Chronicles

I decided it was finally time to get my Woodworking skill up a bit. It's been hovering at 10 for so long and I haven't even taken my skill test so I decided now was the time. I found out from Cheupirudaux, Guild Master of the Carpentry Guild (North San d'Oria at F-3 on the map), that I needed to make a workbench for my Recruit level test.

A funny little irony about this is that I just sold two workbenches that have been lying around in my Mog House forever (they each fetched 1000 gil too!) I made these things when I first learned how and now I have to make one again.
I had my friend Aasia in Windurst by me four Lauan Logs from Baehu-Faehu, the regional vendor in Windurst Waters (G-5 on the map). They were each only 37 gil or so. Then I took four wind crystals I found on Ding Bats during my romp in Ronfaure and I made Lauan Lumber out of each of the logs.
After I had four pieces of Lauan Lumber, I bonded them with one earth crystal, (also farmed in Ronfaure) and created the workbench. Total cost: under 150 gil.

When Cheupirudaux saw my work he was impressed and awarded me the Recruit rank in woodworking! Hooray!

I spent a little time leveling my Thief job (I'm up to level 7 now) by attacking every soft little critter I could see! =O

Well actually, I just fought some Wild Rabbits, Forest Hares, Tunnel and Carrion Worms, and the occasional flock of Ding Bats. My real goal was not to gain experience but instead to farm some earth crystals. In that effort I succeeded quite well.

I also picked up a few stacks of hare meat and rabbit hides, I found out from my Mithra friend, Aasia that these items were picking up some good prices in Windurst so I sent them off to her for sale at the Auction House.

The rampage reminded me of my old days as a Monk. It was nice to get that feeling back. I feel sorry for all the furry bunnies in my way though...

Today is a red letter day! I made my first stack of Insect Paste Balls! All of my cooking effort has finally paid off culminating in my ability to create my own fishing bait.

One earth crystal, one little worm, one distilled water, and one ear of million corn. It's a simple and cheap recipe that yields a stack of 12 insect paste balls. Done right, you'll pay only 55 gil for the ingredients if you farm your own earth crystals. The price could be even cheaper if you grow your own millioncorn. Not a bad investment considering a stack of the insect paste balls can go for as much as 600 gil at the auction house in San d'Oria!

The money that insect paste can make might be very attractive for some, but for me there is an even better attraction; the paste balls are proven bait for moat carp. That's just what I need to catch enough moat carp for my Lu Shang's fishing rod.

Hooray, hooray! Fish on!

Cooking Popotos paid off as I finally reached Cooking level 20. It was time for my Initiate level Cooking skill test. So I took a trip to Windurst (via Mhaura of course - so I could fish on the ship ) to visit the Culinarian Guild.

At the Culinarian Guild, I spoke to the guild master, Piketo-Puketo (at D-9 on the Windurst Waters map) and found out my test was to make a fine bowl of Pea Soup. I ran around Windurst looking for the ingredients.

I had to take a little break from cooking and start farming. So, as a Warrior (at level 13) with no armor or weapon, I paid a visit to Ghelsba Outpost.

Most of the Orcs I met in Ghelsba were easy prey to me. I was happy with this fact because all I really wanted was fire crystals and not experience anyway. After killing an endless supply of Orcs, I ended up with a few stacks of crystals and a few other items like scrolls of Bind and Blind, and the great looking Bronze Subligar you can see in the bridge picture.

Not a bad farming run. I hope my stuff will sell so I can make a little gil.