Looking For Party – Vere Vere Good

Sometimes, life loves to shout out loud at you just how lucky you are. Being surrounded by people who give a damn about you is a pretty amazing feeling. Recently I was reminded just what a lucky woman I am… a couple of weeks ago I was spending time abroad visiting my family, so little Paru was not going to be played all week… or so I thought! I had asked Kody to keep an eye on my baby chocobo MisterFantastic (yes that is his name and yes, he IS fantastic) and feed/walk him every real life day in game. What I didn’t know what that with the help of our linkshell MogHat II, he was actually performing runs to get all the items needed for the Monk Empyrean weapon; The Verethragna.

On the FFXI wiki it explains: The Persian god of victory and the personification of aggressive triumph. He punishes the evil done by man and demon. Verethragna appears in many shapes: bear, bird of prey, bull, camel, youth, warrior with a golden sword, wind etc.

They take the shape of two large horn shaped gauntlets placed over the fists. Any Monk wearing these should feel extremely proud of themselves – the hard work and effort that goes into making such a weapon is an example of dedication to your job. It also allows you to perform the weapon skill ‘Victory Smite’, a flurry of blows and kicks finished up with a huge punch at the end. Filthy good fun! I had previously started the beginner trials required to begin creating these beautiful weapons but I never really took it seriously, I didn’t think I could dedicate so much time just to myself.

After returning home and getting settled in, we logged in and the first thing I noticed was that my linkpearl was not equipped… then I noticed I was in a bikini (as you do) and on a beach. The beach where we got married in game for fun in 2011… and then I saw them. Placed on each hip was a massive Verethragna fist.

I could not possibly repeat the ever so colourful language I squealed, because I appreciate you far too much, dear reader!

I could not possibly repeat the ever so colourful language I squealed, because I appreciate you far too much, dear reader! But needless to say I was overwhelmed! After hugging the life out of poor Kody, I popped my link pearl on. When you log into a link shell, you are greeted with the LS message and ours read: Congratulations to Paru on her Verethragna! Then I proceeded to thank everyone in game a million times and had a little cry. Reading this back now I am blushing a little but still beaming with pride.

Kody was concerned that I would be angry with everyone because I myself had not contributed to the hard work required to complete all the trials. But as he would explain to me later on, during my time in FFXI I have always come along and helped others out and this was them returning the favour. I had done the hard work, but focused on others rather than furthering myself and now it was time to collect my reward. I KNOW how many hours of solid game play go into creating an Empyrean weapon but for these guys to do it in a week!? Utter madness! This was my ‘congratulations on your engagement’ gift from my friends in game. Almost as shiny as my actual engagement ring itself! Since then, I have been constantly working towards getting the best gear set up to maximise my damage output. And oh my bloody God, what damage I do now!

And I feel pretty damn smug wearing these bad boys, they look sexy and they hit like a tank! So thank you, Tenatzen and the wonderful people of MogHat II. I promise each single punch I throw and every weapon skill I perform, I do so wonderfully well because of you guys. I am the luckiest Monk in FFXI.