The Stilshrine of Miriam
99. Stilshrine of Miriam: Redmaw
GENUS: Avion
CLASSIFICATION: Steeling
[1/2] Observations
Being a variety of steeling whose body is covered in hard scales like to those of a dragon. It prefers to make its home in dry underground caverns. The name of "redmaw" comes from the fact the creature's mouth is ever painted crimson with the drinking of its victims' blood.
Its vampyric bite delivers a numbing venom sufficient to kill even the largest fiends, should its fangs go deep enough.
[2/2] Sage Knowledge (6 of 78)
Sky Pirates
A name for the freefolk who play the open skies in airships. Though they are collectively called "pirates," their actual occupations vary by individual. Some search for legendary treasures, some merely travel the world, while others are indeed ruthless villains who attack trade ships and plunder goods for profit. In recent years, the Archadian Empire has stepped up patrols, bringing in the worst of the lot, all but consigning the more flamboyant feats of piracy to history. Of late, many are the pirates who have given up the thief's life for that of the headhunter, bringing their former comrades-in-arms to justice... for a bounty. Those few who remain pirates have struggled hard to retain the title, and are duly proud of it.
100. Stilshrine of Miriam: Zombie Warrior
GENUS: Undead
CLASSIFICATION: Zombie
[1/2] Observations
Should they be cursed to live on in undeath, men who were soldiers in life become zombie warriors. In the cruel past, it was customary for those who fell in battle to be denied eternal rest by their masters and magicked to serve them after death as zombies--a tragic fate that has earned the zombie warrior more sympathy than others of its ilk.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
There were some spies come into the barracks the other day, but they got away before we could nab 'em.
They was wearin' black cowls just right, so as not to be seen. Don't get me wrong, I ain't prasin' 'em, but if you'd seen some o' them things they was wearin', made o' fine wool an' tyrant hide, you'd've been impressed too.
Baro, Soldior
101. Stilshrine of Miriam: Blood Gigas
GENUS: Giant
CLASSIFICATION: Headless
[1/2] Observations
Being a cruel headless giant, born from the spilled blood of a demon.
It views the world through the eye enchained across its chest, the pupil of which is said to be a window onto the underworld. Some say that to stare into this eye is t oshow your soul to the darkness, and that those foolish enough to do so are instantly consumed by an unquenchable rage.
Many such rumors endure to this day, in the absence of a survivor to disprove them.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
There's this particular weapon, an axe, me and my boys are fond of. The francisca, she's called! Heard of her?
Seems they make 'em up north, but only when pointed horns and malboro fruit are in healthy supply in the market. That's why we've been out hunting for 'em every spare moment we get.
Baimo, Berserker
102. Stilshrine of Miriam: Nightwalker
GENUS: Undead
CLASSIFICATION: Reaper
[1/2] Observations
Thus are called those reapers, deities of death, that wander the darkness devouring the souls of men. Some are known for the strength of their blades, others for the strength of their magicks.
They are feared as demons for their cruelty, and indeed the sight of them devouring man's soul is said to be worse than a lifetime of torture, yet, oddly, the expressions left upon the faces of those whose souls have been devoured are not masks of pain, but a beatific calm. This has led some to speculate that it is not, perhaps, the Inferno to which they bear their victims, but Paradise.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
I've heard that the means for makin' dark matter can be found in a grimoire carried by some evil folk.
They say that the recipe's been divided into two books, though, to prevent pryin' eyes and seein' it.
And, harken to this: they say that if you were to stack them on top of one another and wrap them up together in a severed bat wing, the whole lot would fly off, recipe an' all! What I wonder is: how did someone come to find that out then, eh? Load of codswallop!
Syami, Witch
103. Stilshrine of Miriam: Dragon Aevis
GENUS: Dragon
CLASSIFICATION: Plate Wyrm
[1/2] Observations
Being a dragon that has lived in darkness for such a great span of time, its eyes have withered, yet its sense of touch has grown so acute that it may sense the slightest source of hear upon the air, thereby distinguishing obstacle from foe.
"Aevis" summons to mind the word for "demon's armor" in an ancient tongue, and indeed, the wyrm's carapace is as impenetrable as the hardest steel.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
You know the diamond sword, right?
Well, it's worth such a fortune that they have to wrap it in a bundle of feathers for sale so it don't scratch none.
Of course, it's hard to imagine anything would mar that blade.
Why, if it did nick, I'd have to say it was a fake.
Cerynute, Machinist
104. Stilshrine of Miriam: Ghoul
GENUS: Undead
CLASSIFICATION: Zombie
[1/2] Observations
Ancient teachings tell us that those attached to beauty are abandoned without succor after death, and fall back down to earth, in excecrable form, as ghouls.
Though the truth of this can never be known, they ar eindeed drawn to beauty, and it seems likely that they defile the living in a desperate effort to reclaim what they once had.
[2/2] Sage Knowledge (51 of 78)
Zertinan Caverns
A great cavern complex stretching along the length of the inland sea between Ordalia and Kerwon. Its passages twist and turn, winding their way from the Jagd Yensa to Dalmasca, and even Bancour.
Labyrinthine and dark, the caverns provide an excellent place for criminals and bandits to hide from the authorities. The reaches near the Great Yensan Sandsea are known for their frequent deadly subterranean sand drifts, and the fierce wyrms that make their home there. Nearer to the Bancour, the smell of brine grows stronger, and many of the cavern mouths open out onto cliffs overlooking the sea.
105. Stilshrine of Miriam: Darkmare
GENUS: Fiend
CLASSIFICATION: Nightmare
[1/2] Observations
Being a nightmare transformed by long years of living in lands saturated with Mist, preferring to inhabit ruins and other places starved of light. Mist rises in clouds about its body, and pours incessantly from its mane and hooves.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
You've heard of the, er, shall we call it "military-minded land" in the south importing weapons of all kinds, right? Why, it sounds like they're after pointed horns and maggoty flesh to buy.
I don't know what they could possibly want to use them for, but they say they've been trading them for their famed tridents, so they must really want them.
Uyag, Illusionist
106. Stilshrine of Miriam: Facer
GENUS: Construct
CLASSIFICATION: Facer
[1/2] Observations
Statue made to defend the relics of the Dynast-King that rest in the Stilshrine of Miriam.
Within burns an everlasting flame, the source of the power which fuels its ceaseless wandering through the Stilshrine's deserted corridors. Generally docile, but prone to charging in with teeth a-chatter and flames roaring when trespassers least expect it.
[2/2] Sage Knowledge (78 of 78)
The Stilshrine of Miriam
An ancient shrine deep within the Jagd Ramooda. Like Raithwall's tomb, this, too, was constructed in the time of the Galtean Alliance, originally to honor the ancient god of swords and martial might. It is said that a Gran Kiltias of long ago selected the Stilshrine to house the relics of Dynast-King Raithwall, though why he would choose this side, and not a temple of his own sect, is unclear.
107. Stilshrine of Miriam: Balloon
GENUS: Fiend
CLASSIFICATION: Bomb
[1/2] Observations
Being a fiend created by a Gran Kiltias of long ago to roam the Stilshrine, protecting the relics of the Dynast-King that rest within.
Its body exudes great magickal power, fueling a pale glowing flame that burns around it incessantly.
Made to defend the relics of the Dynast-King with their lives, or more precisely, with their deaths.
[2/2] Sage Knowledge (23 of 78)
Centurio
An elite clan having its clan hall in the Royal City of Rabanastre, formed by the young moogle, Montblanc.
That the relatively new Centurio is quickly making its mark among the clans is thanks in no small part to Montblanc's encrouragement of cooperation between members, and all Centurios' dedication to getting the job done.
Centurio is renowned for welcoming hunters of all races, its founding members including a nu mou, Ma'kenroh, and a viera.
108. Stilshrine of Miriam: Miriam Guardian
GENUS: Construct
CLASSIFICATION: Guardian
[1/2] Observations
A great statue made to protect the relics of the Dynast-King that lie sleeping in the Stilshrine of Miriam. It is not known in what age or by whom it was made.
According to those scholars who have investigated the shrine, the designs on the statue are similar to those in certain ruins around Ivalice, giving weight to the theory that they were created by the same unknown individual or collective.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
They say there is a point on the body which, struck just so, will stop a man cold in its tracks, unable to move.
A skilled marksman could use a fine arrow, thin like a needle, to do this from a distance.
That's where stone bolts come in handy. As I'm sure you know, they use bundles of needles to make 'em, so proper width and sharpness are guaranteed.
Aim, of course, depends on your arm.
Jimmik, Blue Mage
109. Stilshrine of Miriam: Oiling
GENUS: Amorph
CLASSIFICATION: Flan
[1/2] Observations
Being an amorph found in the ruins of arctic lands. The uncanny ichor of which it is composed is resistant to the cold, yet the slightest lick of flame will set it ablaze.
Some effort has been made in the past to utilize this substance as a weapon, but a viable method of collection has yet to be devised.
Quite recently, a similar substance was found in the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea and research is under way to find a connection between the two.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
Oil is fuel for fires and explosions, right? Well, I've heard of a bomb, called the oil bomb, that puts two and two together, dousing your target with oil and setting it aflame!
They say the method of its construction came from the Book of Orgain...
I guess sometimes fact really is stranger than fiction.
Githon, Dark Knight
110. Stilshrine of Miriam: Miriam Facer
GENUS: Construct
CLASSIFICATION: Guardian
[1/2] Observations
Being the giant carven head of what must have been a truly gargantuan statue.
Stationed as an eternal guardian to protect the Dynast-King's relics where they sleep in the Stilshrine of Miriam.
It is not known by what power it propels itself through the corridors, but in that it represents the colossus's only surviving locomotive part, it seems likely that the head retains the source of the original statue's animation.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
There's an odd bird among the swordsmiths, so there is.
He claims the worth of his blades is not in their keenness, but in the sharpness of the screams they cull from their victims.
Inhuman, eh? He's the one that formed the Ame-no-Murakumo. Word is, he spends his days pulling up screamroot and listening to its cries.
Told you he was odd.
Narce, Templar
111. Stilshrine of Miriam: Ghast
GENUS: Undead
CLASSIFICATION: Zombie
[1/2] Observations
A sort of zombie, infamous far and wide for its ill-favored appearance, and savage demeanor. It is rumored that this creature first appeared in a fairy tale, and that the story somehow made its way into a grimoire, the very act of transcribing the words therein thence giving life to the creature known as the ghast.The truth behind this rumor, and power of words, are currently topics of much study amongst scholars of the annals of our history.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors
Lean closer and I'll tell you summat you're not like to hear elsewhere...How to forge a kagenui!
First, you stick a giant feather that's been filled with dark magicks through a chunk o' festering flesh! Listen!
Give it a while, and the feather will turn black as darkest night. Then, you sharpen a blade with the feather, and that's that!
'Course, you may lack the skills...and a properly fitted-out workshop...in fact, you're prob'ly best off seeing that tradin' on the bazaar will get you.
Ymato, Swordsmith
112. Stilshrine of Miriam: Crystalbug
GENUS: Fiend
CLASSIFICATION: Crystalbug
[1/2] Observations
Being a fiend that, unable to move and hunt for food on its own, mimics the form of a crystal, thereby tempting its prey to come to it.
The deception is nearly perfect and thus almost impossible to detect.
Should an ill-starred traveler mistake such a creature for a crystal, and reach out his hand, he will be treated to a maelstrom of the strongest magicks, before having his life juices summarily drained.
[2/2] Aletap Rumors:
Only those few who can instill holy strength in many jewels may wield the holy mote and its powerful rays of light.
So it is told, and so had I heard...but nobody took it seriously. No one believed such a thing could exist, including me.
Yet it seems it was true, after all. For I witnessed it with my own eyes.
Kaqueza, Numerologist