" &image=ctgic; &style=stDetail1;04/17/2006 Life in Vana'diel&style;&br; &style=stDetail2;Puppetmaster&style;&br; &br; &li=ng01;The Appearance of Puppetmasters&li;&br; &image=im00;&image=391_9.png; My master has gifted me with the power of dreams.&br;I bestow these dreams on those around me.&br;Take those dreams, and share them with someone you love.&br;Maybe one day, I'll have a dream of my own.&br;- "Erwin" the automaton. Serial No. 218.&image=im00;&br; Fifty years have passed since the creation of Mnejing, the first automaton. Automaton technology has progressed considerably since that time. Based on the idea of the xhifhut, an Antican translation instrument, a cordless controller known as an "animator" was developed. Now puppeteer and puppet could act freely without any strings to hamper their movement. Another advancement in the automaton field was the creation of custom parts called "attachments." These attachments freed puppeteers from the need to have alchemists or clockmakers present in order to improve the performance of their automatons, and opened up a profession that was previously restricted to court and military practitioners.&br;And so people witnessed the emergence of a new type of specialist--the puppetmaster. The appearance of puppetmasters and the constant fine-tuning of their automaton companions has led to a boom in the evolution of puppetmaking. &br;&br;Turning frowns into laughter, and the ability to bestow life and affection on a creation of wood and metal--these are the qualities you will need to excel in the profession of puppetmaster. &br;&br;Illustration by Mitsuhiro Arita&image=im00;&br; &image=im00;&image=391_10.png; "