make out his face due to the hood. Something doesn't add up. What would a hume be doing with these once living creatures?

Day 73: We passed the tele-point today. It took us a few minutes to figure out that's what it was supposed to be. Nothing but dirt and rubble remained. It almost looked like a professional destruction job, as if it was taken down on purpose, rather than as an additional casualty in a battle. Clearly that hume I saw yesterday is pulling the strings. He doesn't want anyone teleporting to aid Bastok. This battle is going to be bloody.

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence

Chapter 8

Day 74: We witnessed the horde destroy a camp of Quadav today. It was a slaughter, the Quadav never stood a chance. After the horde continued on their mission, we checked out the carnage. Each Quadav had their innards devoured. All that was left behind was a hollowed corpse of what was once our foe. Each Quadav's face was affixed with a look of sheer terror. None were left alive. Even the children Quadav were ravaged. It's funny how things can change. I used to slaughter Quadav and think nothing of it. Now I am disheartened by their untimely demise. We are nearing Gustaberg now. It'll only be a day or two before the siege on Bastok begins.

Day 75: The horde picked up some more members today. I saw the hume just point at a zombie and he got in line. It's as if they are bound to him by some sort of magic. Judging by the pace they are setting, the battle for Bastok will begin tomorrow. I haven't been this nervous since the first time I fought Vrtra. I was just a young monk back then. A bit more reckless than I am now. Still, even the greatest training can only do so much to prepare us for what we're about to face.

Day 76: I'll try to recap the battle as best I can in this entry. The battle began at the crack of dawn. The sun blanketed the sky with a warm orange glow. The air was crisp, the ground moist with morning dew. A slight breeze came rolling through. It would have been the perfect morning, if not for the thousands of zombies lined up outside the walls of Bastok. Apparently many survivors have piled into bastok, as an army of about 300 appeared to meet the zombies head on, with another 70-80 archers and 50-60 mages to support them. They looked ragged, like a tribe of barbarians. Many had pitchforks or shovels as weapons. Some had frying pans or steak knives. Few has swords. It appeared as though Bastok was going to fall today. But looks can be deceiving. The battle began as the hume leading the zombies gave the signal to charge. As the front lines collided, a faint horn could be heard to the West. Suddenly, a battalion of troops came storming in to flank the zombies, with the flag of Sandy waving proudly. Someone had informed them of the attack. The zombies may be smarter than expected, but they're still a bit slow. Fighting on two fronts was rather taxing on their intelligence, and the lines crumbled quickly. Watching the Chocobo Knights riding through the lines, slicing off the heads of zombies was a sight for sore eyes. Spears piercing the hearts of the vermin, clubs and staves cracking their skulls. Mages nuking to their heart's content, arrows and bullets raining down from above, cutting through their ranks like a hot knife through butter. It was a marvelous sight. We joined in on the fun as well. We rushed them from behind, striking down as many as we could. Marz was slicing through them two at a time with her katanas. Rowland seemed to enjoy toying with them using his various skills in magic. Krizz was having far too much fun with banishga. Sectum decided it was time to try out a magic build for his Blue Magic. He says Flying Hip Press is magic based... but the name suggests otherwise. As for me, every punch I threw shattered the bones of its victim. It was carnage, too many deaths to count (I lost count after 42 smashed skulls, 25 pummeled hearts, and 12 decapitations). As the battle was drawing near an end, I saw the hume calmly cast a warp spell as if nothing was happening. He didn't even raise a finger to help his "brethren" fight. I caught a glimpse of him smirking at us as the spell completed.

After the battle was finished, we were invited into Bastok for a celebration feast. Can't complain about free food.

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence.

Chapter 9

Day 77: Bastok is a wreck. The auction house in markets is in pieces. The guild shops are gone, not a piece in sight. Water overflows from the crumbled fountain. The bridge to the port has been burnt, and the wreckage floats around in the water. The mining district was still relatively in tact. The gates were banged up and a few houses destroyed, but respectable for the most part.

The feast was conducted in the markets. People brought tables out from their homes and set them up to form a large circle around the fountain. Anyone with skill in cooking helped in the preparation of the meal. It was a grand feast. There was Elshimo Fried Colibri, Stuffed Zu, Beer Battered Sheep, Crawler-ka-bobs, Crab Sushi, Sole Sushi +1, Meat Mith-ka-bobs, Marinara Pizza, Biscuits, every kind of vegetable imaginable, Dhalmel Steak, Pananas, Oranges, and more. Plus the booze! Wines, ales, whiskey, everything you could imagine. And for dessert, all the cake you could eat. Everything was phenomenal. Afterwards, there was a party. Bards played songs while dancers danced. Cid shot off some fireworks. There was even some karaoke (drunk Galkas do not make good singers). Everyone had a grand time. Afterwards we all crashed wherever we could find a place to sleep. The sign of a good party indeed.

Day 78: Life in Bastok is tough. Any able-bodied men and women help with repairs and food gathering. The army from Sandy reported that their neck of the woods is fairing far better than Bastok, but not doing well enough to lend any aid. Sounds like typical elvaan arrogance to me. The gang and I met up with Cid, who is leading Bastok since the President has turned, to decide whether we should stay or continue to Whitegate. We all agreed that it would be best to attempt to make out way to Whitegate in order to seek out help. There is a single ship capable of making the journey to Aht Urgan left in Bastok, the S.S. Invincible Shield. The only problem, is that there is no longer any crew to run it. Only a few simple fisherman who never sailed a large scale ship like the Invincible Shield. Not to mention, the sea is filled with creatures craving our blood, and who knows what's out there now with this plague. I better pack my toothbrush, it's going to be a long trip.

Chapter 10

Contributed by Rowland
Day 79: Spence isn't feeling the greatest, he doesn't handle the sea very well, he told me to take over his journal for the time being. It doesn't help the air is polluted with a foul odor, most likely caused by the random floating carcasses in the water. I'm not sure how safe we are here. Marz is still a little shaken from our last battle in Bastok, I noticed she didn't eat much at the feast. She just kinda stared off into space while nibbling on the crab sushi in front of her. Everyone else still seems to be getting used to navigating the ship through rocks and bodies. I really hope we find what we're looking for in Whitegate.

Day 80: Spence collapsed on the deck this morning. I hope it's just from exhaustion and not something more serious. We took him below and we took turns watching over him. It's hard to do when there are barely enough people to guide this wreck through the mayhem, we really need him to snap out of it.
End the reign of Rowland

Day 81: I awoke this morning covered in what appears to be vomit. My own I hope. While I feel strong enough to take over the journal again, I still haven't been able to help out with the daily efforts of ship life. As written by Row, the going is tough. The crew is inexperienced, and the waters are riddled with corpses and debris. The rancid smell of decaying flesh stings our nostrils from dawn to dusk. This is my first time on a ship of this caliber. I wish the circumstances of the trip were a tad better. One a brighter note, it seems we have a bard on board. I think his name is Urial. Quite an odd fellow, but his songs are at least entertaining. He dresses like a butler which I find odd. I think he also likes the taste of gloves...

Day 82: We came across a destroyed ship today. While we didn't stop to check it out more closely, we were able to discern that the cause of the wreck wasn't caused by a wreck. It looked as though the ship had been attacked. The hull was crushed inward and the mast snapped in two like a twig in the hands of a galka. What's intriguing is that the crew members we saw floating in the water had been skinned, but their organs left in tact. This is much different than the normal remains left behind by the zombies. I find it curious that I puke from the swaying of a ship, but not from seeing a skinned mithra. Times are a changing.

P.S. Row shoved a fish in Urial's clarinet while he wasn't looking. It was the funniest thing I've seen in my life, watching him trying to play it and hearing this hideous noise come out. The fish didn't find it too funny though. No sense of humor.

Chapter 11

Day 83: We made good progress today. We've been finding less debris as we get further away from the coast. Fishing has even been good. Most of our catch has been uninfected. I've also come to the conclusion that Urial must be the most unfriendly bard I've ever met. His tales are not of valor, courage, or honor, but instead they are of mockery and deceit. He's quick to point out how much better he is than anyone ever. I'm glad I shoved that fish in his instrument yesterday.

Day 84: Our numbers have increased by 2.5 today. A puppet master and a ranger have joined our ranks after we found them on a small island. They say they swam from that ship we found the other day. The puppet master's name is Citag and the ranger's name is Ixe. Citag's puppet, Comedie, certainly lives up to it's name. It's certainly more entertaining than our bard's gloomy tales of death. It was apparent that they were all exhausted from the whole ordeal, so we did not want to question them quite yet on the events of the wreck. According to our charts, we are about 5 days away from White Gate. I'll be glad when I never have to board a ship again.

Day 85: This morning we passed another destroyed ship. Again we saw it's crew skinned and left to die. Once Citag and Ixe awoke, the captain asked them what they knew. They both looked at each other, then looked the captain straight in his good eye and said in unison, "Kraken."

Chapter 12

Day 86: The warm sea breeze on our faces was not enough to counter-act the chilling tale recalled to us this day. Ixe and Citag, with a little help from Comedie, spoke of the horrors they saw aboard their ship, Absolute Virtue, and it's massacre at the hands of the Kraken. The crew never stood a chance. The battle was over so quickly, even Altana couldn't have saved them. The was no sign of the Kraken until it struck. No steel, nor magic seemed to even phase the horrible creature during it's reign of destruction. The Absolute Virtue was destroyed and it's crew mutilated quicker than a black mage casting burst. Ixe and Citag told us of others who survived the initial battle, but lost their lives to the unforgiving bitch known as the sea. I swear, I'll kiss the first thing I see when we get back to solid ground. Well... maybe not a crawler, but the point remains.

Day 87: Three more days and we should be in port. Three more days to escape the Kraken. Three more days of listening to Urial's horrible tales of woe. The captain has doubled the look-outs for the remainder of our journey. We will make it safely. I just hope Whitegate is all it's cracked up to be.

Day 88: We've come across another ship today. This one is still in tact, and it's crew alive for a change! They are bounty hunters, and they seek to kill the Kraken. Fools, but they agreed to escort us to Whitegate. I just hope that if we do meet up with the Kraken, it decide to destroy them, giving us time to escape. It can have Uri's instrument too.

Day 89: Luck is a cruel mistress. She smiled upon us, then quickly stabbed us in the back. I'll attempt to recap today's events as best as possible.

Shortly after the sun made it's way over the bleak horizon, the fight began. The Kraken had found us. Fortunately, it went for the bounty hunter's ship first. Their ship, the Dhalmel, is clad in hardened steel armor plating, backed by more steel, and held together with magical powers strong enough to impress even the greatest of Taru magi. Their arsenal includes cannons, mines, hexa-harpoon guns, ballistae, and more. Their crew is 60+ strong, all battle-hardened killers. Their might combined with our rag-tag team proved to be just enough to send the foul beast back to the depths. The battle was a long affair. Guns blazing, swords slicing through the flesh of the devil, spells dishing out punishment... many men and women died in the fight. The death toll was around 50 when all was said and done. There was too much going on to give a fair description of the battle, so I'll just leave it at that.

But as fate would have it, luck was not with all of us that day. The blood was still quite fresh on us all when it happened. The captain of the Dhalmel turned on us. He and his remaining crew took us prisoner, since we were no longer necessary to help them claim the Kraken for themselves. The less people there are, the less people need to be paid. We were all locked away in the brig of their ship. They plan on taking us to their hide out somewhere in Aht Urhgan and selling us in the slave market. I guess it's still better than being eaten by some infested Galka.

On the bright side, at least we're not alone down here. Turns out they also captured a princess by the name of Eliane and have her locked away down here. They plan on getting a big ransom for her. My mother always told me not to talk to strangers. Should always listen to mom.

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence.

(Long overdue) Chapter 13

Day 90: It's been about 3 months now since this whole mess started. It sure has felt like much longer though. I find myself thinking more and more about how life was just a short time ago. I miss the days of training under the warm sun of the Dunes. Or going off on adventures with my friends. Even the mundane tasks of daily life seem like a blissful fairy tale now. What I wouldn't give for some clean clothes and a bath...

I've always been the adventuring type, never one to back down from a challenge. But this... I never asked for this. So much death, so much destruction. Vana'diel is but a shell of its former self. I miss my friends and family. All hope of seeing them again has vanished. I must face the truth, everything I knew is gone. My life shall never be the same.

Day 91: My mood today is slightly less depressing than yesterday, even though I don't have much of anything to be happy about. The backstabbing pirates feed us scraps. I'd even prefer galka sausage to this garbage. Even the rats won't touch the stuff. It's cold, wet, and dark down here. They don't even leave a lit lantern for us. The smell is a putrid mixture of blood, mold, mildew, wood, salt water, and what I am hoping is stale biscuits. They crammed us all into one little cell, even though there are a couple other cells open. Bastards, I wish them an eternity of Urial's singing.

Speaking of Urial's singing, the pirates took all his instruments. Now all he does is sing about how depressed he is. Also something about a king of old having his queen stolen away... I don't know where he comes up with these things.

I was speaking with the princess they locked away today. She has a strange accent that I just can't place. She says she's from San d'Oria, but I've never heard of her. She doesn't say much and keeps to herself all the time. My Elvaan senses tell me she's totally into me, just like all women.

Day 92:
"What do you want with a bard with no glee
I am depressing.
Yar har where's my fiddle di dee
Being a pessimist is alright to be
What do you want with a bard with no glee
I am depressing."

When I get my cesti back, I'm going to knock the depression right out of Urial. He has sang that song at least ten times today now. Even Comedie is tired of hearing it, and he doesn't even have ears!

On the bright side, I overheard one of the pirates saying they will be docking tomorrow. At least we can get off this wretched galleon and onto dry land. Of course, there is the whole being sold into slavery issue.

Day 93: It was nice seeing the sun again. We made port in Aht Urhgan, at some tiny fishing village. I don't even know the name of it. To be honest, I don't think it even has a name. We were ushered off the ship and to the holding area where we awaited appraisal. Sadly, the holding area smelled more foul than the ship. It smelled worse than the public chocobo stables in Jeuno. I'm not talking upper Jeuno either.

They marched us out one at a time to have us checked out by a bunch of guys in suits. I felt a little weird, I don't usually get checked out by the guys. I was "asked" to spin around, bend over, and lift various objects. They appraised me at 1337 gil. A bit of an odd number I thought.

Rowland and Urial argued with each other over who is worth more. I swear they're married sometimes. Though I prefer their arguing to Urial's singing. It's less depressing.

After we were appraised, we were placed back into the holding cell. The auction would be tomorrow. Naturally we thought of escaping, but the barred cell, group of guards, and the fact we're all unarmed combined to make it an impossible mission.

As the sun was setting, the pirates had a feast outside of our cell. The aroma of Konschtat Fried Chocobo, Marinara Pizza, Hedgehog Pie, Primieval Brew, and other delicious food filled the air. We were all starving, since we've only been fed stale biscuits for the past few days, but could do nothing more than be tortured with the smell of home cooking. My mind again wandered to the days of old. Memories of picnics in Zi'Tah, cookouts in East Ronfaure, and feasts in the halls of Chateau d'Oraguille came racing into my mind. I want to cry, but am as dehydrated as Ifrit's Cauldron.

Just as I am imagining biting into a Meatkabob, a guard bursts into the holding area. He has a woman by her arm and tosses her into the cell with us before quickly leaving to join the feast.

"Well hello young'uns. My name is Luelle. I can get you out of here, but I'll need your help."

Taken from the Chronicles of Spence

Chapter 14

Day 93 continued: As it turns out, Luelle is an... well to avoid being cruel we'll call her 'experienced' thief. She apparently also has quite the dysfunctional family. She tried explaining her family tree but we all got quite confused.

She told us that she could pick the lock for us to escape. The only issue was, of course, the horde of guards just outside. Apparently, this wasn't the first time she had been locked up by them. While her escape record looks pretty good, the same can't be said for her hiding ability. Nonetheless, we all agree that even if we die trying to escape it would be far better than being slaves for the rest of our lives. So the next step is to lay out a plan.

Our plan is simple. We must escape while they're eating, otherwise all eyes would be on us. This leaves us with very little time to prepare. I really shouldn't even be writing this at the moment, but I can multitask. Besides, the plan seems rather simple: Don't die.

Luelle will pick the lock, then we will grab our gear which is conveniently placed in a box just outside our cell, and flee. The guards don't seem too bright, I'm more worried about the pirates who captured us in the first place. Hopefully that wine is strong tonight...

We're not exactly sure where we're going, but it can't possibly smell as bad as this little shack with all of us crammed inside. My cesti for a bath.

Day 94: The evening air was still, despite a steady rain. The faint sound of Chigoes could be heard throughout. The smell of the roast Dhalmel filled our nostrils as we prepared for our escape. Given different circumstances, this would have been a lovely evening.

As planned, we grabbed our gear and tried to flee. Even fully geared, there were far too many for us to take them down in combat, so we must fight, to run away.

Unfortunately, the wine was not as strong as we had hoped. The pirates shot from the table and were on us in a heartbeat. The guards... well they weren't an issue.

Marz was the first out of the little shack. She quickly slid her katana through a guard's throat like a hot knife through selbina butter. Then with a few words, she casts a Ninjitsu spell the next guard, setting him ablaze. The rain seemed to soak into his armor a little quicker after that.

I was next out. I leapt into the air and came down fist first into an oncoming pirate. For good measure, I followed up with a backflip kick to his jaw. I like to call that a Flash Kick, it sounds cool anyway. I saw a guard rushing towards Citag from the corner of my eye. I was barely able to Chi Blast him in time.

Uri started singing about a futile battle and how everyone would wind up dead. We're all used to his dismal lyrics that we hardly noticed, but it seemed to distract the enemies. For once, I was grateful for his presence.

We all got caught up in the fighting for a bit, but then one of the pirates pulled out what appeared to be a Bluffalo horn and blew into it. We knew that was our cue.

As we finished off the mangy cur around us, we heard what sounded like a stampede. Just as I turned to look, I heard Rowland shout "Chocobos!" There is no way we can outrun chocobos.

Marz stopped and said with a smile, "It's okay guys, I got this."
Then Sectumsempra turned and said, "Not alone you don't."
As they stood there, in the path of the oncoming chocobo knights, Krizz walked up behind them both. Not a word came out of his mouth.

I wanted to protest. None should be left behind. But I knew, deep down, that it was the only way. I'm sure the others felt the same, but we must press on. We couldn't let their sacrifice be in vain. I shall never forget what they have done for us.

The rest of us ran as fast and as far as we could. We could hear the sound of steel against steel thundering from behind. It didn't last long, just long enough for us to escape. I swear though, right as the rest of us were fleeing, I heard Marz mutter, "This is for you, Erik."

Chapter 14b
There is a note at the top of the entry. The original entry from the Chronicles of Spence has yet to be recovered, and is assumed to be lost forever. The following entry has been reconstructed from the written accounts of various others in the journey, from companions to enemies, and even those who have no involvement in the journey itself. Translations were done as best as they could, given the nature of ancient languages compared to modern day language.

Day 95: The group seemed to wander around Wajoam Woodlands like a lost Mandragora. It was clear that they were new to this area, and were not used to its inhabitants. Everywhere they traveled, a trail of dead colibri lay. At one point, Citag made a comment about them seeming like "experience pinatas." This area was different from their home not only in landscape and creatures, but also due to the lack of infected inhabitants. There was not a decreased amount of infected... there were none at all. Perhaps the rumors were true. Perhaps there is salvation here.

Day 96: After a full day of wandering around the woodlands, the group finally finds the walls of Whitegate. Their spirits are crushed, however, when they find the guards less than willing to let them in. "Show your pass." stated the head guardsman.
"Pass? We have no pass. We've been through Hell and back getting here, now you better let us the <translational error> in!" Ixe shouted, unable to contain her rage.
"Calm down now, they're just doing their job. I'm sure if we explain our situation we-" Spence was interrupted by the guard.
"No pass, no entry."
The walls were high, and the gates were guarded. It seemed as though the party had traveled so far for nothing. Unless, of course, they could somehow get their hands on a pass. The pass could be anything though. A word, a note, a badge. Anything. Just as it seemed they were going to give up, Eliane decided to try her luck.
"Excuse me, but I don't believe you know who I am." she stated with authority. "I am the princess of Bastok. I demand you let us in."
"Yeah and I'm the King of Ni*." chuckled the head guard.
In a swift motion, the princess planted the heel of her shoe directly into the guard's forehead. The seal of Bastok was clearly imprinted onto his face. The guards let the party into the city in a hurry. Apologies were heard as they entered.

The city was far grander than any city they had been to before. Each building was made of the same stone. The architecture was outstanding. Each area was separated by large stone arches and heavy wooden doors. This city was designed to repel invaders. Despite what was going on in the rest of the world, the city was bustling with life. Merchants selling their goods, citizens doing their usual daily chores. It seemed surreal to the party. Almost as if they had walked into an entirely different zone or dimension. The adventurers meandered around the city until they eventually wound up at the fountain. It was at there that they were approached by a man dressed in blue and white, with a mask over his face and a saber at his side.

"Ah, there you are! The Empress has been expecting you."

*Ni is believed to be a kingdom from the past that was lost during the War of the Lions.

Spence: Teller of the tale. Monk.
Marz: Ninja. MIA presumed dead.
Dameshi: Dark Knight. Dead.
Lilbusta: Dragoon. Dead.
Krizz: White Mage. MIA presumed dead.
Rowland: Scholar (despite his pleas to be a Red Mage lol)
Sectumsempra: Blue Mage. MIA presumed dead.
Urial: Bard of woe.
Ixe: Ranger
Citag: Puppetmaster
Comedie: Citag's Automaton
Eliane: Red Mage Princess
Luelle: Thief