A place to go home to

"Do I even still have a place?"

By Stormblood I began choosing quests to take up on account slight fatigue

Those that reunite family and friends became a theme for Hylnyan because of her own background lore of seeking her missing mate. She hasn't return to her village in the entire time even though Mor Dhona is close enough to the Northwestern Shrouds (up Proud Creek somewhere).

Because of Thancred, Tataru and F'lhaminn and to some extent the Doman Kids and Higiri. Mor Dhona was sort of like a second village to Hylnyan. For the same reason Hylnyan treats Doman Enclave as her third village.

Yes F'lhaminn, I ended up liking F'lhaminn. She too was minding the fort when the front line team were sent out. She was the big sister to Hylnyan in a way that's kinda like Leih Aliapoh was. It gotten to the point that Hylnyan was trying to ship Thancred and F'lhaminn. But was told that while the gesture was appreciated, F'lhaminn wasn't ready and had to do some thinking for a while (a very long while up to EW since it goes back to guilt over Minfillia where the two parties were concerned)

The Fortemps and Ishgard was technically home and village five too. though that one took a longer time for her to come to terms with it (DRK lvl 70 post EW)

And she was very at home with the Mol Tribe (village four) and to an extent the Dohtari (stayed with Qestir after ShB for a short period of time to clear her head and deal with some anger issues. There was a noodle incident where Thancred and Alisaie went to pick Hylnyan up and Thancred had a run in with the Buduga tribe)

The whole business with the Garlean war was so that her mate would have a home to come back from wherever he was. there was nowhere to hide much less a safe place to start her family if the Garleans won.

So yeah, Hylnyan does technically have a home with people who cares about her. And she ends up growing a few villages.

--------

On a side note of the Buduga tribe. It went from "The khagan has good taste in men." to "The khagan has a thing for strong men." to "khagan may we be allowed to fight your men?""

ROUND 1 / SIDE A / POLL 5

Merle Rouge (@vamp-galactica) v. Hali Aloke (@starrysnowdrop)

Merle Rouge:

q. What is your WoL name and pronouns? a. Merle Rouge, She/Her

q. What is your WoL's species? a. Roegadyn

q. What is your WoL's class? Or classes? a. Warrior

q. What data centre/server are you on, if you want people to find you? a. Famfrit

q. Tell us a bit about your WoL! a. Merle lived in a small fishing village on an island just a little ways off the coast of La Noscea, but had never gone to the mainland! Her father abandoned her and her mother to go be on the sea, and washed up on shore years later. Merle decided to rebuild his ship with the piece of wood he washed up with and take her mother sailing, but she died of old age before they could set off. She took her mothers ashes with her and set off, running a fishing company off the boat for a while. Then, one morning, she docked in La Noscea only to be approached by a representative from the adventurers guild. Needing a distraction from her woes, she decided to sign up, and found a whole new joy in her journeys. She’s a bright and merry woman with a big heart who fights with all her emotions, never holding anything back. The people she’s met on her travels are like family to her, even the ones she’s only met once. When all the world is your family, you’re never alone, after all! Even through the hardships, she has never considered being the hero a burden- it’s a duty she takes on for the world she loves. She likes to fish, cook, and dance, and considers Ishgard her home despite being a bit of a fish out of water there. As part of her blessing from Hydaelyn, when her warrior spirit is amped up and she’s feeling the heat of battle, her clothing and armor will turn a bright shimmery blue!

q. Why should YOU win? (Answer IC!) a. “There’s so much of me t’love! Seven feet n’ three inches, in fact! WAHAHAHA! I also make a real mean coconut cod n’ I made an Ishgardian tailor rich with all the custom sized dresses I needed!”

Hali Aloke:

q. What is your WoL name and pronouns? a. Hali Aloke, she/her

q. What is your WoL's species? a. Dunesfolk Lalafell

q. What is your WoL's class? Or classes? a. Astrologian Main, can also DPS support as Dancer

q. What data centre/server are you on, if you want people to find you? a. Seraph (Dynamis DC)

q. Tell us a bit about your WoL! a. Hali was born in Old Sharlayan, specifically in Labyrinthos, to two prominent scholars. A graduate of the Studium, and a well known Astrologian, she was tired of being stuck in Sharlayan and she left to see the world. Hali first went to Ul’dah, her grandmother’s hometown, where she met a man named Thancred, and she soon got wrapped up in fighting primals and joining the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. When she’s not busy with her Scion duties, she is teaching Sharlayan Astrology and Astromancy and spending time with the love of her life, a certain Ishgardian knight in blue.

q. Why should YOU win? (Answer IC!) a. Why should I win? Well, I didn’t fight dozens of primals and thousands of Garlean soldiers over the years to lose now! Besides, if I don’t win, I’ll cry. ;_;

Tell us about your bun boy, the world needs to know about him. Who cares if it isn't lore compliant

@wanderin-rook @deathmeddle @saanphoenix @niceaxephotos

Okay so because these people were so kind to indulge me and ask, allow me to give you a short introduction to Yoon before I give you an actual sheet with his stats and all

Also DISCLAIMER: I am not through with A Realm Reborn and therefor have limited knowledge of Vierra so most of this is NOT canon compliant.

So

This.

Is Yoon

Yoon is a Vierra from the Ishgardian snowy mountains. Due to his village and subesquently his baby sister falling terribly ill he took her down the mountain to find someone who could cure her, but ended up in Gridania where he stayed for a good bit. He is NOT A WOL, he is more of a support character for my WOLs squad. Since he is skilled with a spear/lance he later down the line takes up a job as a dragoon. He also has a boif, called Lemuel (played by my irl fiance @kyuji)

I will get to their story later bc its Spicey with a capital S

Here are more in depth stats and a more thorough recount of his story until he arrived in Gridania. Also beware of bigger Font for readability.

Name: Yoon Dorochnewesfv

Age: he never talks about his age, but you can count him around 20ish in human years at the beginning of "A Realm Reborn"

Lineage: Vierra - Veena

Birthplace: Ishgard East Mountainrange/ Yaga village

More info: Yaga Village is an interesting one in its history, as it has been established many many generations ago. Its history is passed down oraly by the elder female Veena and says that they were once send by a divine power to guard the lucious mountains, but with time the climate changed and it became a landscape of ice and snow. However the Vierra could not abandon what they promised to protect and so they stayed in Yaga for centuries, adapting to the new climate. While it is one village its population is divided into different families, named after old Viera matriarchs. Dorochnewes was one of them.

Affiliation: Gridania

Class/Job: Lancer, later Dragoon (tho also versed with a bow)

Status: mated to Lemuel

Physical Describtion: Yoon is a Snow Mountain Veena with almost completely white skin, white hair and white ears and tail. Only the tips of his ears, the tip of his tail and his toes are black/dark blue furred. He has feint freckles in his face, his left eye is white while his right eye is a deep blue. Originally both eyes were blue, but due to an injury he sustained on his trip down the mountain he got partially blind on his left eye and bears a scar on the side of his face. His hair is a bit longer than shoulder length and he has the natural height of Vieras, though among his species he is average in height to slightly shorter. He has very strong legs as most Vierra and rabbit feet with white furr and black toes. Different to other Vierras those of his village have the ability to cover their skin with a layer of furr when in cold regions so there is little need to bundle up for them. The furr falls off and sheds in warmer regions and is, as most of Yoon, completely snow white.

Backstory:

Born as the middle child of a renowned huntress in the tribe, there was a lot of hope in Yoon to be female, as his older sibling turned out male, which was seen as a disappointment to the tribe. His mother did not love him any less and only two years, after his younger siblings birth, his father died. All the more disappointment was once it became clear that Yoon was a male Vierra, which made his mother now have two sons and not a single heiress.

But not shortly after his younger sibling Taya was confirmed to be female, the entire tribe was slowly falling ill to a terrible disease. By then Yoon had been out on his own for quite a few years only hearing of the illness from other male Vierra that visited the tribe. Since his mating cycle was coming close he decided to make an earlier visit to the tribe and to check on his family only to find his mother and little sister terribly ill. By now even a few male Vierras had contracted the disease, however they seemed to recover with little issue while the female population seemed to suffer greatly and even die from it.

His mother knew she was not going to make it and sent Yoon with his sister down the mountain to get at least their youngest into a city where she could get medical treatment, as the tribe was incapable of finding a cure. Yoon knew this would lead to them being banished, but promised to take his sister to safety. He then made his way down the mountain, giving whatever he could hunt to his sister and keeping her alive, while he got by with mere scraps. He went slowly and steadily to make sure he wouldn't overexert his young sister, taking breaks to warm up and let her get some proper sleep.

It's during his way down that he, delirious and weak from little nourishment and sleep deprivation, slips during a snowstorm and tumbles down a steeper and cliffier path, causing him to gravely injure his left side of his face and damaging his eye. He took some time to take care of himself and Taya, who he could luckily shield enough to not get hurt, and with newfound strength made his way further down. However when he came to Coerthas he was met with closed gates and hostility as the nation of Ishgard was in grave tension due to their fight with the dragons. At least one helpful individual by the name of Estinien directed him south towards Gridania, saying Yoon should ask there for a cure.

On his way to Gridania he traverses the forests, unable to hunt, due to his new adjustment to his eyes and being unable to blend in with the green flora. He pushed through by sheer willpower and eventually collapsed in the City of New Gridania, being taken in by Mother Miounne and given a temporary stay to recover. So now Yoon was in Gridania, a place completely different from his home and taking care of his very ill sister. He is aware that he will need money to come by, pay for their stay and especially Tayas treatment so he joins the adventure guild and becomes a Lancer. However doing quests and hunting himself manages to pose itself as a big difficulty. Yoons entire appereance is natural to a snowy and rocky environment with little to no vegetation and he just recently lost most of his eyesight in one eye, having to relearn how to aim and see the world.

It's during this time that he meets another Vierra.... Lemuel.

Character: Yoon is not too hard to read if you are familiar with vierran expression through their ears. His face seems very unmoving and his tone usually stays the same, but his ears give him away far easier as he never had the need to control that. He does learn to open up and be more expressive around people he knows and likes, to strangers however he is cold and distant at first. He is awkward with other people and gets along better with other men, while he has great respect and shows politeness to women and non binary individuals. He is by no means uncaring, sometimes even being too caught in his own emotions as he left to the villages outskirts in his teens only one year after being fully identified as male. He has therefore little social skills and doesnt know much about ettiquette or how to handle his own emotions. Due to the Party, especially the Miqo'te girl Anayeli, he learns to understand emotions and social interactions more, however it often still shows, that he just comes from a completely different background.

He is often led by instinct and his learned skills as a hunter, prioritizing  survival over anything else, that he almost naturally sacrifices his own comfort. As a Vierra male that grew up in the snowy mountains he doesnt do well with heat and had a hard time adjusting to the new climate or the forest environment (Thanalan is his personal nightmare). It's usually uncomfortable for him to stand out due to his appereance, but with time most Gridanians learned to just let him be and do his thing and not stare, because it will trigger his flight instincts. He can be quite childish, when he does feel comfortable and as he had not run a single mating cycle yet has little sexual experience (until he meets Lem). It is his long term goal to find a cure for his sister and if possible bring the cure to the last remaining Vierra of his tribe and to fulfill that goal he is willing to go great lengths tho he has his principles and sticks to them, trying to live a life of which his mother would be proud and he has not to be ashamed of.

Trivia:

-Yoon can not swim. He never needed to learn. Lem teaches him to at least not completely drown.

-as with most Vierra his ears are very sensitive and he puts special wachs mixed with cotton in his ears to dull the noise. It is also why he prefers the quiet nature more than bustling groups of people

-Yoon doesnt exactly see himself as part of the Gridanian population and more as an outsider that happens to stay in the city, which makes him far more sympathetic with some of the wild tribes than most

-his favourite food is Honey Custard Tart, a sweet baked good that is filled with a custard that is mixed with honey and a honey glace on top. He never tasted honey before so when he got the good as a reward from a comission he got immideatly hooked.

-As the mountains are not as rich in vegetation as the forest Yoon was much more prone to have a meat heavy diet, which is only proven more by his sharp teeth and canines, that almost seem to match more Miqo'tes teeth. However he does prefer to have a vegetarian diet if he can help it.

-Yoons brother Eleesh disappeared about a year before the disease befell their tribe and its unknown if he died or not

-While they don't show much PDA, Yoon and Lem have a very active sex life, with Yoon being the one with the driving libido.

-as with most Vierra, Yoons strongest aspect are his legs. He can jump pretty high and far and is a very fast runner, being able to zigg zagg and make quick turns rather easily.

-and yes. He has pawbeans

-Usually Viera give up their forest names after having left their tribe, but Yoon holds onto his name as it is the last remains he has of his mother. However he does emphasize that he prefers to be called by his first call name instead of his full name or last name, as it is a very personal detail to him. He will often introduce himself as "Yoon. Just Yoon is fine."

-he finds Miqo'te to be unnerving due to their intense eyes and the natural predator disposition, Elezen to be unnerving for their height and especially Au'ra men for their size and sharp scales. Roegadyn and Hrothgar, no matter the gender, instinctly trigger his flight response.

-despite being dispositioned as prey, Yoon is very skilled with his lance and an incredible hunter... at least in the snowy mountains. In Gridania he passes as average when it comes to hunting, so he is much more prone to choose flight as an option.

More unrelated pictures as done by @kyuji

I will post the couple ones in my follow up

Thank you for reading!!!!

How does your WoL/OC relate to the culture of their species as established in lore? Do they consider themselves a typical example of their kind? Are they in touch with their heritage? How does this affect their interactions with others of their own kind?

@mimble-sparklepudding also asked this!

Both Yloise and Vallerin are pretty separated from what the game considers to be the typical Duskwight experience (Black Shroud, reviled as criminals, disposable mercenary adds, etc) - they were born and raised in La Noscea, in a village comprised mostly of Seawolf farmers. Their primary understanding of their culture comes initially through their mother, Hersande, who comes from the perspective of being a Gridanian foundling with only tenuous ties to Gelmorran Duskwights, and later through their patroness, Mdm. De Neville.

Hersande raised her children with a fairytale version of Duskwight culture, partially through stories by famed Ciw Morran writer Iolanthe Raas and partly from the poetry and stories recited by Julien (Yloise and Vallerin's father). Hersande herself took her surname 'Coneillants' from an old legend about an early Gelmorran hero. The children took these tales and wrapped them into the stories they heard from their neighbors and developed an elaborate mythos of pirates, bandit kings, magic underground lakes, giant glowing ram-shaped ghosts, and evil elementals.

Hersande's patroness, Mdm. De Neville, is herself a Duskwight - but one of Meracydian heritage, a direct descendant of the famous navigator who founded La Noscea. Mdm. De Neville and her children support Gelmorran cultural pursuits, including sponsoring and funding students and guild apprentices. Hersande is a recipient of these grants (in her case, to establish cash crops such as lavender in Halfstone's notoriously difficult soil), and due to both their physical proximity and similarity of their children's ages, Mdm. De Neville often invited Hersande and her children to visit the ancestral manor.

After the Calamity, Mdm. De Neville takes Yloise in as a governess for her youngest children until Yloise is ready to pursue her path as a chirurgeon. Her elder children invite Vallerin to work alongside them on their excavation of Issom Har.

Vallerin, having lived in Gridania, is much more aware of the reputation that Duskwights have in the city (and his harrowing experiences with Foulques and the Lancer's Guild has embittered him to Gridania at large), and he's very much taken an interest in traditional Duskwight culture (to the point of getting an actual tattoo instead of just mimicking the ones he saw in the books, like Yloise still does on occasion). He's *very* defensive of Issom Har but still skeptical of the Redbelly Wasps.

Yloise, on the other hand, is still romantic about the entire thing, including the agenda of the more radical Wasps, and maintains a cordial relationship with them due to her friendship with Dariustel Sompt through the Scions. She's a bit oblivious to the entire dynamic of Wildwood and Duskwight tensions and feels like a tourist on occasion (particularly to Ciw Morra).

(there's. a lot here to say about their father julien who is both actively alive and a gelmorran revolutionary and propagandist who was imprisoned for two decades on false charges but escaped from spirithold in the calamity but i have already written a lot here AND his position in the story has always been Very Nebulous anyway)

a thousand thanks to @mythandral for further Duskwight world building because god knows Square Enix isn't going to do it

About Lily Oh'fally

Hi and welcome! This blog is meant to be a self-indulgent brain rot blog so feel free to ask anything about my OC's ₍ᐢ⑅•ᴗ•⑅ᐢ₎♡

Warnings: 🔞 Not a safe space for minors as occasionally NSFW topics WILL be brought up!

Now, let me introduce you to my WoL:

Meet: Lily Oh'fally. Lily is a kind-hearted and gentle Viera at 25. He has 4 younger siblings who is his surrogate family, since he was the oldest he has been the one to provide for them since he was 15. His body is muscular and well build, yet his face is round cute. He has a fluffy tail and his ears tend to droop forwards rather than backwards. (reference updates "regularly")

More information underneath.

Before Lily and the others came to Ul'dah, they lived in a small village at the outer layer of Golmore Jungle, and despite their best efforts, that part of the forest was eventually overrun by the Garlean Empire by them burning down their part of the forest, in favor of crop and farmland. Leaving only 11 unpresented Viera children behind. They ended up splitting into two groups, one of 5 and one of 6, when they left Lily's group headed towards the Ocean in search of a new life. There, they met a particularly kind set of traders who were willing to take them across the ocean and brought them to Thanalan. On their way, Lily presented at the late age of 15 and made it his goal to keep the younger ones safe from harm. 10 years has passed since then.

Within his family, he is known for being a little clumsy and scatterbrained, yet also reliable and dependable. His younger siblings knows that even though he is very good at what he does, he is still young and like them, needs proper support. Lily is uneducated and can barely read and write, only being taught by his younger sister Layla so he could continue to work alongside the Ul'dahn merchants. However he's very good at numbers and calculating when it comes to spending money.

His family is made up of Lily, Layla, Kanna, Rose and Violet. Lily: Male, 25, 186cm, Rava. Layla: Female, 20, 190cm, Rava. Kanna: Female, 17, 173cm, Rava. Rose: Female, 15, 169cm, Rava. Violet: Male, 14, 167cm, Rava.

Additional information:

I ship Lily with Haurchefant!! Tag is HaurcheLily and I am very delusional about them ♥️

Lily's forest name was Raeja. He changed it to Lily because of Lily of the Valley's and his fondness of them.

His hair style changes during StB patch quests. During the Shinryu fight his hair gets damaged and he cuts it. Before his hair reached to around his waist. Then sometime during Endwalker patch quests he cuts it again.

He prefers wearing light clothes that doesn't get in the way or get dirty when working. He used to work odd jobs for various Ul'dah merchants and then later performed at a stage with dance, totally not just because I like putting him in pretty whore outfits.

His main colors are Royal Purple and Metallic Red. Lily's favorite colors are purples with gold.

I draw him with much more muscle than his in-game model shows. He needs to have wide shoulders and a small waist!! Round butt and thicc thighs!!!!

I am still working on his "canon" outfits and has one so far. I will update with them when it's done!

FFXIV Fluffvember

3. Nameday Surprise This fluff story is about the Scions celebrating Ren’s nameday which she completely forgot. The one telling the story this time is my WoL since it’s from her perspective. SPOILER ALERT: This does take place after the events of EW, so if you haven’t reached or just started playing the expansion, RESIST THIS STORY NOW! Other than that, enjoy! *** It has been several moons since my friends and I have returned from the edge of the universe to stop Meteion from forcing the Final Days upon our star, Etheirys. To me, it’s very hard to believe since I remember like all of the madness happened yesterday. Each Great Nation has been extremely busy with recovery for both structure and the civilians; I already had an idea on the amount of damage that the chaos left upon the cities. I bore witness to the flames that ravaged upon a village in Thavnair – it was a terrifying nightmare seeing those innocents turn into blasphemies. Of course, the leaders wanted me to participate the memorial services of those we had lost; I couldn’t refuse since it must’ve been hard on the families, and I wanted to support them any way I can. Other than that, although they urged me to get all the rest I need, I couldn’t sit still; I would lend a hand whenever the opportunity is available. I’ve made myself so busy to the point that I lost track on keeping up with the supply and demand of the market board; those ingredients weren’t going to gather themselves. In fact, these past few days has been so hectic that I just realized that my nameday has passed. I was more surprised than I was disappointed about missing the day that I was born which for my case, that was a long LONG time ago. If I did have the chance to rest, I would be bored out of my mind with nothing to do. Everyone has their own agenda to follow, and it would be rude of me to just force them to pause their duties to just spend time with me. Most likely, I would be at home just renovating some of my clothes that got damaged from previous battles. I really miss my family otherwise known as the Scions. We’ve decided to split up once we realized that our main objective has finally been fulfilled. Just about all the tribes throughout Eorzea are no longer tempered by their own gods and have joined forces with the Allied Nations – our service was no longer needed (for now). Despite that, there were still some unfinished business at different parts of the realm: Thancred and Urianger decided to go to Sharlayan to check on the Loporitts, Y’shtola had started her research involving traveling between shards, Alphinaud and Alisaie wanted to assist Jullus and his people rebuild in Garlemald, Estinien planned to head back to Radz-at-Han to serve Vtra, and last but not least, Krile and G’raha had their task on the renewal of the Students of Baldesion. Although, G’raha insists that I can visit him whenever I choose, I didn’t want to interrupt their work. So here I was at home, reviewing some paperwork discussing updates from the nations until suddenly my linkpearl started ringing. Who was contacting me? I had no idea. Whoever it was, maybe they can save me from being a hermit. “Ren?” a familiar voice called from the other end. It was Lyse! It’s been a while since I last spoke with her. “Hey Lyse! How’s it going? Is everything okay?” I responded rather swiftly. “Oh, I’m fine. Are you doing anything right now?” “No! No, not at all!” YES! Another quest in the making! I wonder what the trouble could be? “Good! Make your way to the Rising Stones, it’s an urgent matter!” She quickly hung up before I can utter a sentence. It must’ve been serious. But, why the Rising Stones? I could’ve sworn Tataru forced us out of the place and to never return. With haste, I snapped my fingers and my entire wardrobe transformed from my lounging wear to the appropriate gear for the occasion that I haven’t fully comprehended then made the teleport to my destination. *** The weather in Mor Dhona was just how I like it – fair with warm temperatures and a little breezy. As usual, the streets were filled with adventurers new and old; in fact, it was more packed than it was than the last time I was here with my friends. I suppose with the Final Days no longer a threat and the Grand Companies capable of handling themselves, this was the place for the free spirits to find new adventures to head off too. I took a quick moment to breathe in the fresh air before beginning my search for my Highlander friend; she was nowhere to be found amongst the crowd. The Rising Stones, of course – nearly forgot. Surely, she must be inside, I thought. I walked inside to find the place completely empty – even the almighty coin keeper, Tataru, wasn’t present. The only thing I could hear was my footsteps along with the echoing voices from outside. I miss the lively yet calming aura that beset the building every time I came in; I would check up on everyone to make sure they’re in good health before making my way to the area where the dream team were waiting for my arrival. With that in mind, I went straight for Dawn’s Respite – no figure in sight. “Okay, let’s try the Solar,” The room where the Scions use to rendezvous before our dear Antecedent, Minifilia would give a debriefing about our next important task. Normally, I would find the masked boy, Unukalhai standing before the desk, but here lately, he hasn’t been available. “Where is everyone?” I increased my walking speed as I investigated each room inhabited throughout the building. The chefs were invested in their cooking while the artifact venders were occupied with some new sprouts arguing about their untradeable items. The only place left was the rooftop. My lungs were starting to ache from breathing quite heavily from fast paced walking; I slowed down for a minute or two to catch my breath. Once I regained some energy, I resumed my steps towards the spot. All of a sudden, I had a strong feeling that something big was waiting for me just around the corner. I bit my lip as I took a deep breath as I made my way to the door entrance which somehow felt like an eternity to get there. I slowly took a step out and peered to the left to find my family who yelled, “SURPRISE!” I couldn’t believe it; after some time apart, the Scions were here together again for a celebration which I believe was for me? I covered my face to hide my biggest grin as I slightly bent over to take in the wave of excitement that clashed onto my being. Shortly after, I could see Lyse charging directly at me as she gave me a big hug. “Happy belated nameday, Ren!” “You guys!” was all I could say while that smile of mine was still glued to my face. We made our way to the rest of the group as each made their approach to greet me with a hug. “I can’t believe that you’ve missed your own nameday!” Tataru yelled. “Things have been very eventful before and after our latest expedition, so I lost track of time?” I chuckled as I sheepishly rubbed the side of my neck. “Excuses.” Alisaie retorted sarcastically with her arms folded shaking her head. “Really, I mean it!” I playfully shoved my sworn sister. “Seriously guys, you didn’t have to do this for me.” “Oh, but we wanted to,” Krile replied. “You’ve done so much for this realm, and you’ve been working extremely hard. So much so that you rarely have the time to acknowledge that you’re here - with us.” “So, it was our mission to make sure that this celebration takes fruition,” Alphinaud responded with a smile. “ALPHY!” I dashed over to him to give one of my biggest embraces. “Thank you everyone, really.” “Now, what are we waiting for, time to party!” Lyse gleefully shouted. *** Throughout the afternoon, I was enjoying one of the most peaceful days I had in a long while– just spending quality time with my family as they celebrate my nameday. We had spent most of the stretch chatting away about pretty much anything. Even though Alphinaud and Alisaie were still not at the appropriate age to drink, that didn’t stop Thancred, Urianger, and Estinien to have a drinking contest; it was absolutely hilarious watching them trying to maintain their soberness. The food was very delectable thanks to Tataru and the chefs that assisted her. Of course, no nameday is complete without gifts. Although, I didn’t expect to get anything, I have received some from a certain few: Alphinaud had made a portrait of me which it was absolutely stunning; surprisingly, Estinien gave me a citrus scented perfume which he claimed will prevent me from smelling like a Cuchulainn’s arse – is he saying that I smell? Y’shtola gifted me some special tea while Alisaie had made homemade gingerbread cookies – made by her (oh boy) – to go along with it. The last one to bequeath me a nameday gift was my beloved, G’raha. The present he gave me was pretty large; what could possibly be inside? He seemed more excited about the gift than I was as he gently soothed my back with his hand. “Happy nameday, my love,” he says with a warm smile. As I started unwrapping the gift, I caught Lyse, Krile, Yshtola, and Alisaie standing together with a huge grin on their faces – this observation encouraged me to open the box even faster. At last, I open the lid and my jaw dropped in astonishment. I’ve always admired Lyse’s traditional Ala Mhigan dress: the design, the colors, the way it flows from movement – so elegant and beautiful! What was given to me was an exact replica of her attire; it had all the pieces including the hair manual to duplicate her hairstyle. I didn’t care if I look like a clone of the Resistance leader, I wanted her outfit! I squealed with joy as I jumped into G’raha’s arms hugging him to the point where I may be suffocating him. “By the twelve, how did you know?” “Well, most credit goes to the girls,” G’raha clarified. “They were the ones who told me about how much you admired Lyse’s apparel.” “Yeah, you wouldn’t stop talking about it ever since you first saw it,” Alisaie stated staring directly at me. I beamed right at her as she rolled her eyes with a “you’re hopeless” look. “However, it was your prince who went to go find the best weaver available to have a replica made for his dearly beloved,” Y’shtola replied as she gazed towards the male miqo’te with a smirk on her face; her remark made his cheeks warm. “Oh, but that’s not all,” Krile intervened with a giggle. “When he discovered that the shipment for his lover’s gift was delayed due to a robbery from bandits. He immediately went to go pursue them to retrieve it.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the story. Typical G’raha – always going the distance for the people that he cares about; that’s one of the reasons why I love him so much. However, there was one issue that quickly came to mind. “Wait, how much did you spend on getting this made?” I firmly questioned him. He confidently smiled. “To everyone’s surprise, nothing. When I discussed to the weaver on who the commission was going to, they instantly accepted the task and reassured that payment won’t be necessary. They consider it as a way of showing gratitude for having you as the hero of our star.” I glanced at my gift again as I placed my hand on the dress to feel the fabric. “This is incredible.” I then turned to my boyfriend to give him a warm kiss, “Thank you so much. Thank you all.” “Well, aren’t you going to try it on?” Lyse asked. “I will later when I get home. After all, my prince has to make sure that the dress fits me,” I winked at him. I swear at that moment, most of the group groaned – except for Raha which he was completely red. “Ah, get a room you two!” Thancred bellowed from the background; the slurs in his sentence indicated that the alcohol has dominated him. Meanwhile, Urianger was completely out while Estinien was trying to hide his drunken state. I burst into laughter once again as I thought to myself how lucky I am to be alive to have such amazing people in my life. (My thoughts: I feel pretty good about this one. I had fun going inside Ren’s mind and telling the story from her perspective; I imagined every scene as I went along. When I got Lyse’s outfit from the online store a while back, I made a headcanon that Ren got the outfit as a belated birthday gift. XD I did have a hard time deciding on how I was going to write this prompt which is why this entry is posted late. Got another entry that may be late too so Xp As for the 2nd entry on the list, I skipped it because I believe that one is better off as an illustration.) Like it? Cool beans! Think it’s cringey? Ah well, too bad. XD

Okami Watches...

Okay, I need to get these new thoughts out of my head proper, or I will be upset.

If you've noticed, my last few ramblings were from a recent rewatch of Ushio & Tora, one of my favorite anime ever. First saw the OVA at... I wanna saw Arisia (a sci-fi con in the Boston area) back in the mid to late 90s, I think. Then, I heard about a reboot being done more recently (ugh 2015 REALLY?! Fucking time, man...). Okay... relatively more recent than the OG. And I LOVED IT. Brought back all the fun and action and banter I loved from the original, but then continued onward. But something occurred to me as my brain was swirling around and digesting the show after the binge, figuring out what it was I liked about Aotsuki Ushio.

Firstly, what I love about Ushio, is he is a stubborn optimist. Hope incarnate. I know the whole "gets back up when knocked down" is a shounen trope (and one many of us love), but I feel like Ushio just... takes more each time to go down, and always struggles back to his feet, teeth gritted and embodying hope itself. He gets absolutely wrecked so many times (and worse a couple times), but he gets back up. Doesn't "shrug it off", like some do. It feels more like he takes in how he was knocked down, acknowledges it and gets better, if only a little bit. He is also willing to shoulder the pain of others - even if they are not very well acquainted - to spare them the suffering. Are you a person who is suffering in some way, driven to sadness or pain? Aotsuki will do all he can to get a smile on your face and the burden off your shoulders. And the fact that he is compassionate enough to begin to realize that there are a LOT of yokai who are just as much people as humans, and they fall into all of the things I mentioned before. He has tears for his enemies, and sometimes those enemies aren't enemies for long. In one episode, there is an enraged yokai, who has been driven from his home time and time again, and has vowed to kill humans in revenge, terrorizing local villages as a preamble to moving on to larger cities, Ushio tells this yokai (a kamaitachi) to kill him instead. If it would make the yokai feel better, if it would banish his hatred, then he was willing to let the yokai kill him, so no other humans would have to die. But just as importantly so the yokai would no longer be suffering from all-consuming hate. The episode is really good, and a lot of feels. I realized that Ushio is what I wish I could be - I am stubborn, and an optimist (and sometimes both at once, like him), but he is much more self-sacrificing for others than I feel I could be, and so supportive you could build a house foundation with how much he supports everyone. And that might just be the line between reality and a shonen protag's fictional life. But I do try to be better. And then the aforementioned occurrence of thought was this:

Aotsuki Ushio is in almost every one of my OCs.

But. more specifically, in Akagi, Xano and Rav (all three of them tanks of sort, HMMM). Now, this it not to say that these three fellas are the same. They are each distinct from one another (I was even pondering mentioning Xano as one of the inspirations for Akagi on one of those "Name six characters who influenced your WoL" things; and I still might!). But they all share similar hard-headed, optimistic views, they are fiercely loyal to their friends and family, are willing to jump into danger to protect others, will give more support than Atlas on 'roids, and will drag themselves to their feet every time they are dropped.

And I really, really like that.

It resonates with me, and at least with my blorbos, they all have a little chunk of some aspect of me in them. And maybe that little chunk of an aspect is the one I share with my boy Ushio (Xano's stubborn "beat it till it stops moving" MO is probably more Tora, though. xD)

Anyway, I needed to get this thought bunny out of my brain pan to sleep, though it will probably keep hopping around for a bit in there anyway. -_- Take care, and if you have not checked out Ushio & Tora/Ushio to Tora, I HIGHLY recommend it. (I've not watched the dub yet, for nostalgia reasons, but there are some awesome VAs on the roster!)

~Okami, out.

Tentative Rewrite of the Void Patches

So, I alluded in my Void patch posts that I didn't vibe with some decisions. But can it be any better!

Surely! I feel they just forced some areas cause they wanted one dungeon per endwalker era (with the last one being, space in a way). The one that sticks out like a sore thumb is the Aetherfont, cute as it may be at points. Even with that, I feel swapping the order around can do a lot for fixing the most jarring things

Endwalker Patch Spoilers of course

First of all, all of 6.3 should be in Radz-at-han. It should center around passing time with Zero as she tries to explore the town and the outside nature, all while the brains are trying to improve Alzdaal's Legacy portal for Vrtra's draconic form, or seeing if they could make it go to other places in the Void

Thanks to that, we spend more time with Zero causing troubles and miscommunication around town, still insisting to interact thru barter even when many aspects of the town feel familiar. This is why she is wandering in the first place: chasing the memories repressed of being the protector of a village. Since reparting bread felt familiar, she must have done other active community things. By going through the town and villages this way, her comments would indirectly tell us about life in the Thirteenth building up to that eventual instance later.

But, is it totally implied her memories are repressed rather than back end? I argue being twisted by Fandaniel likely caused mental trauma, and she talks about the bread in Garlemald like something new but familiar, not something she knew of before. Her seeking these memories actively would lead her to get out of the barter logic herself than be therapy add libbed by others, which would be much more satisfying to see happening!

But the shift to oppenness wouldn't be instsnt of course. Zero has done all this exploration, but she has not recovered her memories. She might still be apprehensive of WoL pointing her actions are out of barter ways, justifying as simple adapting to the logic of "those who don't toil in the wheel. Just because I understand it doesn't mean I will be blindly trustful. I'm still in debt to you at the end of the way." The WoL could then ask, does she really want to leave them? Cause they don't intend to hold her captive. They only brought her here to heal her

Suddenly, there is a distant explosion: Rubicante has broken through Vrtra's voidgate, so him and Ysthola have no choice but to shield everyone as Rubicante launches destructive flames instantly. Y'sthola linkshells to warn of the oncoming danger, but Rubicante arrives to the hill just to contemplate and await for a peaceful death

To make Golbez' plan less on the nose, I would have Rubicante say Azdaja is trapped on the Moon, and react to Zero talking of the First. I found it odd she didn't mention it. I also would make her speech not suddenly judge her own kind for trying to survive, but find value in the logic of this world with life, which the Void lost way before the flood and being corrupted. That would be a more satisfying development that is halfway there (no fire in chest yet, just more logical perception autism style)

Because of the loss of the Voidgate, we go to the Aetherfont this patch to prepare to make a portal to the moon, and the brains go back to work while the aether transport takes a LOT of time. It's only the first step in getting it done after all. Urianger wouldn't do his weird condescending dialogue, but only call for Thancred for support. I do think he could have been a fun opportunity for banted and clash as the more socially going person in the cast. MLM WLW animosity

So what does this imply? Yes, putting 6.3 Garlemald plot in 6.4 before Golbez instead.

We go to Garlemald straight to prepare the tower, which by rolequests have stablished, is still used by Garleans themselves to go to the moon and back from research!!! So it has been used before, and there is no reason to fear any transmission really. The aether storage could actually be teleported and used directly on the moon by the loporrits. Why did they make it beam like the Crystal Tower lol

So yes, it's cutting the whole deal with the bigoted politician cause it's a waste of time

In helping the twins while the others make arrangements, Zero and Alisae interact more and we get more funny bite out of Zero and her foodie tendencies almost doing anything for food, which the WoL has to put a stop to before she reaches her own limits.

The leadup for the voidsent instance can still happen. Zero is still operating on barter logic while trying hard to stick to selfishness, and so her deja vu hits harder as we realize her cover was a cover to her frustration at failing to protect others in the past, reflecting her dismissal of friendship and trust to be a mistake... and then the rescue happens as usual :)

We go to Lapis Manalis to find the source of the sudden voidsent uptick, not knowing Cagnazzo is there. He pretends to be a coward, and doesn't say the taunt he does nor, spell Golbez' plan as he dies. He wails moreso that at least he's free and unbound, and from his corpse falls Azdaja's eye. This leads the gang to think that he used the Eye to escape... and ah, Vrtra's feelings are not dismissed.

When we take everything back to Lapis Manalis, we find Y'sthola has finished the preparations on the moon with Urianger. The Golbez trial proceeds as usual, and hopefully coming off less as a painfully foreseable trap now. It feels like we genuinely got duped good than, being kind of silly.

With this, 6.3 would hopefully have more time for Void information and lore, maybe even discussing the Fell Court of Troia in 6.4 when Zero recovers her memories.

With this and 6.5 going as it is, we lose no trials or dungeons.

I rest my case

30 WoL Think Thonkers

I. Where is your Warrior of Light from? What was their home like growing up and what set them out on their journey?

J- Jalliim comes from a small lumbering/woodworking-focused village that used to be located in the eastern Coerthan lowlands. Far enough from Ishgard (and with no blood history descending from Thordan), so the Dragonsong War wasn't a heavy threat, so they just sorta… existed. After the Calamity, however, Coerthas changed a lot. After a couple years, it started to get to a point where they couldn't keep going. After great deliberation, and approval from Gridania, they packed up their lives and relocated within the boarder of the Twelveswood, to get out of the encroaching freeze. The start of Jalliim's journey from home was met with many delayes. Growing up, he had always wanted to go to the Sharlayan colony in Dravania, but that plan was hit with severe delays when the Sharlayans left. Plans were made to start his adventure later--but then the Garleans attacked in Mor Dhona, and then the moon started falling and all of the Calamity and follow up… it was then after things were settled after his village moved south, five years later, that he finally started.

C- Capsisi is essentially from the Cieldalaes. Shockingly, the community of the small island focused on fishing and other treasures found in the nearby sea. A while back, they also had problems with pirates harassing them. They weren't big enough that it was a constant, all-the-time problem… but were small enough that there was very little help or regulation. So there was some great celebration when Merlwyb took over Limsa and started implementing regulation over the pirate factions--which included them working with her and the Lominsan government to gain additional protections in exchange for their goods. This incited a great amount of respect and appreciation for Limsa from the community. Before her, Capsisi's two older brothers both took jobs in Limsa (one joining the Maelstrom and another joining the Yellow Jackets) to show their respects--and eventually Capsisi left for Limsa in an attempt to do the same--but with no real goal in mind at first. After some floundering about, though, she found a great welcome at the Rogue's Guild, and things went on from there.

K- Kola is from the Twelveswood, in a village lead by her mother in the southern Shroud--once near the shore of Rootslake, but the movement of water in the wake of the Calamity move the shoreline away, somewhat. Unlike Jalliim's village which largely engaged in outside trade, Kola's village was largely just self-sustaining. Being mostly (but not entirely) Keeper Miqo'te, they weren't exactly very well respected by the average Gridanian. So they keep to their own business and support their own livlihoods. They played nice with the Gridanians, and had a Hearer in the village, as many others do in the Shroud… but they were also welcoming and protective of other Gridanian "outsiders." Most of this political play, though, kinda flew over Kola's head when she was young. She ended up internalizing more of it than she was even aware of, but her interests were just in exploring and being the strongest fighter in the world. Always seeming to have a sunny disposition that made her beloved in the village, and others she meets. So, of course, her main interest in starting her adventure is perhaps the most simple--she wanted to go out and learn more about magic and fighting so she could truly be the most powerful. But boy did a lot more than that happen on the way!

B- It would take me a whole other post to talk about how Beutiq's Xaela tribe originally from the Azim Steppe ended up living on the same island as Old Sharlayan. But Beutiq is from a semi-nomadic tribe that currently resides on the same island as Old Sharlayan, but not within the city proper. But still with many connections to the city. Beutiq's upbringing follows many of the same traditions that we see in Steppe tribes--but with many alterations from the many cultures they've historically exchanged. Though much of it was imagined, Beutiq felt a lot of pressure to stand-out, being one of the grandchildren of the tribe's khatun. His grandmother is well-loved in the tribe, including from Beutiq himself. So he's felt this need to do "something important." Beginning to realize he's an artisan, he's wanted to create some kind of "masterpiece;" something of great cultural influence for his tribe and their place in the world (often forgoing his own actual interests and expression for a time). He journeyed to Eorzea to learn from its many creative guilds as learn more mediums and expressions in his arts. How this turned into a worlds-saving series of adventures, he's still not quite sure…but he's learned a lot and has been exposed to a many cultures and art styles.

E- Ejvi is originally from the Peaks of Gyr Abania. Though they lived within commune distance of Ala Ghiri, they actually lived on their own stretch of land. Ejvi's mom died due to the actions of the Mad King when she was rather young, so she has lived with and was raised by her handicapped father for the remainder of her life. Both Ejvi and her dad are authority-subverting smart-asses which… eventually didn't sit well with the Garlean invaders. This caused Ejvi to be forcibly conscripted. She spent several years within the Garlean military, frequently trying to manipulate and coerce herself around posting and rankings to get herself in a non-combat position and eventually back in Eorzea… but it was a traumatic and painful experience. She was already set to go AWOL during the battle of Silvertear… a task that was made extremely easy with how the battle actually went. She was free, but beaten-down and broken-up from the experiences; so she spent the following years between the battle and the Calamity basically in a constant stupor of abusing alcohol and drugs. She finally turned her life around in the wake of the Calamity after finding a juvenile Chocobo that would eventually become her own. She cleaned up a lot (though still partied way too hard), and started working on perusing her dream in studying the world's wildlife--eventually leading into Blue Magic and, finally, this greater adventure.

For reference, here is a map showing their homes

The green shows where Jalliim originally resided and then where his village moved. The blue line shows where Beutiq ventured from starting in Sharlayan and eventually reaching his "starting city" of Gridania. Locations are somewhat approximate, since I can't quite see specific geographic features on this map lol (and has somethings in slightly different places then I remembered lmao)

Tavern keeper pardoners tale pilgrim

The tale of the three rioters is a version of a folk tale with a "remarkably wide range" and has numerous analogues: ancient Buddhist, Persian, and African. The prologue-taking the form of a literary confession-was most probably modelled on that of "Faus Semblaunt" in the medieval French poem Roman de la Rose. At this point the Knight intervenes and urges them to make peace. The Host responds that he would sooner cut off the Pardoner's testicles than kiss his relics. Having completed his tale, the Pardoner-forgetful of his remarks during the prologue-appeals for gold and silver so that the pilgrims may receive pardons for their sins. When he returns with the food and drink, the other two kill him and then consume the poisoned wine, dying slow and painful deaths. However, the one who leaves for town plots to kill the other two: he purchases rat poison and laces the wine. The youngest of the three men draws the shortest straw and departs while he is away, the remaining two plot to overpower and stab him upon his return. The three men draw straws to see who among them should fetch wine and food while the other two wait under the tree. They decide to sleep at the oak tree overnight, so they can take the coins in the morning. When the men arrive at the tree, they find a large hoard of gold coins and forget about their quest to kill Death. He then says they can find Death at the foot of an oak tree. An old man they brusquely query tells them that he has asked Death to take him but has failed. The men set out to avenge them and kill Death. The rioters hear a bell signalling a burial their friend has been killed by a "privee theef" known as Death, who has also killed a thousand others. The Pardoner condemns each of these "tavern sins" in turn- gluttony, drinking, gambling, and swearing-with support from the Christian scriptures, before proceeding with the tale. The tale is set in Flanders at an indeterminate time, and opens with three young men drinking, gambling and blaspheming in a tavern. Yet, he concludes to the pilgrims, though he may be a "ful vicious man", he can tell a moral tale and proceeds. He scorns the thought of living in poverty while he preaches he desires "moneie, wolle, chese, and whete" and doesn't care whether it were from the poorest widow in the village, even should her children starve for famine. The Pardoner explains that he then offers many anecdotes to the "lewed people". and that he can nonetheless preach so that others turn away from the vice and repent-though his "principal entente" is for personal gain. Although he is guilty of avarice himself, he reiterates that his theme is always Radix malorum. Against anyone that offends either him or other pardoners, he will "stynge hym with my tonge smerte". He goes on to relate how he stands like a clergy at the pulpit, and preaches against avarice but to gain the congregation's money he doesn't care for the correction of sin or for their souls. The Pardoner says to the pilgrims that by these tricks he has acquired a considerable sum of money of £100 a year. He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn, He shal have multipliyng of his greyn, (lines 373–374)īut he will warn that any person that "hath doon synne horrible" will not be able to benefit from these relics. He explains that his false credentials consist of official letters from high-ranking church officials and a superficial use of a few Latin words then he will produce some "relics", and claim that among them is a bone which has miraculous powers when dipped into a well and a mitten for which: He says that his "theme"-biblical text for a sermon-is Radix malorum est cupiditas ("Greed is the root of evils" 1 Timothy 6.10). However, rather than an apology for his vices, the Pardoner boasts of his duping of his victims, for whom he has nothing but contempt. The prologue takes the form of a literary confession in the same manner as The Wife of Bath's Prologue. However, the pilgrims-aware of pardoners' notoriety for telling lewd tales and in anticipation of hearing something objectionable -voice their desire for no ribaldry, but instead want a moral tale. The Host then asks the Pardoner to "telle us som myrthe or japes right anon". … but I have triacle, Or elles a draughte of moyste and corny ale, Or but I heere anon a myrie tale, Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde. The invitation for the Pardoner to tell a tale comes after the Host declares his dissatisfaction with the depressing tale, and declares: The Physician's Tale is a harrowing tale about a judge who plots with a "churl " to abduct a beautiful young woman rather than allow her to be raped, her father beheads her. In the order of The Canterbury Tales, the Pardoner's Prologue and Tale are preceded by The Physician's Tale.

The moonstone represents my heart~~~

"Are we suppose to make her stop singing? She gets punny at times..." "No? Who do we thank for her horrid hoarding behaviour? she has a trove of moonstones!!"

"Nah its more who do we thank that convinced her to stop hoarding and clear out her inventory."

"I heard she wants hot meals delivered to this person."

"Uh no. You can't cook Enkidu."

Getting to Know the Mun

Made via Picrew!  Link here.

NAME: [redacted] because security reasons but tbh, I prefer my online name anyways so there’s that.

NICKNAME: Amalia, Ama, Ammy

FACECLAIM: My own face.  I’ve never been told I look like anyone except Willow from Buffy but tbh I don’t see it.

PRONOUNS: She/Her

HEIGHT: 5′5

BIRTHDAY: March 8th

AESTHETIC: My husband told me my aesthetic is “nesting bird”.  I don’t know what that means so here’s what I’d like to think it is: Green crystals, rainy days, chai tea in a mug, cardigans, old oil lamps, and the smell of probably too many fall-themed candles being burned at once.

LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO: Bluerose by Hoshimachi Suisei

FAVOURITE MUSE(S) YOU’VE WRITTEN: Kaida for sure, though I’m having a lot of fun with Lillian.  I did RP as a traitorous guard a long, long, long time ago in another fandom.  Another OC.  His name was Ephraim and he ended up committing regicide for the greater good of his country and crowned himself as king and was a delightfully grey-natured character.  Miss that dude sometimes.

(A semi-accurate representation of Kaida & me)

::GETTING TO KNOW THE ACCOUNT::

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE ON THIS MUSE: Honestly @transcendentafflatus DM’d me one day and was like “Hey, let’s RP again” because we hadn’t since our old group fell apart.  Then I was like “Yeah I could but I don’t wanna use my old characters, so I want to make someone new!” And I had just swapped to Au Ra in-game on my main and decided to use that as a base for the new character.  Unfortunately, a lot of Raen lore in-game is about Sui-no-Sato and while I liked the idea of an underwater village, I didn’t wanna just use Sui-no-Sato.  So I decided to make my own version of it.  The gaslighting/exile thing came in after experiencing that in my own way irl.  It was part of a way to cope with everything that was happening in those months (losing my job, still dealing with the after effects of my dad passing away, dealing with my static kinda falling to pieces, dealing with friends backstabbing me, and ALL IN TIME FOR MY IRL WEDDING hahahahaha stress was my way of life back then).  Anyways, I made Kaida initially to RP and even though I may still do that (I did make a more RP-universe friendly version of her after all), her WoL self has kinda taken over.  

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ASPECTS OF YOUR CURRENT MUSE: Everything?  Am I allowed to say that?  No, really, I made Kaida into someone I felt I could be best friends with.  If I had to pick one thing, however, I would pick her inability to give up.  She’s stubborn.  Maybe too stubborn.  But it makes for some fun times.  

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING: Honestly, when I start to feel as though my inspiration is slipping, I read other people’s works.  Usually reading things by others inspires me to keep going.  Also going back and reading nice comments on my fics.  People really don’t realize the power of words sometimes.  I would’ve given up a long time ago if I didn’t have support from such lovely people.  Lately, I went on a small trip to see my grandma and being unable to write fueled my need to write.  Sometimes seeing new places is a huge boost to creativity.  

FAVOURITE TYPES OF THREADS: Anything with angst/a lot of emotion, tbh.  

Tagged by: @earthlystar

Tagging: If you see this... you are tagged!  Mwhahaha!

Played

Guess who has one half-baked ship for their WoL and is self indulgently struggling starting to try and write for it. I don't usually write... romance, if that's even what you can call this. But, it's here, I'm giving it a shot, and I hope you enjoy it.

Tlaloc stepped to the side as a young Au Ra boy in yellow robes charged at him with his lance. Well, it was more of a stick they had picked up along the way than it was a lance, but the boy came at him as if it were nothing less than the real thing. He barely dodged the charging child, who shot past him.

A war cry sounded out from his left and he looked just in time to see another little girl step up with her own weapon. She brought the total up to four. Four children here to “train” with him, all wielding sticks and determination.

“You’ve surrounded me!” Tlaloc cried. “A brilliant tactical maneuver!”

The smallest girl, only coming to reach the elezen’s knees, shouted to her companions. “Let’s get him!”

“I won’t go down easily!”

The children piled on him as he drew his own lance. A barrage of sticks smacked against his armor with resounding clangs, earning even more attention from the adults throughout Reunion. Tlaloc had originally come with the Mol to help them deliver some wares, cans of sheep milk and baskets of wool, to sell from their little settlement. He’d been sidetracked when one little boy had stopped to ask him questions about adventuring.

Now, four little adventures were wailing on him mercilessly, one of which was wearing his helmet. He blocked a few blows here and there, but let the rest make contact, stumbling back a step or two when one of stuck a “critical hit” on him.

Finally, one child struck true, stabbing through a small chink in the plates to the mail below. Tlaloc made a show of letting his lance fall to the ground, dropping to his knees in the grass.

“Alas! I’ve been slain! You’re too strong, even for the mighty Warrior of Light!”

And with that, he flopped onto his back in defeat.

Cheers of victory echoed through the little village as the children ran off, now fighting each other. Clearly, the rush of the battle was still with them. Tlaloc was familiar with that feeling. He knew it in the way his hands shook with exhilaration and his chest heaved after every fight. He waited until the shouting and the clacking sticks faded into the near distance to open his eyes.

He expected to see the sky. He did not expect to see blue eyes staring back at him. Cotota stood above him. He couldn’t see her mouth past the mask she wore, but the corners of those blue eyes crinkled slightly; just enough to let him know she was smiling.

He smiled back and offered her a small wave. Tlaloc suppressed the urge to say hello, as he did every time he saw her. The Qestir way of silence still did not come naturally to him. Despite his friendly nature and their openness to those who accepted their ways, he struggled to communicate with them in a casual manner. He fared well enough when he had a specific reason for working with them, but, much to his chagrin, that was where the effectiveness of his non-verbal language skills came to an end.

Which meant he still hadn’t figured out how best to talk with Cotota.

The Qestir woman extended her hand down to him in an offer to help him up, despite being almost half his size. He accepted, bending down to retrieve his lance once he was upright again. He brushed stray blades of grass off the weapon and moved to sheathe it again when he noticed those blue eyes traveling the length of it. He paused.

Tlaloc might not be able figure out communication her way, but maybe she could figure out his. He gave the lance a spin and a twirl, then held it out to her.

Cotota’s eyes widened slightly at the offer. She hesitated, looking between the Elezen and the weapon before finally taking it from his grasp. He let go of it gently as she acquainted herself with its weight. It was light as far as lances went, but the weapon was also twice as tall as she was, which would make it, at least, a bit unwieldy for her. Maybe more than a bit.

He moved half a step back as she held it out, searching for the balancing point. She let it teeter forward and backward a bit, then glanced over at him. He wasn’t entirely sure, but it seemed she might be asking for permission. He nodded.

The Qestir gave the lance an experimental spin, and he could see from the moment she lifted it from the ground she hadn’t quite adjusted enough for its height. The blade’s tip struck the ground and bounced back up, causing her to grip to slip as her wrist involuntarily twisted back around. She scrambled to catch it, and she did, just before it landed in the grass. Her gaze snapped back up to the Warrior, eyes wide, as if she was worried he might be angry with her.

Tlaloc smiled and waved his hand slightly, as if to literally wave off her anxiety. She straightened back up as he stepped over to her and quickly held the lance out to him. He didn’t take it. Instead, he took the weight of it in one hand, considered the lance in her grasp for a moment, then used his other hand to slide hers to a better position. He tapped the place her hand now rested, then stepped behind her.

He continued to support the weight of the weapon as he gently guided her through the motion with his arms around her, making sure the adjustment would account for her height and strength. Then, Tlaloc moved back in front of her and gave her a nod.

Again, she let the lance teeter back and forth a bit as she judged the new hand placement. Then, she spun it again. The tip whipped only mere ilms from the ground, but with the sheer size of the weapon, it was all they could do make it wieldable for her. Her eyes widened as it made a complete revolution and when she looked back at him, Tlaloc could tell she was grinning.

He grinned back and clapped for her, to which she responded with a short curtsey. Cotota spun the weapon again and it seemed to the Warrior that she was already picking up on how to handle it. The Qestir gave it one more twirl before settling in a fighting stance, lance aimed in his direction and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

He took a playful step back, raising his hands in mock panic. She stepped toward him and he scooped a discarded “lance” off the ground, twirling the stick expertly before coming to a defensive position in front of her.

Tlaloc barely had time to react before she took a lunging step forward, swinging the lance around toward his feet. He only managed one half-step back. The shaft of the lance caught his ankle, sweeping it out from beneath him in one swift expert maneuver. Tlaloc’s remaining slipped in the grass as his weight pulled him forward, and he found himself on his hands and knees in front of her.

Cotota stood above him victoriously, lance planted onto the ground and standing tall like a victory flag. That mischievous look in her eyes had multiplied tenfold and she was grinning from ear to ear.

She’d played him.

The Warrior of Light looked up at the Qestiri woman standing above him, jaw slack for a moment. Then, he shook his head, unable to stop the amused smile spreading across his face. She gave the lance one expertly executed spin, then extended her hand to help him up once again.

Tlaloc might not have been able to communicate well with her, but Cotota had certainly found a way to communicate with him.

Personal WoL Timeline for FFXIV

Probably not interesting to anyone but me, but I’m keeping a doc where I roughly sketch out my personal timeline for my WoL and supporting cast of OCs, since we’re never getting a formal one per Yoshida. A lot of it is “when do I decide certain sidequests happen?” “Which job quests do each of them do? When?” (that’s mostly on its own doc tho some shows up here) “What point of their lives were they at when X thing happened before the game story begins?” “How do I muck with early ARR for Aeryn’s version of events?” “How old is everyone roughly?” “How long do MSQ events take in my headcanon?”

Anyway, current draft is copied below the cut; this is subject to change based on whims and content completed and random inspiration.

6A = 6th Astral Era. 7U and 7A mark 7th Umbral and 7th Astral Eras; for ease, I keep the count starting at the Calamity, rather than restarting the years again at the end of ARR, since the 7th Umbral is only 5 years long.

6A 1520: A pre-adolescent Iyna and other younglings taken from their homes for re-education and training into “proper Garlean citizens.” She is eventually granted the surname “Caulidius”.

6A 1550: Dark Autumn is born in the East Shroud, the seventh of eventually ten children, to farmers Iron Summer and Singing WIllow.

6A 1552: Aeryn Striker is born in Coerthas, the second child of Corran Striker, an Ishgardian farmer and his Thavnairian wife, Emelia. Zaine is 5 years older, but the siblings are nearly inseparable and share a close bond.

6A 1557: Before burning Ferndale, the Horde attacks Aeryn’s village. Her father is among the casualties. Emelia takes the children back to Thavnair.

In truth, Corran was secretly a heretic who transformed and called on an ally when confronted by Azure Dragoon Alberic Bale. Alberic lied about Corran to protect the innocent Strikers so they could leave Coerthas.

6A 1559: C’oretta Khell born in Ul’dah to pugilist gladiator Khell the Clanless and his prima ballerina wife, C’leiha. They are modern city dwellers, taking on more hyuran and lalafellian traditions, than miqo’te; all they use are the name conventions.

6A 1560: Iyna obtains the rank of Optio, now Iyna pyr Caulidius. She is assigned to Bozja.

Emelia remarries to Tanzel Eadir, a widower with adolescent children of his own. It takes time for the Striker children to warm up to their blended family; Aeryn becomes close with the eldest sister, Rashae, looking up to her almost as much as she adores Zaine.

6A 1562: Bozja Citadel Destroyed.

Iyna deserts the Garlean military, changes her surname to “Cauld”, and briefly joins a rebel group she had been feeding information to in the months prior. Meeting with them in secret is the only reason she survived the disaster. She starts having “seizures” that let her see peoples’ pasts.

Dark Autumn is a pre/young adolescent living with her large family in the East Shroud.

6A 1565: Age 18, Zaine Striker commits to at least 5 years in the Radiant Host like many other young people from their community. While a valuable experience, and he does his best and receives accolades for his work, even set on a fast track to officer, he’s not satisfied with a soldier's life.

6A 1570: Zaine doesn’t re-enlist in the Host. He instead leaves for Eorzea to be an adventurer. Emelia convinces Aeryn to continue her studies, not revealing how ill she is yet, nor that it’s terminal. Once Aeryn realizes, however, Emelia convinces her not to tell Zaine in their letters.

Zaine’s Echo wakes in a starshower, and he eventually finds himself at the center of events alongside Minfilia’s Path of the Twelve and Louisoix’s Circle of Knowing as the realm’s Warrior of Light.

6A 1571: Age 19, Aeryn commits to a formal course of study in a last attempt to learn magic despite her aetheric issues.

Dark Autumn is early-20s and part of her uncle’s Free Company of adventurers.

C’oretta Khell is 12 yrs old in Ul’dah, living an upper middle class lifestyle.

Iyna is living in obscurity in Kugane, having fled Othard’s mainland for a time after Garleans wiped out her rebel cell.

The 7th Calamity (6th Astral Era ends at 1572)

Zaine’s letters stop coming. Emelia’s condition drastically worsens.

Dark is the only survivor of her FC at the edge of the fighting at Carteneau. She returns home to the East Shroud for a long recovery period. She has a few odd visions now and then, learning things she shouldn’t know. Thinks it’s part of her trauma.

Khell is killed in the riots in Ul’dah, C’leiha falling into a deep depression; Master Hamon and his Pugilists watch over her and C’oretta, as Khell had been a guild member.

7U Yr 2: Emelia’s condition worsens enough that Aeryn quits her failing studies after all to care for her, despite her stepfamily’s concerns.

Iyna returns to Othard to join another, eventually doomed, Resistance cell. Many are convinced the former soldier is bad luck. Her “seizures” don’t help.

7U Yr 3: Emelia succumbs to her illness.

C’leiha, meanwhile, shows signs of being delusional when not in her fugue; she’s unable to entirely comprehend a post-Calamity reality and the changes to her life and the realm.

Dark thanks the gods for her stable home life and family, as that’s what gets her through her own recovery without developing full-blown severe PTSD. She still has nightmares and moments of lockup however.

7U Yr 4: Aeryn decides to return to Eorzea, wanting a new start and to find her brother, or at least learn what happened to him.

Dark returns to Gridania’s guilds for retraining, deciding to strike out on her own as an adventurer. Miounne finds out about Dark’s visions (cuz Mother does that) and points the local Scions at her.

C’oretta formally joins the Pugilists Guild, following her father’s footsteps instead of her mothers as a professional dancer. Admits to Chuchuto that she has weird dreams and knows things about people that she shouldn’t. Chuchuto tells Momodi, who tells the Scions.

Iyna meets Fran during a mission and soon joins Lente’s Tears.

Late Yr 4: ARR Starts. Aeryn arrives and begins adventuring in Gridania (If I ever get to writing it out, this section may see further timeline revision).

Aeryn meets Dark in Gridania when training with the Lancers and Archers; do those quests together.

E-Sumi-Yan tells Aeryn her aether is fine; in fact, she has deeper reserves than anyone he’s ever met. She should easily be able to learn magic, he is confused by her pre-Calamity difficulties.

Aeryn becomes Gridania’s Envoy to suggest the Remembrance Ceremonies. Delivers to Ul’dah first, briefly meeting C’oretta by chance. Thancred, keeping an eye on C’oretta, notices the Envoy, heard some things from his colleagues.

Limsa; duty as Envoy complete, Aeryn gets word from Baderon about disturbing situations in the countryside. Goes to investigate, meets Y’shtola. Shortened form of Limsa’s opening, followed by cleaning up pirates in Sastasha.

Return to Gridania to deal with Tam-Tara, finds out Dark has joined an Ul’dahn Free Company (with the Scions as a quiet patron group among their clients).

Aeryn returns to Ul’dah to meet Dark’s friends, gets caught up looking for a certain missing noblewoman, formally meets Thancred (realizes he is also a Sharlayan scholar), truncated form of the Ul’dah opening. Story progresses mostly normally from there.

7U Yr 5: 5 year Calamity anniversary marked by Remembrance Ceremonies.

Aeryn does not formally join a Grand Company; just skip/smooth over that. Does attend the Remembrance Ceremonies and meets the twins, though.

Aeryn begins learning RDM after Titan, working with X’rhun and finding Arya; maybe before returning to the Chapel and meeting Alphinaud. Trains as a DRG in Coerthas with Alberic, but goes back to RDM for rescuing Scions and facing Garleans. BRD is piecemeal through the entire 2.0 MSQ whenever in/around the Twelveswood.

Most of the rest of ARR happens as written. Patch events mostly happen relatively quickly.

Job Notes: Aeryn learns from and hangs out with the BRD and MNK trainers, but Dark and C’oretta go through those quests. Same later with DNC and C’oretta. Dark is an advanced LNC, but not a true DRG; Aeryn does the DRG quests while in Coerthas during 2.0 and immediately after. Other Jobs/classes listed in their own doc as necessary/inspiration hit.

Scion Ages Note: Aeryn is about 25 in Year 5. Dark’s two years older. C’oretta’s about 18. Iyna is about 67.

Twins left home as soon as they turned 16, so start the game at that age.

All other characters start ARR about a year/year-and-a-half younger than listed in the first Lorebook, which is written/”set” right at the end of 3.3 (Revenge of the Horde).

7A Yr 6: Patch 2.55 Happens; Braves Betrayal, Scions scattered.

In the weeks languishing at Dragonhead waiting to enter Ishgard, Aeryn stumbles on Fray, dropped outside the city instead. Slightly modified early quest chain (trouble with girl and knights at Whitebrim instead maybe?), does DRK during pre/early 3.0.

Heavensward picks up about a month after the Banquet. Most of HW happens as written.

Scions are in Ishgard a month before the sham trial and rescuing Raubahn. The Fortemps brothers’ quest chains take a few days each. DRG quests happen early-ish. HW DRK mostly happens later.

Dark & C’oretta handle the Ul’dah parts of the story. They’re the ones who rescue Raubahn and deal with the Braves.

Aeryn & Alphy don’t come home until needing to pause the search for the Soleil, so return to Rising Stones, then go to Ul’dah to meet Pipin and Urianger, then to Gridania to snag Y’shtola.

Patch events follow each other relatively quickly; a few days or couple weeks between most major events

7A Yr 7: Patch 3.55 Happens; Omega vs Shinryu. Gosetsu and Yugiri return East. Lyse reveal.

Stormblood starts nearly immediately after, just a few days as opposed to the weeks waiting between ARR and HW. Happens mostly as written.

7A Yr 8: Patch 4.1 MSQ Events; there’s a LOT going on in StB, much of it travel and military action. The StB Patches take place over 6-ish months; roughly a patch MSQ event per month, give or take a week or two here and there.

Omega raid happens entirely before 4.2 while still in Gyr Abania.

Return to Ivalice, Four Lords, and Hildibrand happen in the period between 4.2 and 4.3.

Iyna meets the WoL and her friends during the Ivalice stuff, is “lent” to the Scions as an affiliate with Lente’s Tears, once Fran realizes Iyna’s “seizures” = Echo.

DRK StB quests happen once Aeryn’s sent back to Ishgard for healing post-4.55, before she returns to Revenant’s Toll and the beacon leading to the First is found.

7A Late Yr 8: On the Source, events of Shadowbringers take place over 6-ish months, given things still seem a little sped up relative to the First, especially in 5.0. Not a lot is going on aside from Estinien & Gaius’s wacky adventures, Werlyt, and Bozja.

Aeryn crosses the Rift alone; the other ladies mind the Source. During this time, they end up doing some of their alt job quests (esp Iyna).

Iyna, Dark, & C’oretta handle Bozja mostly during 5.0 thru the patches. Aeryn only pops by in the space between 5.1 & 5.2 to help with Delubrium Reginae & again sometime post 5.3 for Dalriada.

Iyna, Dark, & C’oretta mostly handle Werlyt Weapons while the Scions are still on the First. Aeryn helps with Ruby before returning to the First in 5.2; she visits Terncliffe to help with Diamond sometime post 5.3.

5.55 happens 6-8 months after 4.55, leading into Year 9.

Given time diff, Aeryn’s technically a year older than she ought to be otherwise.

On the First, events of 5.0 through 5.3 take about 15-18 months, before time syncs up better with events on the Source.

Ran’jit dies by Thancred’s hand at the Trolley duty, Aeryn faces a more dangerous pair of Jongleurs at Eulmore. Short prompt response in “Living Memory”

A month or two between 5.0, 5.1, and 5.2 each.

5.2 and 5.3 happen very quickly; only a couple weeks between them at most.

Due to aetheric imbalance issues, Eden happens roughly as it occurs in patch sequence; after 5.0, between 5.1 and 5.2, then after 5.3.

Rewrote Eden8 “Refulgence” in “Return to Dreams of Ice”

YoRHa didn’t happen; weird isolated incident occurred in the digsite, the dwarf twins hit Aeryn with sleepdust at the Festival, and the raids were a fever dream. Yes I’m salty.

Patch 5.5: In the time waiting for the Telopheroi to make their move (maybe a couple weeks), Aeryn learns about her father’s heretic history, and deals with Avengret, his draconic patron. Her student/mentor relationship with Alberic is damaged given he kept these truths from her for years.

7A Early Yr 9: Endwalker 6.0.

Limsa to Sharlayan by ship is canonically approximately 2 weeks.

Aeryn & the boys go to Thavnair first for about a week, then she joins Team Research in Sharlayan for another week while the men stay in Thavnair, until Zot. Give that a few days.

Team Thavnair runs into Aeryn’s family after meeting Vrtra; the Eadirs give the Scions a place to stay whenever in Radz-at-Han.

Garlemald is roughly a month or so of travel, setting up, trying to help, etc. Iyna remains in Sharlayan, Dark & C’oretta accompany the Ilsabard Contingent.

Moon to Thavnair to the First is a really rough sennight (time on the First has slowed considerably by now, nearly matching the Source).

Aeryn spends 2 weeks in Elpis doing chores (sidequests) as Hermes stalls and then she learns from Venat as they investigate. In the present, a bit over a month passes as the situation deteriorates. 

It takes time to gather resources for the aetherburner, plus travel times; figure 3 weeks for the expeditions and rush to Sharlayan as Scions prep.

During that time is when the Role Quests happen.

Dark, C’oretta, Iyna remain on Eitherys to protect and help while Scions are gone.

With Magic Travel, Ultima Thule is a really stressful 3ish days round trip.

Looking at roughly 4 months total, give or take.

EW Role Quests:

Dark returns home to Gridania to handle Tank.

Iyna goes to the East for Aiming.

C’oretta goes to Limsa for Melee & surprises everyone.

Aeryn handles Caster & Healer, porting back & forth restlessly.

7A Yr 9: Newfound Adventures: Timeline determined at a later date.

Aeryn needs time to recover from Endsinger & Zenos. (??) months of physical therapy, alchemy, and magic. Indulges in only short travel, minor adventures. She goes on the exploration of Alzadaal’s Legacy, but Dark does the fighting; Aeryn’s there in a research capacity.

Dark accompanies Aeryn and Team Void Exploration while Iyna and C’oretta aid the Radiant Host in minding the Gate.

Future/Side Content:

Pandaemonium Ideas: Elpis was a 1 time trip. The crystal houses a record of what happened with Pandaemonium, sent forward in time. Events are actually handled by Azem/Icarus/friends, WoL is accessing the memories with the Echo, in a style akin to ST:TNG’s “The Inner Light” episode. That cliffhanger post-Abyssos may kibosh this wait for part 3.

Myths of the Realm: Aeryn & friends, matters of faith among the Eorzeans a debate. Iyna’s curious due to her own lack of religion. Aeryn’s atheism revealed finally? When? Dunno yet. We’ll see how story unfolds.

Manderville Weapons!?!? Def up in the air.

30 Day WoL Writing Challenge Day 27-Hands

@seaswolchallenge​ @ffxiv-writers​

Aylis sat leaning against a tree watching as Ardbert honed his axe.  The soft rasp of the whetstone against the edge the only sound aside from the gentle breeze.

"Ardbert," she asked quietly, "Would you teach me the way of the Warrior?"

The scrape paused and he looked up at her surprised, "Are you sure Aylis?  You've seen what its capable of, how devastating it can be on a foe...."

"How it protects and defends others," she countered pushing herself up and walking over to him.

The Hyur reached out and tilted his face toward her so they could look eye to eye.  "I feel that I don't do enough Ardbert.  All I do is patch you up while you shoulder all the work.  I....I want to stand at your side, not at your back supporting you."

The Warrior set the axe and stone aside and stood pulling her into a hug.  "You do more than you give yourself credit for luv.  But, if its what you truly desire then....I will teach  you."

He then cupped her chin adding, "Beside me or behind me it matters not.  Your there and that’s what I need."

She smiled back then gave him a quick kiss before replying, "Thank you."

He gave her his boyish grin, "Now, first things first your going to need an axe that’s more suited to your ability.  You wont be able to heft one like that....yet."

She looked over to where he pointed and nodded.  The Hume’s axe was as broad as his shoulders and she knew that the steel was hefty she could see the thickness of the blade before it tapered off to the edge.

Ardbert let her go and strode back to it heaving it up and slinging the weapon into its harness.   Together they mounted the amaro and flew back toward the Crystarium.  Once they arrived they took care of the birds at the Rookery and made their way to the Musicia Universalis.  There Ardbert searched until he found an axe suitable for a beginner.

Once she was armed they headed over to a corner of the Exedra where he began instructing her in proper stance and hand positioning.  Aylis was an attentive student and once he was satisfied she had that knowledge ingrained he had her take practice swings.

Most of the afternoon was spent with her swinging the axe, him giving her pointers on how to adjust grip and people passing by smiling at seeing the pair train so.

As evening fell he called a halt to the training as he saw she was beginning to have difficulty keeping a grip on the axe.  Once the  Hyur had sheathed it in the harness on her back he gently took her hands and looked them over.

Red swollen blisters covered her palm and fingers and he nodded saying softly, "Go to the Pendants and take a soak to ease your muscles, I'll get something for these.”

The Midlander gave him a tired smile and left to do as he bid.  Ardbert meanwhile made his way to the Spagyrics asking for an old remedy he knew of.  At their blank looks he realized that the knowledge of it must have been lost.  

Motioning for the healer to follow he went to the Hortorium and showed her what herbs were needed for it and how to make the salve.

"It will aid new recruits in getting over the blisters before the callouses form when gripping a weapon."  he told her. “It also encourages the skin to make said callouses.”

The healer nodded giving him a gratful smile before she returned to the Spagyrics with a crateful of the herbs.

Ardbert picked up the salve he'd made and went to the Pendants.  There he found Aylis lying on the bed wrapped in a towel studying her hands.

"They'll go away once you get used to gripping the haft." he told her stepping in, "Here this will ease the pain and help toughen up the skin."

He smeared the remedy on her hands and wrapped them with bandages. Then he divested himself of his armor before curling up next to her on the bed.

Once sleep had claimed her he gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead before slipping from behind her and easing her onto the mattress.

At her sleepy query he simply replied, "I'll be back gonna get something that will aid in teaching you the way.  Don't worry there wont be any fighting involved, so rest."

She gave a affirmative noise and he grinned like an idiot before pulling his armor back on and getting his axe.

Moments later he was at the Rookery and calling sofly for Smoke.  The amaro stepped up to him gweeing in greeting as Ardbert patted him then swung astride.

"So where are we off to Ardbert." the amaro asked

"An all but forgotten corner of Kholusia, a village most likely naught but foundations..."  he responded.

The amaro nodded and leapt to the air hovering while Ardbert cast teleport.  Once at Stilltide the Hume tugged the reins to direct the amaro where he was intending.

The moment they landed he saw his comment had been accurate.  The village was gone mostly buried beneath the soil.  Parts of foundations sticking out of areas.

Ardbert walked through the ruins silent relying on memory to find his way.  Behind him Smoke padded the normally gregarious amaro silent respecting his somber mood.

It didn't take the Warrior long to find the place he was looking for. A once a proud hall that everyone had gathered in trained in.  That was a lifetime ago and Ardbert felt a pang of loss.

Distantly he felt Aylis's reassuring presence reaching out to him along their bond.  He focused letting her feel his gratitude and lack of worry.  Smiling to himself, even in her sleep she was there to help him.

The Warrior then strode into the ruined building making his way to where he knew the basement would have been.  Sure enough he found the old steel doors mostly rusted from the march of time.  

Using the butt of his axe the Hume broke the rusted seal and stepped back as the cloud of dust filled the air.  He then carefully looked in axe at the ready incase a beast had made the old hole its den.

When nothing charged out Ardbert then shifted his grip using the butt again to probe the old stone steps leading down before placing his full weight on them.

At the bottom he saw exactly what he was hoping for.  The ruins of an old chest and within it several small red stones.  Carefully he reached in and retrieved one of them.

There in his palm sat a small crescent moon shaped stone.  The head of an axe etched into its surface a soft crimson glow emanating from it.

"There’s another who wishes to learn the way, Master..." he stated softly, "I will do my best to teach her as you did me."

Clenching the stone tightly in his fist he felt grief welling with his memories.  The visage of the man who taught him everything he knew surfacing and the full knowledge that the man had long since turned to dust with time, if the Flood or a Sin Eater hadn’t killed him first.   It took a moment for the Warrior to get a hold of himself.  It helped to feel Aylis's comfort and support from the distant Crystarium.

He then gathered the remainder of the stones placing them in a saddle bag.  Ardbert would give them to the Exarch for safe keeping he knew the Miqo'te would show them respect.

The Warrior then climbed back out of the old basement and mounted Smoke. The old bird giving him a soft comforting gwee. Then the amaro launched and Ardbert teleported them both back to the Crystarium.

Once he had taken care of the bird and got him settled at the Rookery once more.  The Warrior then made his way to the Pendants where he found her sitting in the lobby waiting for him.

As he approached she stepped up worry in her eyes.  Ardbert just walked up to her giving her a hug stating softly, "Sorry didn't mean to wake you.  I...didn't expect it to hit me that hard."

"What happened," she asked softly hugging him back and pulling him toward their room.

"I...went to the village I used to live in.  Where I learned to be a Warrior.  For this,"  he pulled out the stone and handed it to her.

"A soulstone," she murmured taking it from him.

Ardbert nodded, "I thought some might still be there, in the hall where I trained."

Alyis gave him a comforting hug and he squeezed back grateful.  The Warrior could tell that he needn't say more so he fell silent. The stood like that for a long moment her presence easing the ache of his memories of loss.  Then he let go and gave her a gentle shove toward the bed.

"Get back to sleep luv.  I'll join you shortly just need to do one more thing."  

Aylis nodded in understanding then returned to the bed falling asleep almost as soon as she laid down.

Ardbert left their room and made his way to the Dossal Gate.  There one of the guards greeting him and let him through as he took the steps to the Occulus. Within the vaulted room he found the Exarch waiting for him.  The Miqo'te's crimson eyes curious.

"Exarch I have a request of you," the Hume stating softly handing the saddle bag over to him, "Please, take care of these they once belonged to the Warriors of my home village.  I...couldn't see leaving them there in the wilds."

A look of compassion and understanding filled G'raha's features as he opened the bag then replied softly, "Of course.  I will treat them with honor and dignity."

Adrbert bowed thanking the man before leaving heading back out of the tower and to the Pendants.

As he crawled into bed Aylis snuggled close to him giving sleepy comforting sounds.  He smiled squeezing her gently before letting sleep claim him as well.

Never Ending Survey: Kyrie Silverwings

Rules: Repost, do not reblog. Tag 10 blogs!

Tagged by: @blood-of-the-dragons, @under-the-blood-moonlight (you gets a Kyrie!)

Tagging: @kael-haustefort-xiv, @resistance-ranger, @lavender-hemlock, @bookbornexiv, @spotofmummery, @herohikara-wol, @lady-dusk-balmung, @cahli-tia, @seina-kurokiba, @of-sea-and-forest

BASICS.

FULL NAME: Kyrie Silverwings

NICKNAME: “Banshee”, “Mistress”

AGE:  ~28

BIRTHDAY:   5/26

ETHNIC GROUP: Hyur Midlander (in appearance)

NATIONALITY: not of Hydaelyn

LANGUAGE/S: Common, some understanding of others due to Echo

SEXUAL ORIENTATION : Pansexual

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION : Panromantic

RELATIONSHIP STATUS:  In a relationship

HOME TOWN / AREA:  a small forest village of hardly any note

CURRENT HOME:  Valorem Tenebris company house, personal apartment (both in Lavender Beds)

PROFESSION: Adder Captain, secretary / accountant (VT), information agent

PHYSICAL.

HAIR: White, usually shoulder length. Formerly a chestnut brown

EYES: Vibrant green, with an unsettling glow at times. When turned, the sclera is black

FACE: Slender, good bone structure, considered a dark beauty

LIPS: Medium-sized, usually with lipstick

COMPLEXION: Pale

BLEMISHES: An odd “birthmark” left on her left shoulder blade, a discoloration of the skin

SCARS: Few, mostly small faded ones from her childhood

TATTOOS: Purple patterns over her eyes and forehead, of unknown design

HEIGHT:  5′8″

WEIGHT: Average

BUILD: Slim, athletic, leans slightly pear-shaped

FEATURES:  Inconsistent hair growth, occasional eye patch, dark make-up. When turned, black veins across her body

ALLERGIES:  None.

USUAL HAIR STYLE:  Shoulder-length, feathered style. When long, it’s kept loose.

USUAL FACE LOOK :  An intrigued, bemused smile. Lidded eyes that cast about.

USUAL CLOTHING:  Prefers dark clothing, coats if travelling heavy, otherwise tends to wear moderately revealing attire

PSYCHOLOGY.

FEAR/S: Her past, falling back into old habits, apathy

ASPIRATION/S:  To commit to a peaceful existence, but still desires the strength to keep her allies safe

POSITIVE TRAITS: Adaptive, cunning, accepting of others, tenacious

NEGATIVE TRAITS: Callous, antagonizing, violently self-protective, prideful, reckless

TEMPERAMENT:  Phlegmatic

SOUL TYPE/S:  Warrior

ANIMALS:  fat cat tasmanian devil, black widow, hawk

VICE HABIT/S: soul harvesting, morbid curiosity, attracted to danger

FAITH: Next to none

GHOSTS?: Yes, unfortunately.

AFTERLIFE?: No

REINCARNATION?:  Not sure

POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Unconcerned with politics, whether local or far-reaching. Willing to work with most clients.

EDUCATION LEVEL:  Self taught

FAMILY.

FATHER : Ewan of Astora (alive)

MOTHERS :  Nylea Silverwings (alive)

SIBLINGS : none

EXTENDED FAMILY: Naveia (grandmother), Yanne (aunt), Cyneric (grandfather)

NAME MEANING/S: comes from the Greek word for “lord” because... Dark Lord ending yes

HISTORICAL CONNECTION?: Nope.

FAVORITES.

BOOK:  History, reference material

DEITY: Gods already dead, thanks

HOLIDAY:  Closest would be All Hallow’s Eve

MONTH: November

SEASON:  Autumn

PLACE: A cozy cabin in the wilds of Limsa

WEATHER: Light rain

SOUND / S: Cat’s purring, the wind in the trees

SCENT / S:  Books, leather, faint perfume

TASTE / S:  Tea, blood in the mouth

FEEL / S:  Cold metal, soft black fabric, the whisper of shadow magic

ANIMAL / S:  Cats, snakes

NUMBER: 6

COLORS: Black. Purple. Green

EXTRA.

TALENTS: Good hunter, excellent tracker, excels in stealth 

BAD AT: Letting go of rivalries, giving up before overstepping boundaries

TURN ONS: Mysterious demeanor, height differences, strength, kindness, soft lingering touches, ruggedness, rough handling, beautiful eyes

TURN OFFS: Boorish manners, zealous attitudes, close-mindedness / bigotry

HOBBIES: Scouting across the Shroud, reading, collecting valuables for her company

TROPES: More Deadly than the Male, Double Agent, Silk Hiding Steel / Femme Fatale, Mysterious Woman, Wild Card (many more)

QUOTES : “I can handle this. Just watch, but don’t you dare interfere.”

MUN QUESTIONS.

Q1 : If you could write your character your way in their own movie,  what would it be called, what style would it be filmed in, and what would it be about?          

A1 :  I’m thinkin’ like how Interview with the Vampire was. Starts with her relating her story to, probably, another Adder and it goes over her life beginning with her curse and ending where she is now. May or may not kill the poor sod afterwards.

Q2 :  What would their soundtrack/score sound like?          

A2 :  Quiet, expressive orchestra. Ambient foreign vocals. I frequently listen to Dark Souls and Witcher music for background inspiration for her.

Q3 :  Why did you start writing this character?          

A3 : I used my Dark Souls oc and reworked her to interact with the story of FFXIV. She started out a bit “lighter and softer” than what she is now, but has grown quite a lot.

Q4 :   What first attracted you to this character?          

A4 : The theme of a girl who had to grow up very quickly in a bleak, hostile environment but pulls through due to support from friends and family. She has a dark side that I get to express that I don’t have in other characters. Unlike the rest, she’s hit the bottom before; writing her is a reminder of just how much worse things can be.

Q5 :  Describe the biggest thing you dislike about your muse.

A5 : She’s borderline antisocial and very bad at judging dangerous situations. Sh will walk into fights and will disregard whether she can win or lose, so she might come off as a liability...

Q6 :  What do you have in common with your muse?          

A6 :   Not much, but we love cats very much!

Q7 :   How does your muse feel about  you?          

A7 :   She’s probably surprised someone so nice could think of these terrible, horrible things to put her through.

Q8 :  What characters does your muse have interesting interactions with ?        

A8 :   Those with secrets or are similar to her. She’s slow to trust and that makes regular interactions difficult because of her aloof nature, but anyone who can break through her shell tends to find a good friend. Or...perhaps a rival should she desire to test your strength.

Q9 :  What gives you inspiration to write your muse ?        

A9 : DARK SOULS, but also anime and literature, anything thematically related to her

Q10 : How long did this take you to complete ?          

A10 : Several hours, since I was playing at the same time =v=;