An Announcement

I find myself writing this at 3am, unable to sleep. I find myself considering ideas that I’d personal never thought of before. I find myself thinking about Final Fantasy XI. I’ve always been a fan of the Final Fantasy series and my brother, Ixius, started playing Final Fantasy XI while he was in high school. I loved watching him play, astounded by how beautiful the game was and jealous that he got to play it. When I went to college, I saw the opportunity to start playing myself. I learned the game, I started working my way up towards end-game, I worked with Ixius’s old contacts and some of my own to boost my way towards being a successful player.

As my abyssea linkshell dissipated, I found myself looking for a new linkshell, but this time I was hunting for big game. An old friend of mine, Denore, was in a shell called YellowCrows. I learned that the shell was also home to the bum, Napsuko, and the mango, Cziella. I was hungry for a chance at the big leagues and to make a name for myself. Denore kindly vouched for me and I was thrust into a world far away from home. I was used to abyssea and the elite play and gear of this new group baffled me. I buckled down and I tried my hardest to fit in, helping people when I could, working on content that had previously gone untouched, and AFKing in port jeuno with Tsuki. I constantly found myself in the shadow of the many incredibly skilled samurai in the shell and I would constantly get frustrated with myself when I underperformed. Nevertheless, my stubbornness refused to give in as I tried harder and continued working towards my goals.

Eventually, my playtime declined, I found myself sitting in Port Jeuno chatting with the shell instead of going out and getting things done. I stopped doing Salvage, I stopped doing Dynamis, I couldn’t get myself motivated for anything, constantly skipping events. I blamed it on myself being busy with school, but was I really? I was staying up until 5am, sleeping through classes that start at 11:30, not doing homework, and procrastinating on projects until the night before and giving up halfway through. School was not the only aspect of my life that was suffering, my social life declined drastically. I almost never talk to my roommate unless it’s about rent and payments, I started distancing myself from my friends on campus, and I stopped making plans with any of them. For what? So I can sit in Port Jeuno, chatting and complaining about how I can’t achieve what I want to? I was avoiding something. I was avoiding the idea that I didn’t want to play anymore. I started purposely ignoring the warning that happens when you log in, the warning that I should not let Final Fantasy XI absorb my life, by staying logged in perpetually.

So this is my farewell, but you had probably already figured that out by now (well, maybe not Zidian XD). I would like to say to everyone here that I would not have spent my closing months on this game with any other group of people, and that I love you all dearly and will always remember the great moments we had as a group. I have some words for everyone, some more than others, but words none the less.

• Paulu: You were my idol when it came to gameplay in general. Your knowledge of the game and it’s mechanics is second to none and I only wish that I could have made you proud when it came for one of us to go. We had our disagreements and our hotheadedness gets the better of us, but we both knew that it wasn’t going to change how things were. I just want you to know that every time I fucked up during an event, knowing that I didn’t live up to your name was what upset me the most.

• Denore: You were one of my first friends on Final Fantasy XI, back when I only played during the summer. It’s funny that I once considered us equals and that I was immediately surprised after I started playing full time that you were one of the best players on the server. You were my idol when it game to Dancer gameplay and the words of encouragement you would give me whenever I told you my achievements meant the world to me, even though at the time you probably barely remembered me. I want you to know that if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been blessed by the prescence of the linkshell members for as long as I had.

• Cziella: You! You, you, you, you, you, you, you. What do I say about mangos? You kept me on my toes throughout my experience with the crows and weren’t afraid to give me jabs whenever I let my guard down. I will admit, I originally saw you as a giant douche. However, after we started farming Gla-voids I got to see how loyal of a friend you are and that you were always willing to help. It changed my view of you completely and I actually started developing a crush on you. In closing, I really wish I could have repay you for making me want to strive to be a better player.

• Talryn: Out of all the weirdos in this linkshell, there had to be one semi-normal person right? Who else would it be other than the lone Galka? You’re an awesome person and an awesome player. When tempers ran high, you seemed to be one of the only people keeping their cool and the rest of us sane. I love the fact that you’re a programmer, and I really look up to you in that regard. I’m sorry for all the stupid questions I posed to you while doing my homework. You and Den do too much together for there not to be something going on there, I’m sorry.

• Zidian: I really don’t know what to say about this one, other than I’ve probably used more periods in response to your questions than anywhere else. While some of the questions you pose and discussions we had were silly, your thoughtfulness and ability to shrug off the brunt of the jokes played on you always impressed me. I know for certain that I’m not good at taking criticism, and your ability to take it in stride inspired me to stop taking jokes to heart and know that people only tease those they like.
• Kyrogu: The first time we met, it was at Lancing Lamarok and you ended up kicking me out of the group because of the large argument we had. I was nervous when I joined the shell, because I knew you were in it and I was uncertain as to how you would take my joining the shell. As it turned you, you didn’t even remember me. I’ll always remember your bluntness and ability to call me out when I overstepped my bounds, and I really enjoyed that about you. I really wish I could have gotten to know you more…

• The rest of you guys: I really enjoyed my time with you guys, and I’ll remember you guys with nothing but fondness in my heart. I really wish I could write something up about all of you, but I’m not planning on writing a few more pages of these.

I’m not sure if I spent enough time with you guys to warrant such a long write-up, but I feel like it’s something I have to do. Final Fantasy XI was a fun time in my life, but I know that I my time in Vana’diel has ended. I’ll never forget any of you, and I’ll still visit the website to see what you guys are up to from time to time.

I love you all and wish you guys the best going into the new expansion.
Fondly,

Keyera, the Samurai Who Wears Subligars.

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