Dragon Tails: Close Encounters of the Small Kind

Sirena and Laureine both caught in tractor beams of small U.F.O.s

The other evening, while Laureine was out adventuring on her own taking care of her own personal tasks and objectives that are usually unable to be done during the normal weekly tasks, she comes upon Sirena on the First assisting Granson to find a specific Cardinal Virtue. It was a very lovely intermission of rest from both of their adventuring, where then a couple of U.F.Os come along and attempt to tractor beam them away.

Seemingly miscalculating their size versus said alien vehicles, it ended up being more of a float hammock of sorts. Meanwhile the two kept chatting until their attempted abductors gently put them back on the ground and flew off in a hurry. Quite possibly to find a target far smaller that could be picked up properly.

Anden may want to look over the flock a bit more thoroughly this evening…

Sisters’ Fashion Report Adventure XI

Aikirees posing in front of a fireplace while I am expressing dismay.

Episode XI! – Big winter coats, spiky shoulder gauntlets, fancy pants with some… interesting shoe choices confuse me for this week’s Fashion Report. Once again, Aikirees is having the time of her life and I just still don’t fully understand the situation.

Dragon Tail’s: Cozy Warm Evenings

Laureine relaxing in front of a fireplace while sitting on a floor pillow.

My assistant spending a cold winter evening relaxing in front of EOCA HQ’s lounge fireplace keeping warm. I know a lot of places are on the colder side, so please do take care and stay warm while the weather outside is cold out!

The End of Endwalker

Ending Credits stating 'Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker'

Well technically the ending to Endwalker’s story was 6.0 and the 6.x series was more of a mini-story setting up for things in the future, this is where the finale credits for the expansion happened in Patch 6.55. This small part of the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) was more of a prologue to the next expansion, Dawntrail, and it was so enjoyable!

While this isn’t necessarily talking about what exactly happens in this patch/part of the MSQ, there’s very minor spoilers and a handful of screenshots from it, so skim on past or wait till y’all have gotten this far before glancing through it. The entirety of it felt shorter than previous finale MSQ’s, I think Shadowbringers’ was a smidgen longer with a long instance to end it, and Stormblood had a really rough instance to end it as well. I could be mistaken as it has been several years since I’ve done Shadowbringers’ and even far longer since Stormblood’s.

Regardless of the length (it’s not really that important, just a side-thought), the amount of stuff that was added into these last few quests of the expansion are so gosh darn full of wonderfulness! Wuk Lamat is officially introduced here hailing from Tural asking for assistance in her homeland for becoming the new ruler, which will presumably unravel as we adventure through Dawntrail.

This was a really, really fun little prologue! The energy, the characters’ interactions, the introduction of Wuk Lamat and showing off her personality all in such a small amount of time made me adore her and get really interested in what the hoobers we’re getting ourselves into during Dawntrail! The instance itself was well done and bumps one up to an absurdly high Item Level that, while it doesn’t make it a full breeze to get through, gives it just the right difficulty and feels like more of an interactive part to the already fun prologue sequence.

It ultimately ends with us agreeing to go over to Tural and all parties present with us beginning preparations to head on out. Thus the finale credits to Endwalker begin. These ending credits were pretty neat too, a lot of fun little scenes and some concept artwork sprinkled throughout.

Post Credits had one more cut scene with parties not-present but are also Westward bound too. Thancred and Urianger’s specifically being one of note that kind of helps mold some of what we’re going to see happen during Dawntrail.

Final little messages come up, and then that was it. I know I’ve said it a few times already, but this was great. I loved every moment of this whole thing. There’s still a lot for us to do between now and Dawntrail, but this all setting the stage for it leading into a whole new land and story was absolutely wonderful! Here’s to many many more adventures ahead, wherever they take us!

Then there was Dragoon 70

Aikirees and I unleashing Dragoon abilities - header image.

We all have finally attained level 70 Dragoon!! The 60-70 adventure was mostly pleasant overall, and understanding the several rotations that the class has up to 70 hasn’t been all that rough either. The story was enjoyable too, but I personally liked the 50-60 one a lot more.

Once the Dragon Gauge was unlocked at 70, the rotations and combo’s become absolutely bonkers! It all makes sense, but upon first seeing it was a bit overwhelming especially when we main Black Mage. All in all though, we’ve been really enjoying Dragoon so very much. It’s fun and balanced between speed and what should be executed next while moving around the battlefields.

Menu window displaying all the recommended gear for Dragoon Level 70.

This was also really gratifying to see happen upon hitting level 70 as well. It might look really awful jumping from 60 to 70 gear, but we really only stuck with roulettes that kept us around 60 or below all of the time. I can’t believe were only 20 levels left. Here’s to those and more adventures ahead!!

Under the Ruby Sea

Aikirees and I as Dragoons under the Ruby Sea.

Aikirees and I caught up the other evening after finishing up all of our objectives for the day under the Ruby Sea. This moment was so serene and just relaxing after a haptic day/evening.

Also recently acquired the Major-General minion that had this absolutely amazing item description.

Minion description for The Major-General 'It's a Shark. With legs.'

The little feller is an achievement-based minion from ocean fishing. Anyway, we’re quickly approaching Dragoon Level 70 now as well!!

Dragon Tails: Botanist Daydreaming

Laureine in her botanist outfit looking off into the distance as the sun begins to set.

Nothing fancy, just my assistant out and about having a quick daydreaming moment while searching for a treasure map. Some of the things the AFK camera picks up are rather neat, and this one was certainly one of those!

Sisters’ Fashion Report Adventure VII

Aikirees and I looking upon ourselves for this week's fashion report.

Episode VII! – We’re both really not sure of what to make of our outfits for this week’s fashion report, but they did come out quite nicely. I have to admit that I do kind of like mine, albeit needing some color adjustments.

Heavensturn 2024!

Aikirees and I in front of Heavensturn's decorations.

We had such a wonderful time with this year’s Heavensturn. The story was so gosh darn cute & emotional with it telling tales of the “Ryu” or Dragon for us Eorzean’s that eventually leads into a Far Eastern tale that intertwines with the Four Lords story from Stormblood. I love absolutely every moment of it.

What was also neat is the aftermath and the return of getting one’s fortune taken again! This was from the 2023 Heavensturn event with its own story and was so delightfully fun!

While I and my poor assistant didn’t fair so well, Aikirees flourished and Lizicus did. One can always request a re-draw, but we tend to stick with what we get for the year. Regardless, it’s a nice fun little thing that I am glad they brought back. It sets one back 100 Gil per draw, so very low-cost to keep drawing if one wants to.

May everyone out there have an absolutely wonderful Heavensturn and 2024 ahead! Let’s make it a stellar and ‘zee awesome’sies’ of a year!!

A Relaxing New Year’s Eve

Aikirees, Juli, and I fishing on a boat for New Years Eve 2023

Normally for New Year’s Eve, I spend the evening with my folks and we celebrate ringing in the New Year with them. However this year, they were not feeling well, so I spent the evening with my beloved FC. While we went to catch up on Dragoon quests, Juli arrived and mentioned she wanted to go Ocean Fishing.

Ocean Fishing is an event that happens only ever 2 hours, and it’s a fun time on a boat catching a bunch of fish while gaining an absurd amount of experience in the process. We decided to join her for the last boat ride of the year. It was an absolutely wonderful and relaxing time.

Shortly thereafter, we hit midnight and celebrated the new year, while having friends come to visit and chat with us until the whee hours of the AM celebrating not only our New Year’s but for friends in Central, and Mountain times as well.

It really and truly was a wonderful night that I won’t forget. ♥

Sisters’ Fashion Report Adventure V

Aiki dancing in a cowboy hat and ornate dress while I look at her in bewilderment.

Episode V! – Aikirees is very much taking advantage of her rather new unique look. As for what place she has in mind is still anyone’s guess as I simply just try to process the look of it all.

Then there was Dragoon 60

Both the Cousins, Aiki, and I cheering as we all achieved Dragoon level 60.

It took some time, and some setbacks, but we all finally managed to reach Level 60 on Dragoon over the weekend! This has been a fun melee class to tackle being the first one we’ve done ever. Only 30 levels to go now!!

Sisters’ Fashion Report Adventure IV

Episode IV! – While I’m still trying to ponder out what trade skill would be useful with these rather pointy gloves, Aiki seems to once again be enjoying the puzzling scenario we are in again for this week’s Fashion Report.