The End of Saion and His Story

Hello Everyone, I know its been such a long time since I posted. I’m sorry for that, life has been crazy these past few months with school and everything going on in my life. I wanted to make a post on there saying that I have quit Final Fantasy XI forever. After Seven years of playing I can finally say that I am done, I’ve done a lot of stuff and have made many friends along the way. I want to thank everyone that I have ever played with and it was a pleasure to meet you and adventuring with you. I also want to thank everyone who read my blog, I don’t know how many people really kept up with it but if you are one of them reading this now, THANK YOU!!! I really wanted this blog to sorta set in stone my adventures and things I’ve done in the game. I will now convert this blog into a general gaming blog most likely focusing around whatever game I’m playing or game I’m looking forward to playing. I will also blog about Final Fantasy XIV when it comes out, since I do plan to play it. Again thank you all sooo much for reading. Till we meet again Vana’dial!

Final post as Saion.

~Fred Howe.

Breaking The Walls of Your Mind ~ 75 Monk

Hello Everyone! I know its been such a long time since I have posted any updates on the grand adventure of Saion. I do have a few large updates to share with all of you. I achieved level 75 Monk! It was awesome to “ding” into 75 with some of the best MNK gear already at my disposal. I have already been working very hard on merits for Monk, I am currently at 5/8 Hand-to-Hand merits done. I also plan to fully merit Critical Hit rate once I finish Hand-to-Hand. I am really enjoying Monk, I have the ability to deal great damage and also “tank” pretty well.  Not too many updates on the PLD front of stuff, finished Sentinel recast merit, no new gear. I have been devoting some time into “Campaign” so that I can get the MDB (Magic Defense Bonus) armor for Paladin. I’m still deciding if Monk was going to be my 5th and final job to level 75, I keep thinking I want to level BLU, SMN, or even finish off my 61 Dancer. Maybe I will call it for new 75 jobs and just focus on merits and making my current five level 75’s perfect.  Event’s with Finale have been great, we have been exploring a lot of the new content added from the past few updates. I have also recently became one of the front page editors for www.finalels.com It is quite an honor to be an editor for a Linkshell that I hold and love so dearly. My best friend Deboro has been made a full member of Finale! I’m really happy for him. I do apologize about the lack of pictures in this post, I will add one or two when I get a chance to take some and transfer them over to my computer. Well that looks like all of my updates related to Final Fantasy XI. Happy Holidays to Everyone and please enjoy this time of the year with family, friends and loved ones, always remember to be safe.

~Saion. (Fred)

Dragons! and Moogles! Oh my!

Hey everyone! Its been a really exciting past few weeks, We had a Wyrm frenzy in Finale, My best bud Deboro is now a trial member for Finale! and we have made amazing progress in the mini-add on “A Moogle Kupo d’atat.” But first things first lets talk about “Wyrm week/frenzy”, When I was looking at our sign up threads I saw that we had a “wyrm week” coming up. I first thought, “well what Wyrms could we do?” Then it came to me! Vrtra, Bahamut, Ouryu, Jormungand. Out of these I really want to mention Vrtra and Jormungand as these were really fun. Vrtra is an undead Dragon that lives deep inside of King Ranperre’s Tomb, She summons the undead to fight at her side. Vrtra is one of the toughest Dragons in all of Vana’diel. Not many Linkshell’s can say that they have defeated this awesome foe.  But this was Finale’s second time banishing Vrtra back to the underworld. Jormungand is the Icy Dragon to the North who lives in the year round snow covered area of Uleguerand Range. I was able to attend as Paladin to this epic battle in the north, Our Aegis Paladin Pimpdaddy was the first one up and I would take over tanking if he went down. It was getting close to thirty minutes into the fight with Jormungand at 15% health. It was looking like I was going to get my hand at fighting the beast. But then! he did his roar and all hate was gone from Pimpdaddy, Jormungand turned around and tail flailed us, everyone died, BUT! I didn’t, I lived with 20 HP, Finally I saw my time coming to tank. I cured up and was told to begin tanking Jormungand. At first it was rough when he was in the air he would use magic attacks that went through my ninjutsu shadows.  Once I got the feel for it, I started to settle into it. forty-five minutes later we had defeated Jormungand. It was a awesome victory for Finale. “wyrm week” was a huge success, the Linkshell made alot of gil.  On other notes, my best bud Deboro was given a trial membership into Finale! once he passes his trial he will be a full member and will be able to receive payouts and items.  I’m really happy for him. On other notes that aren’t Finale related, Deboro and I have been working on the add on “A Moogle Kupo d’atat” Missions. We fought a Mithra today, she was very easy and are progressing in the crazy confused world that our Moogle friends have gotten us into, we are looking forward to the end, the reward for finishing this storyline is a hat that you can customize with augments. Well thats all for this post! Take care everyone and till next time!~

Sea and Current Thoughts.

Hey Everyone! I know its been a while since my last post. I’ve been really focusing on school and also keeping up with my in-game events. So this past week in-game has been a ton of Sea with Finale and with non-Finale friends. To kick things off Finale has been doing progression in Sea and just yesterday we tried our  hand at AV (Absolute Virtue) the final boss that is spawned when you kill Jailer of Love, We didn’t kill AV but it was fun we did get full drops on JoL. Outside of Finale I have joined a small group of friends that want to farm and kill sea gods. We did out first Jailer just the other night, it was Jailer of Fortitude and I had my doubts but we came through and defeated him. Not only were we successful at killing JoF but his torque dropped as well. I spent all of my points on the torque and now I am blessed with the first Fortitude Torque out of this group. Another thing that I like about this group is I am main Paladin, its a nice change from the everyday White Mage of Finale. On another note, I recently obtained a Valor Cape from Dynamis with Finale, that makes me 6/6 Valor now, Its a awesome accomplishment. I’m currently looking for means to make mass amounts of Gil, as I would like to start my Relic Shield. On a real life note, I’m currently really focusing on School, I’m almost half way to my AA of Science for Electrical Engineering. My internet problem have seemingly worsened, I can barley stay online for an entire event, because of this I have been semi-kicked from HM for Salvage. I’m still questioning my school/degree choice, I sometimes feel like I’m going the wrong way with my life, I still feel that I should have to go the Art institute in San Diego for Audio Production. I’m just not good at math and what I’m doing is all math related.  There are job openings at Square-Enix for GM’s, there basically handing me the job, but due to me not driving I can’t work there yet. I really need to fix this driving thing so that I can go after my dream of working at Square-Enix. I really want to go to Finland, The current status of the USA is just epic failure and its upsetting me. I’m sorry for anyone who is reading if this offends you, but I’m sorry just because I live on a piece on land in the world doesn’t mean I have to be patriotic for it, we are human’s of the world and you can choose where  you want to live, as long as you go by the country’s standards and laws.  I’m look forward to trying out Final Fantasy XIV Online. Anyways That is enough for today. Take care.

~Saion.

Odin, The Musician and Salvage

Hello everyone, this past week as been very exciting. I fought in my first Odin battle inside of Einherjar. It was an amazingly smooth battle only took about 15 minutes. I was hoping he was going to drop an M Body, but alas he didn’t. I had been very lucky and fortunate to have such amazing friends, its because of Caitria that I’m back online now. Lets hope it stays that way ^^;  Since online I have returned to my Finale duties, as there main White Mage. I also returned to my leveling of the job Bard, and can say that I have reached level 75! I still remember the days when I was level 12 in the dunes with it and not knowing if I would like the job or not. he he I guess I did. I look forward to playing endgame as bard, Ever since reaching the level 70’s of Bard I have been enjoying it tremendously, my buddy Belzac and I were in a merit style party I was 73 bard at the time and he was 75 monk, I was to pull the birds back to camp and the corsair would sleep them for me, well we ended up with doing three sets of #86 EXP chains, We were very happy. I am loving bard also  since I’m a musician in real life.   On another note, I joined a Salvage linkshell, I’ll be running Salvage now with HomingMissile it also just so happened that a real life friend of mine has also joined HomingMissile. I’m looking forward to doing salvage and getting the Ares body my first run is Thursday. On a real life note, I start up school again this Friday, I’m happy I only have classes on Friday’s and Saturday’s this quarter. Well, Thats all for now!

~Saion.

A New Idea.

So since I haven’t been playng Final Fantasy XI much lately, due to my joblessness and not so amazing wireless internet I have had alot of time to think. I’ve come up with a new idea of a story of Saion also including my friends Belzac, Caitria, Deboro, and others. I have basicly wrote a rough draft of char. backgrounds. I also have a rough idea of the main story. I’ll post the Char. backgrounds and if anyone reads my blog, they will tell me what they think.

Untitled.

By Fred Howe III

Characters:

Saion – Saion is the main protagonist of this story, he is the protector of the Kingdom of Krista. He is the soul guardian of the Royal Family of Krista and of the Divine Crystal that protects the Kingdom. His sword that only he can wield is called Balnor, The sword is bound to his soul and is the sword of the protector of Krista, his father, Destin was the wielder before him, When Saion was much younger his father was badly hurt defending Krista and was going to die. The day he died Saion became enraged, running into the throne room where Balnor was being held, running to the sword, the King’s guard tried to stop him but couldn’t Saion’s hand grabbed the handle of Balnor and in a huge burst of Light it bounded itself to Saion’s Soul, The power of Balnor made Saion swift and powerful. As Saion grew older and more mature the power of Balnor within him made him even more powerful, he became an expert with the blade and soon after the best swordsmen in the Kingdom. Saion taking great honor to be the soul protector of Krista and the Royal Family, only wished he could take revenge on the ones who killed his father. So now being the wielder of Balnor, The Divine Knight of Krista. Saion holds his head high but also serves his burden.

Belzac – General of Krista and best friend of Divine Knight Saion. Belzac was the child of a humble Blacksmith, Belzac’s father was the best blacksmith in Krista and supplied weapons to the Royal Army, When Belzac turned 18 he joined the Royal Army of Krista, and His rank grew fast due to his excelled knowledge in battle strategy, also with his growing friendship with Saion. Only a few years had pasted from him joining the Army and he was made General of the Royal Army of Krista, by this time his father was growing very old and as a last gift to his son he forged a pair of unbreakable knuckles’ made from an ore that had been pasted down in his family, as Belzac preferred to fight with his fists. Since his time as General, he came up with his own style of combat that only he could perform due to some type of unknown power within his knuckles’ it was called Asuran, where he could focus all of his rage into his arms and would then unleash it onto his foes.

Caitria – Former Princess of the Kingdom of Tavnazia. Now living with her god parents the King and Queen of Krista, She trains everyday with Saion who had taken her on as a student in the art of the blade although she has an amazing inherent skill with a lance. She wishes to restore her Kingdom to glory one day. Being a royal member of the Tavnazin family she has the ability to speak with dragons. When Caitria was a young girl her family had her learn how to control the power of healing and could even enchant dragon’s breath to heal others. She keeps a shard of the great crystal Argon that protected Tavnazia, she had gotten it when the crystal fell during the war of Tavnazia and shattered, keeping it with her gives her the power to heal and enchant.

Deboro – A Samurai from the Far East Kingdom of Kurast, He was the final and greatest student of the great samurai Tenzen who had mastered the art of the Phoenix blade. Tenzan wielded the ancient Great Katana Hagun that held the soul of the Phoenix with in it. Deboro meditating after the sudden murder of his Master took Hagun and began to travel west looking for answers.

Zeth – The son of a Knight of Krista, Zeth’s father was friends with Divine Knight Destin, Zeth and Saion were close childhood friends. Zeth’s father, Dardon was jealous of Destin’s power he was receiving from Balnor and began working with Dark Magic to infuse his body with, Dark Magic of any kind being forbidden in Krista, Destin found out about what Dardon had been doing. Destin confronted Dardon about his actions. Dardon denied any connection to do with Dark Magic use. Destin put him on trial and he was found guilty of using Dark Magic and sentenced to death. Zeth mooring his father’s death fled Krista and had never been seen since.

Homam and The ZNM Frenzy!

These past weeks have really shown quite a change for Saion. I have been second in command of my Limbus Linkshell “Scorpion Raiders Inc.” with the leaders being my best friends Daunte and Aylmergirl. We had been doing Limbus now for about a month long and it has already paid off, I had gotten a good gil income from getting beastcoins also we had been completely dominating the Apollyon boss: Omega, We had killed our second Omega and gotten three Omega parts: Omega’s Eye, Omega’s Hind Legs, and Omega’s Heart! Those translate into (Picture above) Homam Zucchetto (Head), Homam Cosciales (Legs), and Homam Corazza (Body).  I was so excited when I was the Homam Cosciales drop they are the best Paladin legs in the game mostly for /NIN, I had bid a low amount of points on it at first but other members quicky bided higher so I kept up with the other biders and going above most of them to push them out. It was down to me and Chibi who did have two more points then me and could of gotten them give he had spent all of his points on them, but then I had said all of my points (29) and Chibi stopped biding and I had won the legs that I had wanted for such a long time.  The past two weeks in my Linkshell Finale had been very exciting! We have been doing an event called “ZNM Frenzy” All of us in the Linkshell have taken the past two weeks and done nothing but the Aht Urhgan end-game event, “Zeni Notorious Monsters”. The way ZNM’s work is, you take a camera that you get with using “juttons” and soul plates, you take pictures of monsters that in turn trade in for “Zeni” you then use this Zeni to purchase pop items for certain NM’s that are in teirs, there are five teirs with the 5th being “Pandemonium Warden” one of the hardest monsters in the entire game. I have already popped a few of my own, but I have gotten alot of stuff freelot! one of the more notable being the Aurum set, I have gotten the head, hands, legs, and feet freelot all I’m missing is the body. Hopefuly I’ll make it to my own T4 pop item so that I can get a chance at the awesome SAM legs. I’ll see how it all ends, on a side note I have started writing my book in real life again. I’m going to be adding a whole new idea to the mix. look to see sneak peaks of it soon.

~Saion (Fred)

Opera “Maria and Draco”

I had been looking for the Distant worlds: Final Fantasy Album done by the Royal Stockholm Philharmoic Orchestra now for quite some time and today I ran across it, I love all of the songs on there they are all so well done. But….One of them stuck out! and really got me. The “Opera: Maria and Draco” it was a Opera in Final Fantasy VI that plays as a part in the storyline. I would love to get promission from Nobuo to do a full scale Opera of this because there  is much more to the Opera then what I am about to post, these two Youtube videos is the full song on the Album but not the full Opera. So enjoy and maybe one day I’ll be able to do a full scale Opera of this!! ^_^

Also here are the Lyrics:

Part 1

Draco:

Oh, Maria
Oh, Maria
Though I call you from afar,
Will this message reach your heart?
Oh, how I long to be with you!

Maria:

Oh, my hero!
My beloved!
Shall we still be made to part?
Though promises of perennial love
Yet sing here in my heart
I’m the darkness you’re the starlight
Shining brightly from afar
Through hours of despair, I offer this prayer
To you my evening star
Must my final vows exchanged
be with him and not with you
Were you only here to quiet
Oh, speak! Guide me anew!

Part 2

Draco:

Maria!

Maria:

Draco! I knew you would return to me, my love!

Ralse:

Insolent rogue! Knave of the Western Horde!
Would you address my Queen-to-be, Maria?

Draco:

Never shall you have Maria’s Hand!
I would die before that day comes!

Ralse:

Then we duel!

Ralse:

I yield… this day is yours, Draco.
Curse you should you let Maria go!

Draco:

Peace, then! For you have my word:
With me she’ll know nothing of need!

Ralse:

Maria! Maria!
I love you so!

Draco and Ralse:

Maria! Maria!
Return to me!

Maria:

I am thankful, my beloved
For your tenderness and grace
I see in your eyes, so gentle and wise
All doubts and fears erased
Though the hours take no notice
Of what fate might have in store

Maria and Draco:

Our love, come what may
Will never age a day
I’ll wait forevermore…
I’ll wait forevermore!

Finding Valor and Relics: Apocalypse

Hey there everyone! Sorry I haven’t posted in such a long time! I have been very busy with real life stuff and in-game events! But here is my newest post! This past week has been very exciting, Finale had planned for a Dynamis-Xarcabard and I said to myself, “I hope the Valor surcoat drops.” So as our battle raged on in the Northland darkness our paths finally crossed My Valor Surcoat dropped! Nyssa told me to lot it and I got a 864 lot on it! I had finally find my Valor! I was stunned to say the least. After our great success in the Northland we went on to finishing Ryauwau’s Relic: Apocalypse!! (group picture above) It is an amazing accomplishment to now have two Apocalypse’s in the Linkshell and it only pushes us up to a higher level then all of the other end game linkshells on the server. I would like at this time to show a little love to my Linkshell, Finale! They have shown me a whole new level of skill that comes to this game and they are an amazing group of friends and I’m happy to know each and everyone of them! They have done something that I have never seen any other Linkshell do, and that is to prove to me that no matter what they are positive about everything even when we lose all the claims they still stand strong and only get stronger. I’m proud to say that I’m a member of one of the oldest and most prestigious Linkshells on the Phoenix Server. As I grow to greatness from there help, We as a Linkshell grow only stronger. We are already in the process of picking a new candidate for the next Relic! We also have a Mythic in the works. I look forward to seeing the future of Finale for it shines brighter then any other Linkshell! When all of the other linkshells fall from grace, Finale will be there to take the victory as we stand proud of our ways.

The Return of Daunte and Aylmergirl

The day began with Dynamis-Beaucedine with my ls Finale, Our epic rampage though the area was unbeatable by any standards. We danced with the NM Goublefaupe for Pohe’s Attestation of Invulnerability one of the two rare/ex items needed for the Aegis! After a dangerous dance with the NM we got it! it dropped we were very happy. After Dynamis-Beaucedine we heard that the beast Khimaira was up, we rushed our way there to find him standing waiting to eat his pray. We had a awesome and long battle with the beast, Once we downed him I got a /tell from an old friend, Aylmergirl! Her and Daunte were back home on the Phoenix server! back from the Bahamut server. It had been a long time since we had last seen each other and were very happy! We had a talk about making our own Limbus linkshell, We are going to try and do our first zone Thursday night, We will mostly be a Omega limbus group. We are looking for members and hopefully will pick up. Many good things to come! Can’t wait to see the outcome.