Day #526 Recap

Current Game(s): Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XI

Current Play Time(Final Fantasy X-2): 85:49 (+)
Current Play Time(Final Fantasy XI): 53:18 (+)
Total Play Time - 1,157:41 (+)

Current Game Overs(FF X-2) - 7
Current Deaths(FF XI) - 32
Total Game Overs: 70

Where I Currently Am(FF X-2): Chapter 5, Via Infinito... Cloister 89 (90% Complete, Bestiary 94% Complete)

Where I Currently Am(FF XI): Windurst Mission 5-2.  Pretty much ready for the Maat fight... just need to retreive the Red Mage Testimony

Stuff Did Today (FF X-2): None

Stuff Did Today (FF XI): With some more skills in tow, I headed back into Garlaige Citadel for a rematch with the Guardian Statue... this time, after a long fight, I came out victorious! I was able to open up the Oaken Box with the Nail Puller I retreived from the statue. Inside were the remains of Rainemont, Curilla's Father. With this knowledge in tow, we returned to San d'Oria. When we returned, ghosts were coming out of the cathedral. Trion, the prince of San d'Oria and Curilla came running after. An evil ghost tried to convince Curilla to slay Trion, however Rainemont's ghost came and cleared it out. He then gave me his hat as a prize.

We then headed into Jeuno where there were rumors of ancient gauntlets that possessed more power than anything created today. We headed into the Eldieme Necropolis and had to retreive a key to open up the coffers. Inside were the old gauntlets, however the blacksmith was unable to repair them. We talked to the shopkeeper who told us someone in the Tenshodo guild had a repair kit. WE found the person who we paid for the repair kit... she said she had left it on top of some old crates in the Port... so we went and the ghost of Boghertz showed up and said he could repair the gauntlets if we brought him a Shadow Flame from Castle Zvahl Baileys. For those who don't know, this is where the shadow lord lives... I haven't bothered to pick up his mission yet, so, we travelled there, killed a bomb monster to get the flame and then walked to the Shadow Lord's throne room so I could get the warp point there... easy access later. We returned to Jeuno with the Shadow Flame, and the ghost of Boghertz fixed my old gauntlets into Warlock's Gloves.

To gather the remaining artifact pieces we had to open chests in Garlaige Citadel and Castle Ozstroja heading deep within where only some of the strongest mosnters held the keys to the coffers. After a bit of grinding on them they gave up the keys and we located the chests where the Tabard and Leggings were held! Full artifact set go!

Status & Notes: 

Actually managed to finish up the artifact set today for my Red Mage. It took a lot of work. Was quite satisfied to get the Guardian Statue down solo... I guess all my grinding paid off. To retrieve the rest of the pieces... it really was just a matter of going into the dungeon, finding the monsters who could drop the coffer keys... and then finding the coffer. Easier said than done. Usually, these monsters were in the deeper parts of the dungeon, and the coffer spawn is pretty random... The worst was figuring out where I needed to go in the Necropolis for the gauntlets... that place is a big maze with false floors and what not. Yuck.

Another good thing about the gauntlet quest was I had to head to Castle Zvahl Baileys... I figured while I was here, I would just walk all the way to the throne room where there was a Home Point... this way I could warp back here quite easily once I decide to take out said Shadowlord... which shouldn't be TOO far off.

So, yeah, the next step is for me to retreive the Red Mage Testimony which is needed for Maat to actually fight me. This, I think I'll get in Beadeaux, there's only 1 monster there that can drop it, but its a really high drop rate, and the other places I can get it are filled with monsters that will aggro me, and I'll just die alot... so it is probably my best bet... of course it couldn't be in an easy area... seriously, just skill grinding and coffer key grinding, I managed to find 5 different testimonies... good for if I want to fight him as other classes down the line I guess.

My other problem right now is money, I need to find a good place I can grind some cash... I'd LIKE to be able to buy the Dispel spell before Maat... however, it is VERY expensive... I'll probably try the fight once or twice without it first. My best guess for money grinding right now is to head back to Xarcabard and to grind on Gigas... I'll kill them quickly and hopefully can get a bunch of chests to spawn which will give me 3-4k gil each. Not awful.