The essence of a born defender.
"You hear a voice from out of nowhere...
Come closer. Do not be afraid. I am Aegis, the impervious shield of everlasting. Thanks to you, I will once again be raised in the defense of a just cause. I am most grateful. All that remains is the rite of succession...
...Hmmm. You are to become the new bearer--the new servant--of Aegis...Your companions must place great trust in you, otherwise you would not have been chosen. Continue to treasure your friendships, and be willing to risk life and limb to protect them. Such has it always been. It is the duty of the one who bears Aegis. Farewell, my successor...
You have done well. Now I belong to you. Where will you bear me from here? To the heavens? To the pits of hell? Never fear, I will always be ready to defend you... "
That's the end text for when you complete Aegis. And I find it appropriate at this point to reflect upon that text.
I finished Amanomurakumo tonight. A journey that has traversed...almost my entire time in this game. Certainly my entire endgame career. My time and dedication to the samurai job in FFXI.
That said, I have always been supported by Mirnen. When we started TakeLuck, the intent was to do her weapon, my weapon, and hopefully many others. And while it's true that other people may still complete weapons via TakeLuck, Mirny will not likely be one of them simply due to the time involved and our own mounting RL obligations. She devoted the entirety of her currency into helping me complete my weapon tonight. She had about 3/4 of what she needed for her own stage 4 saved up over the past two and a half years of TakeLuck's existence. Given another year or two we -may- both have finished. Maybe. If the servers were still up and running.
But in the completion of my own relic I really find it paramount that I stress that without the essence of Aegis -- the dedication to her friends and loved ones -- not only would I not be completing, TakeLuck itself would have fallen apart long ago.
My next post will be dedicated to my own achievement in the complete of Amanomurakumo. The other people who need to be thanked -- and they are many -- and the general awesomeness that comes with the feeling of completing Amanomurakumo.
But tonight, as I finish, I want it to be stressed -- pushed, emphasized, put above all else -- that Mirnen truly is the essence of a paladin. Reaching back to the job's roots with Cecil in FFIV and before -- the concept of putting your friends and loved ones before yourself, the concept of giving your all in support of those you care for -- She will likely never have the recognition of the server as one of its great paladins, in "zomg pimp gear" or in "holy hell she's tanking (whatever) the way no one else has!"; but I can say without bias that despite the fact she's my wife in game and will soon be out of game as well, that she's unlike possibly anyone else on the server. I've never met ANYONE as willing to sacrifice her own ends -- in the game or, more significantly, out of game -- to see those she cares about excel.
There are many others to whom I owe thanks for my achievements. And I intend to acknowledge each and every one of them in turn. But all of them combined -might- equal the contributions Mirnen has made on her own to me, let alone to the rest of those around here.
And I know that coming from me this may ring hollow even to -- or especially to -- her.
But thank you, Mirnen -- my love, my protector, my wife, my "holy masochist" as you call yourself -- for everything you've done for me, The Meglivornth, TakeLuck and everyone else for whom you've given your all through the years.
Come closer. Do not be afraid. I am Aegis, the impervious shield of everlasting. Thanks to you, I will once again be raised in the defense of a just cause. I am most grateful. All that remains is the rite of succession...
...Hmmm. You are to become the new bearer--the new servant--of Aegis...Your companions must place great trust in you, otherwise you would not have been chosen. Continue to treasure your friendships, and be willing to risk life and limb to protect them. Such has it always been. It is the duty of the one who bears Aegis. Farewell, my successor...
You have done well. Now I belong to you. Where will you bear me from here? To the heavens? To the pits of hell? Never fear, I will always be ready to defend you... "
That's the end text for when you complete Aegis. And I find it appropriate at this point to reflect upon that text.
I finished Amanomurakumo tonight. A journey that has traversed...almost my entire time in this game. Certainly my entire endgame career. My time and dedication to the samurai job in FFXI.
That said, I have always been supported by Mirnen. When we started TakeLuck, the intent was to do her weapon, my weapon, and hopefully many others. And while it's true that other people may still complete weapons via TakeLuck, Mirny will not likely be one of them simply due to the time involved and our own mounting RL obligations. She devoted the entirety of her currency into helping me complete my weapon tonight. She had about 3/4 of what she needed for her own stage 4 saved up over the past two and a half years of TakeLuck's existence. Given another year or two we -may- both have finished. Maybe. If the servers were still up and running.
But in the completion of my own relic I really find it paramount that I stress that without the essence of Aegis -- the dedication to her friends and loved ones -- not only would I not be completing, TakeLuck itself would have fallen apart long ago.
My next post will be dedicated to my own achievement in the complete of Amanomurakumo. The other people who need to be thanked -- and they are many -- and the general awesomeness that comes with the feeling of completing Amanomurakumo.
But tonight, as I finish, I want it to be stressed -- pushed, emphasized, put above all else -- that Mirnen truly is the essence of a paladin. Reaching back to the job's roots with Cecil in FFIV and before -- the concept of putting your friends and loved ones before yourself, the concept of giving your all in support of those you care for -- She will likely never have the recognition of the server as one of its great paladins, in "zomg pimp gear" or in "holy hell she's tanking (whatever) the way no one else has!"; but I can say without bias that despite the fact she's my wife in game and will soon be out of game as well, that she's unlike possibly anyone else on the server. I've never met ANYONE as willing to sacrifice her own ends -- in the game or, more significantly, out of game -- to see those she cares about excel.
There are many others to whom I owe thanks for my achievements. And I intend to acknowledge each and every one of them in turn. But all of them combined -might- equal the contributions Mirnen has made on her own to me, let alone to the rest of those around here.
And I know that coming from me this may ring hollow even to -- or especially to -- her.
But thank you, Mirnen -- my love, my protector, my wife, my "holy masochist" as you call yourself -- for everything you've done for me, The Meglivornth, TakeLuck and everyone else for whom you've given your all through the years.