Buffered

Not

I hate the orcs in Vunkerl Inlet.

much going on today except Campaign battles. I really should switch over to limit points -- I'm not far from a fifth Merit Point to upgrade Invigorate -- but I really need that xp buffer. I should cap my xp so I don't have to worry about it.

The battles weren't too spectacular for the most part. Neyla and I did Vunkerl Inlet, which is one area I try to avoid because the orc counter-attack guarantees I'll end up dead. In my daydream, it has the voice of Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons, sneering at me and saying "Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself!" and belting out that sarcastic "Ha-ha!" when I collapse.

There was one really good fight in Fort Karugo-Narugo. The yagudo set up a turret that pumped out a ton of War Lynx, which we killed for a ton of xp. I was cashing in and getting fresh tags regularly. It was awesome, although I did eventually turn my attention to the turret to take it down.

The Muscle

Today

We focus our attention on Tatzlworm

was the grand finale to Dalamar's quest for Rank 10 in Windurst. I hadn't fought this battle since I got Rank 10, but Neyla's done it a few times. The biggest headache was always finding a tank from mage-heavy Windurst, but it's not an issue now that he and every tarutaru under the sun has been leveling Paladin.

We had to run around for a few cutscenes, mostly traveling together so we could get through the weighted doors in the Quicksand Caves. Psylentcuda also needed the fight, so Dalamar and I escorted him through the door while Neyla hit the Temple of Uggalepih to get a key from the Tonberry Cutters and have it ready when they got there.

Rounding out the group was Shemdly on PLD/NIN, who came to kite one mob while Neyla and I dealt with Ajido-Marujido's target during the second half.

I was amused during the prep at Full Moon Fountain. Everyone was working out their duties; tanks were working out their targets, Dalamar was on Black Mage and had to sleep the cardians, and Psylentcuda was Red Mage with Refresh and extra crowd control duties. As "the muscle," I only had to do one thing: punch until things were dead. It was definitely more relaxing than the last time I did it, when I was a White Mage who had to focus on keeping people and Ajido alive.

We fought the manticore first while Shmedly kited the wyvern. I remembered the fight being kind of tough, so I was shocked at how easily they died.

Neyla and I did a few Campaign battles after -- I've got to rebuild my xp buffer on Monk after all the recent deaths -- and then logged out.

Step Away from the Cardian

The

The cardian got a little testy.

next Windurst mission for Dalamar required us to fight a cardian in the Horutoto Ruins. Neyla asked Shmedly to help us out, since he's very good at tanking things on PLD/NIN. It's not a bad fight, since you don't have to fight both cardians. All you have to do is throw on Sneak and pull one, then bind it in place and wait for the other to despawn. Then you're free to kill your target.

My only job for the first part was to keep an eye on the second cardian and announce when we were free to start the wholesale slaughter. There was a fun moment when the pissed off cardian was bound next to me and started trying to beat my brains in, but I moved out of the way.

When the companion vanished, we killed our target. It was surprisingly easy, considering how some of our past fights have gone.

Today's escort quest netted me almost the entire 1500xp for my Dragoon. I'd love to have more like that.